Dhofar  925

Oman

Found 2003, February 6

Lunar meteorite (VLT basalt-bearing feldspathic impact melt breccia)

A grey stone weighing 49 g was found in the Dhofar region of Oman. Mineralogy and classification (S. Demidova, M. Nazarov, Vernad., G. Kurat, NHMV): fusion crust is absent. The meteorite is an impact melt breccia; abundant mineral fragments and lithic clasts are set within a fine-grained impact melt matrix; the lithic clast population is dominated by impact melt breccias and granulitic rocks of anorthositic, troctolitic, noritic, and gabbro-noritic compositions; the presence of VLT mare basalt clasts and rare KREEPy and granitic fragments is a characteristic feature of this meteorite; glass veins and fragments are common; feldspar, An_2-98Or_0-85; orthopyroxene, Wo_2-5En_49-90; clinopyroxene; Wo_5-47En_0.1-79, olivine, Fo_0.5-93 (Fe/Mn ≈ 87 at); accessory minerals are ulvöspinel, Ti-rich chromite, pleonaste, ilmenite (0.4-7.4 wt % MgO), silica, troilite, and abundant FeNi metal (0.6-24 wt% Ni; 0.1-1.5 wt% Co); K-Ba feldspar, whitlockite, Cl-apatite, baddeleyite, zircon, Zr-armalcolite, monazite, tranquillityite, and zirconolite occur in granitic clasts. One fragment of tschermakitic amphibole was found. The stone is moderately weathered; calcite, gypsum, celestite, barite, smectite and Fe hydroxides are present. The meteorite was found close to Dho 489 but the stones are very different in composition. Dho 489 does not contain any mare basalt material. Specimens: type specimens of 10.1 g, and 2 thin sections, Vernad.; main mass with anonymous finder.