Tuya 008        40°41.16’N, 91°58.92’E

Xinjiang, China

Find: 29 April 2020

Classification: Iron meteorite (IIIAB)

History: Found on April 29, 2020, by ReSuli and Aisiker in the desert near Lop Nur (Xinjiang Province), China. Consists of two fragments, 682 g and 158 g. Purchased in May 2020 by Ziyao Wang.

Physical characteristics: The largest fragment is irregularly shaped and elongated in one axis. Large regmaglypts are found on its dark black outer surface. Most of faces are covered with dark black fusion crust with only one face showing minor rust spots. The smaller fragment shows similar rusting.

Petrography: (C. Herd and P. Hill, UAb) Optical investigation of a ~1 × 2 cm polished and etched surface reveals a well-developed Widmanstätten pattern consistent with a medium octahedrite (0.97±0.21 mm; n=23). 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 = 8.0, Co = 0.44 (both wt%); Ir = 2.6, Ga = 18, Ge = 37, As = 6, Sb = 0.54, Ru = 7.8, Re = 0.20, Os = 2.3, Pt = 11.2, Cu = 140, Au = 0.79 (all μg/g).

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

Specimens: Type specimen consisting of a 51.87 g representative end piece at UAb. Main mass with Ziyao Wang.