Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16657

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113

Northwest Africa 16657 (NWA 16657)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2024 March
Mass: 82 g (3 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: The meteorite was initially purchased in March 2024 by a Moroccan meteorite dealer from hunters in the Adrar region, Algeria, and was subsequently acquired by Mr. Edwin Insuasty.

Physical Characteristics: Three brownish individuals lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) Breccia predominantly composed of up to 2 mm sized angular to subrounded basaltic and melt clasts plus abundant up to 600 µm sized mineral fragments in a fine-grained clastic, partly vesicular matrix with some quenched glassy regions. Dominant minerals are anorthite, olivine, zoned pyroxene, low-Ca pyroxene, and Ca-pyroxene. Minor phases include ilmenite and troilite. Contains secondary calcite.

Geochemistry: (A. Greshake, MNB olivine: Fa_36.9±0.1 (Fs_36.6-37.0, FeO/MnO=87±7, n=7); zoned pyroxene: Fs_28.6±3.2, Wo_8.0±1.1, (Fs_23.8-32.5, Wo_5.6-9.1, FeO/MnO=54±4, n=7); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs_23.2±0.1Wo_4.0±0.5 (Fs_23.0-23.4Wo_3.5-4.5, FeO/MnO=59±4, n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs_13.8±0.5Wo_36.6±1.5 (Fs_13.1-14.5Wo_34.4-38.3, FeO/MnO=44±7, n=7); calcic plagioclase: An_94.1±0.7 (An_93.0-94.9, n=7).

Classification:  Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.5 g at MNB. Main mass with Edwin Insuasty

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16657.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16657