Northwest Africa 10261 (NWA 10261)

Morocco

Purchased: 2014

Classification: Carbonaceous chondrite (CV3)

History: The meteorite was purchased in Guelmim town, Morocco, from a nomad seller, including around a large piece and two polished end-cut specimens, altogether 127 g.

Physical characteristics: A 27 g specimen is an unfractured unit with homogeneous appearance, without fusion crust, but rounded and rough surfaces

Petrography: Around a dozen of AOAs could be observed at each cm² of the thin section with size up to 2 mm, and a few CAI grains were also present. Chondrules 36 vol%; AOAs 25 vol% with size 0.2-2.6 mm; matrix is 38 vol% of sample. The average chondrule size is 0.8 mm (range: 0.2-2.6 mm). The minerals are fractured and mechanical twins are present in pyroxenes; olivines show mosaicism. Main minerals: olivine, pyroxene, opaques (troilite, magnetite, pentlandite), few feldspars. About 70-90% of troilite and metal in opaque chondrules is oxidized, opaque veins are tranformed to iron oxides.

Geochemistry: Mineral composition and geochemistry: olivine Fa_26.3±27.7 (Fa_20.6-78.8, N=58), cpx: Fs_12.2±8.9Wo_24.5±14.5 (Fs_0-30.8Wo_5.5-45.3 N=21); and opx: Fs_7.7±5.7Wo_1.9±1.9, (Fs_0-20.6Wo_0.0-4.7, N=14) (measurements with EPMA).

Classification: CV3, S3

Specimens: 2 specimens, total 127 g. 27 g CSFK; main mass, Zs. Kereszty, private collection