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Northwest Africa 14550
Basic information Name: Northwest Africa 14550
     This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: NWA 14550
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2021
Country: Morocco
Mass:help 105 g
Classification
  history:
Recommended:  Martian (shergottite)    [explanation]

This is 1 of 307 approved meteorites (plus 2 unapproved names) classified as Martian (shergottite).   [show all]
Search for other: Martian meteorites
Comments: Approved 12 Feb 2022
Writeuphelp
Writeup from MB 111:

Northwest Africa 14550 (NWA 14550)

Morocco

Purchased: 2021

Classification: Martian meteorite (Shergottite)

History: A single 105 g stone was found by a nomad in in northwest Africa. This meteorite was eventually purchased by Carlos Muñecas (Expometeoritos) from a dealer of Morocco.

Physical characteristics: Sample is irregular shaped and has a dark green and yellowish orange weathered exterior. The interior is dark green and has a crystalline igneous texture.

Petrography: Description and classification (A. Love, App) Sample has a diabasic igneous texture composed of (vol%): clusters of pyroxene prisms (55); maskelynite (30); merrillite (5), Fe-Ti oxides and pyrrhotite (4); and interstital mesostasis (6). Pyroxenes show: a weak preferred orientation; chaotic zonation; and many show µm-scale exsolution lamellae. Maskelynite shows secondary irregular fractures filled w/ calcite. Additional minerals are: Cl-apatite and pyrrhotite.

Geochemistry: (A. Patchen, UTK): Pigeonite Cores (Fs34.1±1.0Wo10.9±0.5, Fe/Mn=31.2±1.7, Mg#61.7±0.9, n=3); Augite (Fs23.8±2.2Wo32.4±2.6, Fe/Mn=28.7±1.6, Mg#64.8±2.6, n=34); Pigeonite rims (Fs53.4±6.9Wo14.1±2.0, Fe/Mn=36.0±2.2, Mg#37.7±8.7, n=60); Augite rims (Fs42.3±7.5Wo29.1±3.7, Fe/Mn=35.7±1.9, Mg#40.5±8.5, n=26); Maskelynite (An42.7±5.0Or2.8±1.0, n=24); Anorthoclase (Ab68.9Or15.6); Ti-magnetite (Sp4.1±0.7Chr1.6±1.0Usp68.3±3.1Mt25.9±2.1, Mg#=1.2±0.2, n=42); Ilmenite (Ilm93.3±0.8Hem1.3±0.0), n=19.

Classification: Martian achondrite (basaltic shergottite). Based on chaotic patchy zonation, distinctive compositions and Fe/Mn ratios of pyroxenes and compositions of maskelynite, this sample is a Martian meteorite. Mineralogy and textures suggest this is a basaltic shergottite, M-S4, low weathering grade.

Specimens: Carlos Muñecas (Expometeoritos) holds the main mass. A polished thin section, an endcut and several slices and weighing 22.52 g are on deposit at App.

Data from:
  MB111
  Table 0
  Line 0:
Place of purchase:Morocco
Date:P 2021
Mass (g):105
Pieces:1
Class:Martian (shergottite)
Shock stage:M-S4
Weathering grade:low
Ferrosilite (mol%):34.1±1.0; 23.8±2.2; 53.4±6.9; 42.3±7.5
Wollastonite (mol%):10.9±0.5; 32.4±2.6; 14.1±2.0; 29.1±3.7
Classifier:A. Love, App
Type spec mass (g):22.52
Type spec location:App
Main mass:Carlos Muñecas (Expometeoritos)
Comments:Submitted by Anthony Love
Institutions
   and collections		 App: Department of Geology, 572 Rivers St., Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, United States (institutional address; updated 7 Mar 2013)
USP: Museu de Geociências - USP Rua do Lago, 562 CEP: 05508-080 Butantã - SP Brazil, Brazil; Website (institutional address; updated 22 Oct 2022)
Catalogs:
References: Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 111, in preparation (2022)
Find references in NASA ADS:
Find references in Google Scholar:
Geography:

Morocco
Coordinates:Unknown.

Statistics:
     This is 1 of 2012 approved meteorites from Morocco (plus 35 unapproved names) (plus 1 impact crater)

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