Northwest Africa 1950

Morocco

Found 2001 January and March

Martian meteorite (lherzolitic shergottite)

Two stones (414 and 383 g) were found in the Atlas mountains (Morocco) in 2001 January and March. The exact location of find is unknown. The meteorite is a cumulate peridotitic rock consisting of olivine (~55 vol%), low and high-Ca pyroxenes (~35 vol%) and plagioclase glass (~8 vol%). Accessory minerals include phosphates (merrillite), chromite and spinels (inclusions in olivines and pyroxenes), sulfides (pyrrhotite), and a glass rich in potassium.The igneous texture is very similar to that of the ALHA77005. Classification and mineralogy (P. Gillet, ENSL,  J.A. Barrat, UAng, M. Bohn, Ifremer): pyroxenes are pigeonite, En₇₈Fs₁₉Wo₂-En₆₀Fs₂₆Wo₁₄, and augite, En₅₃Fs₁₆Wo₃₁-En₄₅Fs₁₄Wo₄₁; maskelynite ranges from An₅₇Ab₄₁Or₁ to An₄₀Ab₅₇Or₃. The key element weight-ratios FeO*/MnO is close to 30 for pigeonite and close to 50 for olivines. Geochemistry: REE pattern similar to that of ALHA77005 but with higher values. Specimens: type specimen, 20 g, ENSL; main mass, Fectay.