Northwest Africa 11104 (NWA 11104)

Morocco

Purchased: June 2016

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB, anomalous)

History: Originally obtained by Rachid Chaoui of Ouarzazate, subsequently purchased by F. Kuntz at the Ensisheim show in June 2016.

Physical characteristics: The main mass has a dark brown exterior and is irregular in shape.

Petrography: Polished surfaces display abundant inclusions of silicates and sulfides. Etched surfaces show few kamacite lamellae ~0.5 mm across; otherwise, kamacite and taenite grains have irregular shapes and are interstitial to the inclusions.

Geochemistry: ICP-MS data, using sample of North Chile (Filomena) as standard (C. Herd and G. Chen UAb): Ni = 10.8, Co = 0.46 (both wt%); Ir = 3.3, Ga = 73, Ge = 322, W = 0.9, Re = 0.3, Os = 1.3, Cu = 471, Ru = 4.9, Pd = 4.2, Pt = 5.4 (all μg/g).

Classification: (C. Herd, UAb): IAB anomalous. Ni content is intermediate for the IAB complex of Wasson and Kallemeyn (2002); however, Ga and Ge are too high to be considered part of the sLM subgroup.

Specimens: Type specimen consisting of two representative slices (22.4 and 1.2 g) at UAb. Main mass with Kuntz.