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Lunar

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DaG262

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

1997

Mass

513 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.016g

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Search for specimens in the Smithsonian Institution collection (U.S.): Search for this meteorite in the Natural History Museum collection (U.K.): Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 81, MAPS 32, A159-A166 (1997)

DaG400

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

1998

Mass

1425 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 8.37g

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Search for this meteorite in the Natural History Museum collection (U.K.): Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 82, MAPS 33, A221-A240 (1998)

Dhofar461

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2001

Mass

33.7 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.95g

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 89, MAPS 40, A201-A263 (2005)

Dhofar490

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2001

Mass

34.1 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) tiny crumbs

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 87, MAPS 38, A189-A248 (2003)

Dhofar908

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2003

Mass

245 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.006g

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Search for this meteorite in the Natural History Museum collection (U.K.): Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 88, MAPS 39, A215-A272 (2004)

Dhofar1085

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2003

Mass

197 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.172g

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 88, MAPS 39, A215-A272 (2004)

Dhofar1180

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar

Country

Year found

2005

Mass

115.2 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.85g

This is 1 of 102 approved meteorites classified as Lunar. Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 91, MAPS 42, 413-466 (2007)

Gadamis 003

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2021

Mass

1270 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 46.66g   (2) 16.85g

History: This meteorite was reportedly found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002 in 2021, purchased by Abdelhadi Aithiba in 2021. Physical characteristics: Two identically appearing stones (670 and 600 g) found together at the Gadamis 002 site. The stones have a light green sand-blasted exterior, patches of smoothed dark fusion crust, as well as some light tan desert weathering. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal a brecciated, very fine-grained light gray interior with a few scattered white grains. Petrography: (A. Ross and C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikilitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite. Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An96.1±0.4Ab3.8±0.4Or0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa39.1±0.8, Fe/Mn=105±5, n=6; pigeonite Fs32.9±4.9Wo6.1±2.5, Fe/Mn=59±4, n=5. Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993). The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs. Paired with Gadamis 002. Specimens: 24.32 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon and Craig Zlimen hold the main masses.

Gadamis004

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2022

Mass

12.66 kg

[Museum Collection]

(1) 5.84g

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002 and 003, purchased by Mark Lyon in 2022. Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. One side is more irregular with a weathered surface that was fractured at some time in the past. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones. Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikiolitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite. Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) Plagioclase An96.0±0.1Ab3.8±0.1Or0.2±0.1, n=4; olivine Fa38.9±1.0, Fe/Mn=105±3, n=4; pigeonite Fs34.0±4.8Wo5.4±2.3, Fe/Mn=60±3, n=4; augite Fs5.7Wo46.1, Fe/Mn=32. Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993). The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs. Paired with Gadamis 002 and Gadamis 003. Specimens: 21 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

Gadamis 005

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2022

Mass

10 kg

[Museum Collection]

(1) 320g(Pair)   (2)220g(Pair)

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002, 003 and 004, purchased by Mark Lyon in 2022. Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones. Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikiolitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite. Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An96.6±0.7Ab3.1±0.7Or0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa30.7±1.7, Fe/Mn=109±10, n=5; pigeonite Fs27.8±5.2Wo7.2±8.0, Fe/Mn=53±3, n=3; augite Fs15.3±4.7Wo39.4±5.1, Fe/Mn=44±9, n=3. Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993). The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs. Paired with Gadamis 002, Gadamis 003, and Gadamis 004. Specimens: 20.5 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

NEA001

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth)

Country

Year found

2002

Mass

262 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.05g 

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (anorth). Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 89, MAPS 40, A201-A263 (2005)

NWA482

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (anorth) 

Country

Year found

2000

Mass

1015 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.06g 

History: Found near Gawa, Mali, in February 2009 and purchased from a dealer by Adam Aaronson. Physical characteristics: A single, buff-colored, rounded stone (170 g) lacking fusion crust (Fig. 2). Small white clasts are visible in a pale, finer grained matrix. Petrography (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS; T. Bunch, NAU): Recrystallized breccia composed mainly of plagioclase (up to 100 μm) with fine-grained (

NWA2977

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar (gabbro)

Country

Year found

2005

Mass

233 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.27g  

History: A single minimally weathered fusion-encrusted stone of 233 g was purchased from a Moroccan dealer in Tagounite, Morocco, by MFarmer in November 2005. Petrography and Geochemistry: (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU; A. Irving, UWS) The specimen consists of a single yellow-green, relatively coarse-grained rock traversed by thin, black glass-rich veins. It is an olivine-rich, two-pyroxene cumulate gabbro composed of olivine (Fa31.7; FeO/ MnO = 96; 52 vol%), (Fs26.6Wo6.7; 23 vol%), augite (Fs16.2Wo29; 9 vol%), and plagioclase (An56; 14 vol%) with minor amounts of Ba-K feldspar, chromite, ilmenite, and merrillite. Larger pigeonite grains commonly enclose equant olivine grains, which contain abundant melt inclusions (0.025–0.125 mm). Plagioclase is partially converted to maskelynite, and pyroxenes and olivine exhibit shock lamellae and undulatory extinction. Note: This specimen is identical in texture and mineral composition to the gabbro clasts in NWA 773 and NWA 2700 and thus appears to be paired with those breccia specimens. Classification: Achondrite (lunar, gabbro); minimal weathering. Specimens: A 20.1 g type specimen and one polished thin section are on deposit at NAU. A 0.5 g specimen is on deposit at WUSL. An anonymous owner holds the main mass.

NWA3163

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar

Country

Year found

2001

Mass

1634 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 0.66g   (2) 0.09g  

History: In August 2005, G. Hupé purchased a 1634 g stone from a Moroccan dealer in Ouarzazate. Petrography and Geochemistry: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) The exterior is almost completely coated by a thin, transparent, greenish fusion crust. The pale gray interior has multiple shock fractures (with very minor calcite coatings) and some thin glass veins. Poikiloblastic recrystallized breccia, with larger grains of plagioclase (~70 vol%) enclosing much smaller grains (less than 100 µm across) of pyroxenes (~20 vol%), olivine (~10 vol%), and accessory Ti-chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.714–0.736; Mg/(Mg+Fe) = 0.121– 0.143; TiO2 = 9.1–18.4 wt%), ilmenite, troilite, and metal (Ni = ~15 wt%). Anorthitic plagioclase (An97.4–98.2) has been converted by shock almost entirely to maskelynite (although domains of birefringent, less-shocked feldspar remain). Pigeonitic pyroxene grains have very fine-scale exsolution lamellae of augite (Fs14.5–16.1Wo40.2–40.5; FeO/MnO = 41.7– 43.8) within orthopyroxene (Fs32.0–33.9Wo4.4–5.8; FeO/MnO = 55.5–61.2). Olivine (Fa38.0–40.9; FeO/MnO = 91.7–110). Classification: Achondrite (lunar, feldspathic granulitic impactite). Specimens: A 20.1 g type specimen and one polished thin section are on deposit at UWS. GHupé holds the main mass.

NWA4734

Name

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Structure Class

achondrites

Chemical Class

Lunar

Country

Year found

2006

Mass

1372 g

[Museum Collection]

(1) 1.81g 

History: Two pieces were purchased from nomads in Erfoud, Morocco, in October 2006 and February 2007. Physical characteristics: A. Habibi purchased two pieces with a total mass of 477 g in Rissani, Morocco; several other pieces of the same stone totaling 895 g are with Ait Elkaid in Rissani, Morocco. Dull black/brown fusion crust is nearly complete and inside slightly tarnished where absent. It is a gray, coarse-grained, pristine magmatic rock consisting of millimeter-sized phenocrysts of mainly pyroxene and plagioclase. Petrography: (A. Jambon, O. Boudouma, and D. Badia, UPVI). The texture is best described as shergottite-like. Pyroxene grains are highly fractured while plagioclase laths, partly transformed to maskelynite, are only affected by a small number of fractures. Silica and silica-feldspar glass are minor components. A few patches of impact melt are also observed. Ilmenite, baddeleyite, zirconolite, tranquilityite, pyrrhotite, and metal. Fayalite associated with silica probably results from the dissociation of iron rich pyroxene. Modal mineralogy (vol%): Cpx 50, plagioclase + K-feldspar 32, silica + glass 7.5, opaques (ilmenite, Ti-magnetite, pyrrhotite) + fayalite 7, voids + fractures 3. Geochemistry: Mineralogy by EMP and SEM. (Trace and major element analyses ICP-MS and ICP-AES, J.-A. Barrat, UBO). Pyroxene grains are complexly zoned (En65Fs21Wo13 to En2Fs83Wo15; FeO/MnO = 78 [average]). A few compositions correspond to pyroxferroite. Plagioclase is normally zoned from An75-91 (average An89) with minor olivine (Fa80-95). Chondrite normalized REE pattern with an enrichment of 53 (La) to 40 (Yb). Trace element pattern with negative anomalies of Sr and Eu. Interstitial glass is high in silica (75 wt%) and contains microcrysts of K-feldspar with a significant celsian component. The chemistry and major and trace elements are identical to NWA 032-479-773 and LAP 02205-02224-02226-02436- 03632. The texture is very similar to that of the LAP specimens. The very low abundance of olivine and the relative abundance of silica in NWA 4734 are the main differences beside the grain size and the slightly different composition of the major phases. Classification: Achondrite (lunar); extensive shock. Type specimens: A total of 20 g of sample and one polished section is on deposit at UPVI. Mbarek Ait Elkaid holds the main masses. Submitted by: A. Jambon, UPVI. The description of NWA 4734 was submitted as a monzogabbro, but the Nomenclature Committee was not convinced by the materials submitted that this was a correct sub-classification for this sample.

NWA4884

Name

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Structure Class