Lunar Meteorites: Northwest Africa 16530 & 16531
not paired with each other
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113 Northwest Africa 16530 (NWA 16530)Morocco Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia) History: A group of small stones was purchased by Joshua Eisler from an anonymous Moroccan dealer in Tucson, Arizona, during the 2024 Gem and Mineral Show. Physical Characteristics: Many small stones between approximately 1 and 20 g without fusion crust, some with caliche covering part of their exterior. Saw cut reveals a dark-gray interior with light angular and rounded clasts. Petrography: (D. Dickens, CCMS) Examination of a polished microprobe mount shows a polymict fragmental breccia of mostly anorthite with accessory olivine and pyroxene. Fine-grained matrix contains vesicles from <1 µm to approximately 100 µm. A few Fe-Ni grains were observed. Geochemistry: (D. Dickens, CCMS) Olivine Fa24.6±1.4, Fe/Mn=100±15, n=5; Pigeonite Fs22.7±1.1Wo10.9±1.9, Fe/Mn=56±7, n=4; Plagioclase An97.2±0.1Ab2.18±0.1, n=7. Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia Likely paired with Bechar 003, 006, 007, 009, 010, 010, and 012. Specimens: 20.6 g at TCU; remainder with J. Eisler. |
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113 Northwest Africa 16531 (NWA 16531)Morocco Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia) History: A group of small stones was purchased by Joshua Eisler from a Moroccan dealer in Denver, Colorado, during the 2023 Gem and Mineral Show. Physical Characteristics: Many very small dark stones, most <1g and without fusion crust. Saw cut reveals a dark gray-brown interior with rounded and angular clasts. Petrography: (D. Dickens, CCMS) Examination of a polished microprobe mount shows a polymict fragmental breccia of mostly anorthite, and pyroxene. Olivine, small Fe-Ni grains, and other opaques were identified using BSE images and EDS, but were not quantitatively analyzed. Melt texture is present with extensive microvesiculation throughout the matrix. Geochemistry: (D. Dickens, CCMS) Augite Fs19.5±0.3Wo39.7±0.4, Fe/Mn=54±2, n=4; Plagioclase An96.4±1.2Ab3.6±1.1, n=8. Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia. Likely paired with Laayoune 002 and 003. Specimens: 22.95 g at TCU; remainder with J. Eisler. |
| Randy Says… I have not studied Northwest Africa 16530 or 16531. There is no indication that they are paired with each other; I put the descriptions on the same page because of their similar histories. I do not know the basis of the speculations that NWA 16530 is likely paired with Bechar clan and NWA 16531 is likely paired with the Laâyoune pair. |