Name: Graves Nunataks 98033 This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name. Abbreviation: GRA 98033 Observed fall: No Year found: 1998 Country: Antarctica [Collected by US Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET)] Mass: 123.2 g
Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride These meteorites have shiny black fusion crusts with some small, dull patches where thinning has occurred due to weathering. Some of the meteorites have shallow “vugs” that reveal coarse-grained tan to gray crystalline material as well as finer grained material. Several rusty patches on the rocks’ exterior surface are visible. A few of the meteorites have greenish-gray elongated or radiating crystals with some areas of rusty discoloration. The matrix on most is gray in color with clast colors ranging from white to tan to black. Several of the clasts are rimmed with dark gray to black crystalline material. GRA 98044 (27 g) has a fusion crust that is mostly dull covering about 40% of the surface area. The matrix is gray in color with numerous charcoal gray inclusions and small rust halos. These eucrites are very soft and friable.
Thin Section Description: Tim McCoy
GRA 98026
GRA 98044
GRA 98054
GRA 98067
GRA 98088
GRA 98103
GRA 98131
These meteorites consist of coarse-grained (mm-sized grains) basaltic clasts, which contain orthopyroxene (Fs64Wo2), with lamellae of augite (Fs28Wo44), and plagioclase (An88Or0.5). Augite lamellae in GRA 98044 are 1-5 microns in width and a range of intermediate compositions was measured. Shock effects include undulatory extinction in pyroxene and plagioclase. The Fe/Mn ratio of the pyroxene is ~30. The meteorites are brecciated eucrites. They are paired with GRA 98006. They are all coarse-grained, shocked, brecciated eucrites of similar composition.
Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride 80% of the surface of this achondrite is covered with black fusion crust with shiny patches. There are several large (0.5-2.0 cm) "vugs" where sample material has weathered or has been plucked. The interior has a sugary texture, with a grayish green matrix. Black grains and some clasts are interspersed throughout the matrix. Pure white inclusions, rusty halos and streaks are visible. Several white clasts with matrix material incorporated into the clast are present.
Thin Section (,6) Description: Tim McCoy The section consists dominantly of a mixture of mm-sized orthopyroxene (Fs64Wo2), with lamellae of augite (Fs28Wo44), and plagioclase (An88Or0.5). The Fe/Mn ratio of the pyroxene is ~30. The meteorite is a brecciated eucrite.