Dhofar 302

Oman

Found 2001 June 28

Lunar meteorite (anorthositic impact melt breccia)

A dark grey stone weighing 3.83 g was found in the Dhofar region of Oman. Mineralogy and classification (M. Nazarov, Vernad; L. Taylor, UTenn): fusion crust is absent; meteorite is a clast-rich impact melt breccia; mineral fragments and lithic clasts are set within a poorly­crystallized impact melt glassy matrix; impact melt breccias are most abundant in the lithic clast population; fragments of primary igneous rocks and granulites of anorthositic, gabbro-noritic, and troctolitic compositions are common; rare glass fragments of KREEP composition were found; mare basalt material is probably present; feldspar, An_90–99; orthopyroxene, Wo_1–4En_45–88; clinopyroxene, Wo_6–46En_2–83, olivine, Fo_8–94 (Fe/Mn ≈ 86 atom%); accessory minerals are Ti-rich chromite, Mg-Al-spinel, ilmenite (0.4–6 wt% MgO), baddeleyite, silica, tranquilityite (?), troilite, and FeNi metal (0.7–44 wt% Ni; 0.2–1.4 wt% Co); composition of the impact-melt glassy matrix is SiO₂ = 44.5, TiO₂ = 0.27, Al₂O₃ = 28.1, Cr₂O₃ = 0.09, FeO = 4.02, MnO = 0.06, MgO = 4.84, CaO = 16.5, Na₂O = 0.41, K₂O = 0.09, P₂O₅ = 0.12 (wt%); terrestrial weathering is not significant. Dhofar 302 and Dhofar 081/280 were found nearby and are possibly paired. However, Dhofar 302 seems to be poorer in glass and richer in igneous and granulitic lithologies. Specimens: type specimen, 0.8 g plus a thin section, Vernad; main mass with anonymous finder.