Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Jiddat al Harasis 838

Writeup from MB 104:

Jiddat al Harasis 838 (JaH 838) 19°22.044’N, 55°28.855’E

Al Wusta, Oman

Find: 2003 Feb 28

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: One stone of 34.36 g was discovered about 28 km south of Al Ghaftain on a desert expedition on Feb. 28, 2003.

Physical characteristics: (R. Bartoschewitz, Bart) The meteorite lacks an obvious fusion crust but has the frosted, ablated exterior typical of Omani lunar stones. The interior is black-gray with many white, brown, and gray inclusions. Terrestrial weathering is negligible.

Petrography: (R. Bartoschewitz, Bart; P. Appel, B. Mader, Kiel) Fragmental breccia composed of a variety of lithic clasts and mineral fragments of plagioclase, augite, pigeonite, poor-Ca pyroxene, and olivine set in a fine-grained matrix. Lithic clasts include anorthosite, fragmental breccia, gabbro, norite, basalt, pyroxenite, and regolith (chondritic and lunar metal; HASP spherule) set in a fine-grained dark gray matrix, and with Ni-iron, troilite, pyrrhotine, pentlandite, ilmenite, chromite, zirconolite, baddeleyte, and zircon.

Geochemistry: (R. Bartoschewitz, Bart., P. Appel and B. Mader, Kiel) Fa_39.7(mg# = 74-53, Fe/Mn = 90, n=3); low-Ca pyroxene Fs₅₆Wo₃(mg# = 51-32); pigeonite Fs₃₆Wo₁₁(mg# = 36-58, n=13); subcalcic augite Fs₃₂Wo₁₇(n=1); augite Fs₂₂Wo₃₃(mg# = 52-44, n=7); ferro-augite Fs₄₁Wo₂₇(mg# = 29-33, n=9; Fe/Mn = 55); An₉₃Or₁(An_63-97, n=63). Kamacite Ni 5-76, Co 12-5 (mg/g, n=3); taenite Ni 192, Co 15 (mg/g); awaruite Ni 636, Co 18 (mg/g); pyrrhotite; troilite; pentlandite Ni 331, Co 11 (mg/g). Bulk composition (R. Korotev, WUSL): FeO 4.9, K₂O 0.3 wt%; Sc 8.99, Ni 229, Zr 138, La 9.8, Ce 24.5, Nd 14.9, Sm 4.43, Eu 0.986, Ta 0.447, Ir 0.0094, Au 0,0074, Th 2.3, U 0.64 (all in ppm).

Classification: Lunar (mingled regolith breccia). Classified as a mingled regolith breccia rather than a feldspathic fragmental breccia based as well on the presence of mare and KREEPy material as of HASP and chondritic metal.

Specimens: A total of 6.9 g is on deposit at Kiel. Thin section and 3.5 g at Bart. The main mass is held by the finder.