Outer Recovery Icefields 18014 (OUT 18014)        81°29.68717’S, 17°59.02300’W

Antarctica, Antarctica

Find: 2019 Jan 11

Classification: Mesosiderite

History: The meteorite was recovered as part of the Lost Meteorites of Antarctica project, which was funded in the UK by the Leverhulme Trust and supported by the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Manchester. These samples were collected as part of the project’s first field season in austral summer December 2018 - January 2019 by a two person field party consisting of Katherine Joy and Julie Baum. Main mass (514.24 g) found on blue ice surface at Outer Recovery Icefields ice field 3 (west icefield). Altitude 1410 m. Second stone (233.46 g) found close by on blue ice surface ~5 meters away at 81°29.68450’S, 17°59.02033’W at similar altitude.

Physical characteristics: Total mass 760.83 g. Pieces: 2. Main mass 527.30 g, dimensions: 12 cm × 10 cm × 8 cm, an irregular, part stone with no fusion crust and dark-gray exterior. Orange rust visible. Second stone, 233.46 g, dimensions: 8 cm × 6 cm × 5 cm, an irregular part stone with no fusion crust and dark-gray exterior.

Petrography: Mineral and lithic clasts, and a network of metal grains up to 1 mm in size. Approximately 30% metal (including minor taenite), 30% pyroxene (including minor Ca-rich pyroxene), 22% plagioclase, 8% silica. Minor iron sulfide and merrillite.

Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and geochemistry: All analyses by EPMA. Low-Ca pyroxene Fs_30.7±0.3Wo_3.1±0.2 (N=6). Feldspar An_93.1±2.4Ab_6.8±2.4 (N=6).

Classification: Mesosiderite. Likely paired with OUT 18018.

Specimens: 514.24 g and 233.46 g stones (main mass) held at the NHM London as type specimen. Similarity (petrography, mineral chemistry) of these two stones with OUT 18018 suggests a likely pairing relationship.