Ilafegh 018        21°20’31.93"N, 0°49’26.02"E

Adrar, Algeria

Find: 2001 Dec

Classification: Iron meteorite (IIIAB)

History: Compact, heavily sculpted mass with well-preserved fusion crust on large parts of the surface and only a thin layer of surface oxidation. The mass shows distinct regmaglypts and heavy ablation of edges. The iron was found by nomadic Berbers in 2001, "probed" for possible gold or silver content with negative results, and left in place, remembered only as a curiosity. Only in 2015, when the finders made contact with Moroccan meteorite dealers, was the iron was recovered from its find location and recognized as an iron Meteorite, and subsequently purchased by S. Buhl.

Physical characteristics: Single mass with regmaglypts and remnants of fusion crust on large parts of the surface. Minor surface oxidation.

Petrography: (J. Gattacceca, CEREGE): The etched section shows octahedrite texture with a 1-2 mm heat alteration zone. Only three kamacite bands are visible in the section, with average width 1.4 mm. Kamacite is polycristalline and in the epsilon form. Comb, black and net plessite are present. No accessory minerals were observed.

Geochemistry: (M. D’Orazio, DST-PI): Composition of the metal is Co=0.44, Ni=7.7 (both in wt%), Cu=184, Ga=20.3, Ge=41, As=4.9, Mo=6.5, Ru=10.8, Rh=1.85, Pd=3.10, Re=0.48, Ir=5.5, Pt=11.5, Au=0.67 (all in ppm). Ni and Co have been measured by hand-held XRF following Gemelli et al. 2015; all other elements by ICP-MS following D'Orazio and Folco (2003).

Classification: Iron, IIIAB.