Northwest Africa 8337 (NWA 8337)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2012

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB, ungrouped)

History: This sample was donated to UCLA by Arlene Schlazer.

Petrography: The type specimen dimensions are about 4 × 3 × 0.3 cm thick. It is a medium octahedrite containing numerous 1-3 mm troilite masses which tend to be clustered. Schreibersite masses are common but small, typically 0.05 × 0.3 mm. The bandwidth is 0.7±0.1 mm. The heat-altered zone is missing with the possible exception of one small area where there is a hint of taenite dissolution. Rust forms on a time scale of weeks around some inclusions.

Geochemistry: Composition: Co, 4.48 mg/g; Ni, 111.8 mg/g; Ga, 20.6 μg/g; Ge, <120 μg/g; As, 11.6 μg/g; Ir, 3.32 μg/g; and Au, 1.286 μg/g. The contents of Cu (760 μg/g) and Sb (1002 ng/g) are exceptionally high. Composition is unique. there are no close relatives.