Grove Mountains 020124                             72°58'43''N, 75°15'39''E

Grove Mountains, Antarctica

Find: 6 January 2003

Mesosiderite

History and Physical characteristics: The meteorite was found on blue ice west to the middle segment of the Gale Escarpment in Grove Mountains by X. Xu. It has an irregular shape with rough surface, and most of fusion crust has been lost. The meteorite weighs 1.47 g.

Petrography: (G. Wang and D. Wang, GIGGCAS; S. Hu and Y. Lin, IGGCAS) The meteorite contains 14 vol% metal. Silicate fraction consists of large fragments of mainly orthopyroxene, pigeonite, and plagioclase, with less abundant silica and a few olivine grains, and fine-grained matrix. Orthopyroxene fragments usually have bright rims but rare exsolutions. All fragments of pigeonite show exsolution of augite, and normally have rims of the latter. Olivine has rounded shapes. The fine-grained matrix is composed mainly of pyroxenes and plagioclase with minor silica and chromite, showing an ophitic texture.

Mineral compositions and Geochemistry: (S. Wen and L. Xu, IGGCAS; G. Wang, GIGCAS). Orthopyroxene fragments show large variation (Fs_23.4-41), with FeO content increasing toward the rims and from grains to grains, FeO/ MnO = 29; lamellae of augite: (Fs_16.5-25.6Wo_41.8-43.7), pigeonite Fs_37.2-54.7Wo_2-5), plagioclase (An_89-96). Individual fragments of olivine are homogeneous, but vary from grain to grain (Fa =34.2-43.4 mol%); kamacite (Ni = 5.02- 6.27 wt%, Co = 0.66-0.81 [both wt%]); taenite (Ni = 39.4- 40.5 wt%).

Classification: Mesosiderite; extensively weathered.

Type specimens: PRIC holds the main mass and a polished section.