Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16507

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113

Northwest Africa 16507 (NWA 16507)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2023
Mass: 1700 g (2 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia)

History: The meteorite was purchased from a local dealer in Western Sahara.

Physical Characteristics: Two dark grayish fragments lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: Polymict breccia composed of up to 1.5 cm sized angular to sub-rounded lithic clasts plus up to 1.5 mm sized mineral fragments set in a fine-grained clastic matrix. Lithic clasts include troctolites, gabbros, anorthosites, and basalts. Predominant minerals are olivine, zoned pyroxene, augite and calcic plagioclase. Minor phases include fayalite, silica, chromite, ilmenite, troilite, and rare FeNi metal.

Geochemistry: magnesian olivine: Fa_9.3±0.1 (Fa_9.1-9.4, FeO/MnO=87±11; n=7); ferroan olivine: Fa_36.6±0.1 (Fa_36.5-36.8, FeO/MnO=91±5; n=7); fayalite: Fa_85.6±0.1 (Fa_85.4-85.8, FeO/MnO=87±2; n=7); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs_29.2±0.7Wo_5.7±1.4 (Fs_28.4-30.4Wo_3.4-7.8, FeO/MnO=54±4, n=7); zoned pyroxene: Fs_41.8±3.8Wo_21.2±2.5 (Fs_37.8-48.1Wo_16.5-23.6, FeO/MnO=58±6, n=7); augite: Fs_57.9±0.1Wo_37.2±0.1 (Fs_57.7-58.1Wo_37.0-37.4, FeO/MnO=83±6, n=7); calcic plagioclase: An_94.3±2.3 (An_90.7-96.3, n=7).

Classification: Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 29.2 g at MNB. Main mass with Mateusz Szyszko.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16507.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16507