Tindouf 002        27.312°N, 7.561°W

Tindouf, Algeria

Find: 2014 May 16

Classification: Martian meteorite (Shergottite)

History: Six similar dark stones were found together by Mr. Alla on May 16, 2014, at a location 80 km SE of Tindouf, Algeria (27.312°N, 7.561°W) and subsequently acquired by Moulay El Bechir Didi. Four of the stones were subsequently purchased in June 2015 by Fabien Kuntz.

Physical characteristics: The stones lack fusion crust and are dark green in color with visible black, vesicular patches.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Intersertal texture with some preferred orientation of elongate grains. Major minerals are zoned clinopyroxene and intermediate plagioclase (converted to maskelynite) with accessory ulvöspinel, ilmenite, merrillite, fayalite, pyrrhotite and silica polymorph. Dark glassy, vesicular shock pockets are present.

Geochemistry: High-Ca pyroxene (subcalcic augite, Fs_22.8-61.8Wo_31.1-20.2, FeO/MnO = 28-38, N = 6), low-Ca pyroxene (pigeonite, Fs_43.0-62.5Wo_14.6-15.1, FeO/MnO = 30-39, N = 3), maskelynite (An_46.3-53.1Or_3.7-1.2, N = 3). Hf and Nd isotopes (M. Righter and T. Lapen, UHou): analysis of a subsample gave ε¹⁷⁶Hf = -19.7 and ε¹⁴³Nd = -10.0, indicating that this specimen has affinities to enriched shergottites (like Shergotty).

Classification: Martian (mafic shergottite, enriched).

Specimens: 15.84 g including one polished endcut at UWB; remaining material with Kuntz and an anonymous collector.