Lut 005        30°14’55"N, 59°18’12"E

Kerman, Iran

Found: 2013 Feb 8

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3)

History: Found during an expedition in the Lut desert of eastern Iran, on large sand dunes known to locals as Rig-e Yalan, together with 91 other pieces totaling 2142 g of possibly related meteorites on the same day in a 50 m² area. Multiple small pieces of a single individual totaling 39.2 g were donated to Cascadia on May 1, 2013.

Physical characteristics: Physical: Mainly reddish to dark gray pieces covered by weathering patinas.

Petrography: (A. Ruzicka and M. Hutson, Cascadia) In thin section the specimen shows tightly packed chondrules of typical 0.5-1 mm diameter with only a little intervening opaque matrix. The matrix is distinctive in containing albite crystals intergrown with Fe-rich olivine. A metal-poor igneous textured inclusion up to 8 mm across is present. Metal, weathered metal, and sulfide together compose <5 vol% of the thin section. Approximately 85-90% of the opaque minerals have been replaced during weathering.

Geochemistry: Compositions of all measured phases in the host meteorite are variable, and include olivine Fa_24.6±5.1 (median Fa_26.2) (N=116), low-Ca pyroxene Wo_1.1±1.1Fs_18.7±9.2En_80.2±9.4 (N=86), high-Ca pyroxene Wo_28.7±20.7Fs_2.7±2.0En_49.6±12.2 (N=8), and feldspar Ab_78±30Or_3±3An_19±31 (N=18).

Classification: LL3 chondrite implied by low metal content and phase composition, estimated subtype 3.7-3.8.

Specimens: 30.3 g in eight pieces, 4.4 g of smaller fragments, one polished thin section, and a stub are on deposit at Cascadia. Mr. Maziar Nazari and Mr. Kiyan Babazadeh hold the main mass (PO Box 17665-414, Tehran, Iran).