Ramlat Fasad 517        18°56.997’N, 53°26.321’E

Zufar, Oman

Find: 02 Feb 2017

Classification: Ureilite

History: A single broken individual was found during a search for meteorites.

Physical characteristics: Dark brown-olive wind ablated stone, 2 cm maximum dimension. No fusion crust.

Petrography: (S.Rout, E. Gnos, B. Hofmann) The meteorite consists dominantly of olivine and pigeonite with characteristic ureilitic texture, primary grain size is 0.8-1.5 mm. Large regions of olivine show secondary reduction with minute inclusions of Fe metal. All pyroxene grains show signatures of recrystallization and contain two types of pigeonites, enstatite, augite, interstitial glass and Fe-metal grains. One silica grain was detected within a recrystallized pyroxene grain. Primary silicate grains show low shock (S2). Carbon platelets are irregular in shape, to 0.5 mm, consist of diamond and fine-grained graphite. Medium weathering (most iron metal oxidized, silicates are unaffected).

Geochemistry: (S. Rout, Bern) Olivine cores Fa_19.2±0.5, Fe/Mn = 36±1, Cr₂O₃=0.65±0.03 wt% (N = 26); reduced rims have Fa_9.8±4.6, Cr₂O₃=0.67±0.13 wt% (N = 25). Fe-rich Pigeonite (cores): Fs_16.1±0.3Wo_11.0±0.5, Cr₂O₃ 1.25±0.07 wt% (N = 10). Fe-poor recrystallized pigeonite: Fs_7.8±1.2Wo_10.5±2 (N = 3). Enstatite: Fs_12.3±1.0Wo_4.5±0.6 (N = 5). Augite: Fs _4.3±0.8Wo_34.3±0.9 (N = 6). Glass: Na₂O 2.2/2.7 wt%, CaO 5.0/5.5 wt%, Al₂O₃ 14.6/16.1 wt%, SiO₂ 71.5/72.6 wt% (N = 2).

Classification: Based on texture, mineralogy and geochemistry this is a ferroan ureilite.

Specimens: 1.20 g including one polished thin section at NMBE, main mass: MHTO