Lut 004        30°16’23"N, 59°21’36"E

Kerman, Iran

Found: 2013 Mar 21

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H3)

History: A single stone found during an expedition in the Lut desert of Iran, on sand dunes known to locals as Rig-e Yalan. Two pieces totalling 34.5 g were donated to Cascadia on May 1, 2013.

Physical characteristics: Physical: Cut face shows a medium to dark brown interior with numerous distinct chondrules. Remnant metal and sulfide is unevenly distributed in hand specimen; more weathered areas are somewhat porous. Exterior is covered by a dark brown weathering patina.

Petrography: (M. Hutson and A. Ruzicka, Cascadia) In thin section the specimen shows tightly packed chondrules of typical 0.2-0.5 mm diameter (average 0.4±0.2, N=69 chondrules) with only a little intervening opaque matrix. The matrix is the fine-grained matrix typical of type 3 ordinary chondrites. Metal, weathered metal, and sulfide together comprise approx. 15 vol% of the thin section. Approximately 85-95% of the metal and troilite have been replaced during weathering.

Geochemistry: BSE imaging shows that the meteorite is highly unequilibrated. Compositions of major phases show a wide spread in values, and include olivine Fa_21.8±8.7 (median Fa=26.4, N=44), and low-Ca pyroxene Wo_1.1±1.2Fs_12.7±10.2En_86.2±10.5 (N=25). A silica polymorph phase was observed in two chondrules.

Classification: H3 chondrite implied by metal content and chondrule size, estimated low subtype (<3.6) based on BSE imaging and compositional spread.

Specimens: Two pieces (31.1 and 0.2 g), 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).