Northwest Africa 13298 (NWA 13298)

Morocco

Purchased: 2020

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3)

History: Fabien Kuntz purchased the 730 g sample in Errachidia, Morocco, from a meteorite prospector in 2020.

Physical characteristics: Sample is brownish-yellow in color, has a rounded, irregular shape and displays a heavily sand-blasted interior which shows chondrules up to cm in size. Abundant chondrules and clasts are visible on the cut face showing the interior of the sample.

Petrography: Description and classification (A. Love, App) Sample is a breccia composed of unequilibrated type 3 clasts in a host type 3 material. Host is composed of distinct, close-packed 805µm (avg. dia.) chondrules in opaque matrix. Chondrules with isotropic glass are present, but devitrified mesostasis is dominant. Clasts contain unequilibrated chondrules set in a transparent and brecciated matrix.

Geochemistry: (A. Love, App) Host: Olivine (Fa_16.8±11.9 (Fa_0.7-38.7), Fe/Mn=50.3±22.2, n=11. Mean Cr₂O₃ in type II 0.08 Wt% and sigma of 0.05, n=9); low Ca-pyroxene (Fs_16.2±13.6Wo_1.0±0.6 (Fs_2.1-28.9Wo_0.3-2.0), n=10). Clast A: olivine (Fa_14.5±5.2, n=4); low Ca pyroxene (Fs_15.2Wo_1.3, n=1). Clast B: Olivine (Fa_10.8±4.9, n=2); low Ca pyroxene (Fs_17.9±0.7Wo_0.5+/-0.1, n=2).

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3, C-S3, W2) Based on texture, chondrule size and magnetic susceptibility this sample is an LL chondrite breccia. Estimated subtype for this sample is 3.5 based on unequilibrated compositions, presence of isotropic glass mesostasis (3.4-3.5), lack of yellow CL in chondrule mesostasis (>3.4) and presence of red luminescence in chondrule olivine >3.5). Clasts A & B are type 3 (>3.5) based on unequilibrated olivine compositions and CL signatures.

Specimens: Fabien Kuntz holds the main mass. A thick slice and several smaller slices and fragments comprise the 36.43g type specimen. A polished thin section and mount are on deposit at App.