Northwest Africa 13792 (NWA 13792)

Algeria

Purchased: 2020 Jan 23

Classification: Iron meteorite (IIIAB)

History: Purchased over the Internet from anonymous finder; was shipped from Morocco. Reported by the finder to have been found in Algeria.

Physical characteristics: The approximately fist-sized meteorite is irregularly shaped, with a few regmaglypts on its dark brown outer surface, and minor rust spots.

Petrography: (C. Herd, UAb) Optical investigation of a ~5 × 7 cm polished and etched surface reveals a well-developed Widmanstatten pattern consistent with a medium octahedrite (1.05 ± 0.13 mm; n=65). No inclusions were identified in the specimen that was studied.

Geochemistry: ICP-MS data, using sample of North Chile (Filomena) as standard (C. Herd, P. Hill, and S. DuFrane UAb): Ni = 7.5, Co = 0.50 (both wt%); Ir = 4.23, Ga = 19, Ge = 49, As = 4.5, W = 1.1, Ru = 9.2, Re = 0.33, Os = 2.0, Pt = 13.1, Cu = 154, Au = 0.50 (all μg/g).

Classification: (C. Herd, UAb): IIIAB iron, medium octahedrite.

Specimens: Type specimen consisting of a 277.78 g representative end piece at UAb. Main mass with Robert Verish.