Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16888

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113

Northwest Africa 16888 (NWA 16888)

Algeria
Purchased: 2024 January
Mass: 50 g (6 pieces)

Lunar meteorite

History: Found in the Adrar region of Algeria. Bought from a Moroccan dealer by Isabelle Pothier in January 2024.

Physical Characteristics:  Five stones without fusion crust. Cut surface reveals a brecciated interior with gray clasts set in a darker matrix.

Petrography: (J. Gattacceca, CEREGE) Brecciated igneous rock with mineral clast to several mm set in a melt rock matrix. Main minerals are pyroxene and olivine. Accessory minerals are ilmenite, chromite, and rare µm-sized metal and troilite grains. Metal and troilite are often associated as composite grains.

Geochemistry: Olivine Fa_24.0±0.4, FeO/MnO = 91.9 (n=5). Pigeonite Fs_27.4Wo_9.9, FeO/MnO = 49 (n=1). Glassy melt rock matrix An_96.2±0.6Ab_3.8±0.6Or_0.0±0.0 (n=4).

Classification: Achondrite (lunar meteorite, melt breccia, anorthositic norite/gabbro). Possibly paired with Adrar 013.

Specimens: Type specimen at CEREGE. Main mass with Isabelle Pothier.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16888. It might be paired with Adrar 013, Adrar 014, and NWA 16535.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16888