Dhofar 1982 (Dho 1982)        19°11.87’N, 54°54.17’E

Zufar, Oman

Found: January 2013

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5)

History: Collected by SQU-UWO meteorite research team in January 2013

Physical characteristics: Physical Characteristics: A 1205.76 g sample supplied by SQU, which has a 2-mm thick, brown-black fusion crust present on three out of five faces of the stone. Regmaglypts and contraction cracks are present on the surface of the fusion crust. This specimen has undergone extensive terrestrial weathering. This sample has been split in two, most likely due to weathering. The sample is magnetic.

Petrography (P. Hill, UWO) Many chondrules can be discerned, but lack sharp edges. Most of the chondrules are fairly large (~0.7 mm) with many of the non-porphyritic chondrules exceeding 1 mm in diameter. A majority of the chondrules are porphyritic olivine-pyroxene but porphyritic pyroxene chondrules also make up significant portion of the chondrules. Porphyritic olivine, radial pyroxene, granular and cryptocrystalline chondrules are present but occur less frequently throughout the thin section. The entire chondrite has been strongly oxidized, with rust present on all mineral phases present. A large amount of deformation is evident, and fractures ~100 μm wide cut across the thin section. There is evidence of brecciation. The matrix has been completely recrystallized with secondary feldspar common throughout the thin section. Troilite is present primarily as inclusions within the chondrules and Fe-Ni oxide rims but also as coarser grains. All of the Fe-Ni metal has been oxidized within the thin section but there is little evidence of weathering of silicate minerals, indicating weathering grade W3. Weak mosaicism, planar fractures and undulatory extinction in olivine suggest shock stage S4.

Geochemistry: Mineral composition and geochemistry (M. Beauchamp, P. Hill, UWO) Olivine (Fa_22.3±0.65, n=30) with PMD Fa=1.8%, low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_18.9±0.67Wo_1.5±1.02, n=13) with PMD Fs=3.1%. The high-Ca pyroxene was observed is suggestive of augite composition of (Fs_5.5±5.0Wo_23.9±16.3, n=2)

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5, S4, W3).

Specimens: 6078 g type specimen, including polished thin section, are on deposit at SQU.