Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16238

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16238 (NWA 16238)

Mauritania
Purchased: 2023
Mass: 10 g (2 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia)

History: Reportedly found in Mauritania in 2023 and purchased in 2023 by Jesper Grønne from a dealer in Morocco.

Physical Characteristics: Two small grayish fragments lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) The meteorite shows a fresh grayish interior and is a fragmental breccia predominantly composed of up to 2 mm sized lithic clasts (basaltic and melt clasts) plus up to 1 mm sized mineral fragments a fine-grained clastic matrix. Dominant minerals are anorthite, low-Ca pyroxene, zoned pyroxene, and exsolved pyroxene. Minor phases include fayalite, ilmenite, chromite, and troilite. Contains fayalite-augite myrmekites. No metal detected.

Geochemistry:  (A. Greshake, MNB) low-Ca pyroxene: Fs_36.4±0.1Wo_2.7±0.2 (Fs_36.1-36.6Wo_2.3-3.0, FeO/MnO=60±4, n=7); zoned Ca-pyroxene: Fs_52.8±10.3Wo_21.3±2.1 (Fs_42.6-72.4Wo_17.6-23.9, FeO/MnO=63±4, n=7); low-Ca pyroxene host to augite exsolution lamellae: Fs_58.7±0.2Wo_1.7±0.1 (Fs_58.4-59.0Wo_1.6-1.9, FeO/MnO=64±3, n=7); augite exsolution lamellae: Fs_20.3±0.5Wo_44.0±0.5 (Fs_19.7-21.0Wo_43.4-44.6, FeO/MnO=48±3, n=7); fayalite: Fa_90.0±0.1 (Fa_89.9-90.2, FeO/MnO=78±2, n=3); calcic plagioclase: An_96.9±0.5 (An_96.1-97.6, n=7).

Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia.

Specimens: 2 g, MNB; main mass with Jesper Grønne.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16238.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16238