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EL

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Al Haggounia 001

Name

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Structure Class

Enstatite chondrites

Chemical Class

EL-melt rock

Country

Western Sahara

Year found

2006

Mass

3 t

[Museum Collection]

(1) 19.6g

History: Several tons of this material have been found on the ground or by digging near Al Haggounia, Morocco (Chennaoui et al. 2007) for description of the strewn field) and sold to several dealers. The coordinates are given for the center of the strewn field, which extends ~ 40 km. Physical characteristics: It is impossible to assess precisely the amount of material already (and to be) recovered, but according to dealers, collectors, and Jambon it is about 3 metric tons composing many samples of varied sizes (from a few g to 50 kg). The largest stones were recovered after excavating them from the ground. The outer surface is rusty brown due to severe alteration. Looks like a sedimentary breccia cemented by iron oxide and carbonate. Color changes from bluish gray to rusty brown closest to the fractures are observed. Yellow patches of sulfur (alteration) are widespread. The rocks are significantly porous with pore sizes from several cm to hundreds of microns. Petrography: (A. Jambon, O. Boudouma and D. Badia. UPVI) Dominated by enstatite and plagioclase. Troilite, graphite daubreelite, oldhamite, kamacite rich in Si and schreibersite are present. Mineral compositions: Enstatite (En98Fs1Wo1) and plagioclase (Ab78An16Or5). Classification: Achondrite (aubrite); extensive weathering. Similar to and likely paired with NWA 002, 1067, 2736, 2828, 2965. Type specimens: A total of 50 g of sample and three polished sections are on deposit at UPVI. Main masses: Beroud, 3886 g (26 pieces from 1185 g to 5.8 g); PThomas, 4497 g (33 pieces from 11 to 1507 g); Hmani, about 500 kg; Ouzrou, about 500 kg.

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Structure Class

Enstatite chondrites

Chemical Class

EL6

Country

(Northwest Africa)

Year found

2003

Mass

305 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 5.1g

A complete 305 g stone was purchased in Erfoud in January 2003. Classification and mineralogy (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): fine-grained assemblage of recrystallized enstatite and metal (25.6 vol%); no relic chondrules. Enstatite, En99Wo1 (FeO

NWA1910
NWA4844

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Structure Class

Enstatite chondrites

Chemical Class

EL-melt rock

Country

(Northwest Africa)

Year found

2006

Mass

1200 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 3.5g

Petrography: (J. Gattacceca, CEREGE) Highly recrystallized rock. No relict chondrule was observed. Main minerals are enstatite with typical size 150 µm and plagioclase to 100 µm. Metal and sulfides (including daubréelite) are found as µm sized spherical grains. Abundant vesicles with typical size 50 µm. Abundant terrestrial weathering products. Geochemistry: Enstatite Fs0.7±0.1Wo1.4±0.1 (n=3). Plagioclase An16.4Ab79.2Or4.3 (n=2). Classification: EL chondrite melt rock. Likely paired with Al Haggounia 001. Specimens: Type specimen at CEREGE. 22.1 g including one polished thin section at PSF. Main mass with Kuntz.

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Structure Class

Enstatite chondrites

Chemical Class

EL-melt rock

Country

(Northwest Africa)

Year found

2009

Mass

1088 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.82g

History: Purchased by Marcin Cimała in May 2009 from a Moroccan dealer. Physical characteristics: A group of dark brown, dense stones comprising two larger pieces and many small fragments (total 1088 g). Fresh interiors are black with abundant, anastomosing metal and sulfide grains. Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of clasts rich in irregular, elongated grains of metal and sulfides with associated Fe-poor silicates. Minerals are forsterite, enstatite, diopside, albite, Si-poor kamacite, troilite, taenite, schreibersite, and daubreelite. Geochemistry: Forsterite (Fa0.9), enstatite (Fs1.5-1.8Wo1.4-1.2), diopside (Fs0.7-2.3Wo45.9-44.6). Classification: EL-melt breccia. Specimens: A total of 36 g of type material and one polished thin section are on deposit at UWB. The remaining material is held jointly by Mr. M. Cimała and Mr. T. Jakubowski.

NWA6258
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