Lunar Meteorite: Tichiya 003
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110 Tichiya 003Rio de Oro, Western Sahara Classification: Lunar meteorite History: The samples were found by Zaid Oualguirah in Western Sahara on November 14, 2020. Physical characteristics: Exterior of the sample is light-orangish gray in color and shows voids, some of which are circular in profile. The cut face shows the interior is darker gray and shows a brecciated texture. Petrography: (A. Love, App) Sample is a breccia composed of dispersed small (avg. L.D. 283 µm, n=47) lithic and mineral clasts set within a partly vesicular, devitrified glassy impact melt rock matrix. Lithic clasts are poikilitic-textured troctolites. Mineral clasts are dominantly anorthite with minor olivine, some of which is zoned. Definitive vesicles were absent in the thin section. Additional minerals are: chromite, ilmenite, secondary barite and calcite. Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa30.2±2.7, Fe/Mn=78.7±4.5, n=10); plagioclase (An97.8±0.3Or0.0, n=10). Classification: Lunar (feldspathic melt breccia) Based on plagioclase composition and textures sample is a lunar achondrite. Melt rock matrix and shock effects in clasts indicate sample is a melt rock matrix breccia. Specimens: Jean Redelsperger holds the 260 g main mass. Zaid Oualguirah holds 311 g. An individual weighing 20.75 g and a polished thin section are on deposit at App. |
| Randy Says… I have not studied Tichiya 003. I assume from the 70 km difference in find locations that it is not paired with Tichiya (001). |
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