Northwest Africa 14906 (NWA 14906)

Morocco

Find: 2021 Jun

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3)

History: The meteorite was found in Morocco in June 2021. B. Kormos purchased the stone from M. Graul in March 2022.

Physical characteristics: (D. Rezes, CSFK) Three identical appearing brown stones (8.04, 5.65, and 4.51 g, 18.2 g in total) with desert weathered exteriors. Cut surface reveals many sharply defined chondrules, scarce metal and numerous pores.

Petrography: (D. Rezes, CSFK) Chondritic texture with densely packed, sharply defined chondrules with an average diameter of 833 µm, N=42. The largest chondrule in the examined thin section is 4090 µm in diameter. Minor mineral phases are FeNi, troilite, chromite and Cr-spinel. Devitrified mesostasis is present in several chondrules, however chondrule glass is still observable. Olivine grains show sharp extinction.

Geochemistry: (D. Rezes, CSFK) Chondrule olivine Fa_19.29±9.04 (range Fa_9.93-42.62; PMD Fa=46.89%), Cr₂O₃(wt%)=0.09±0.10 (range 0.00-0.36), Fe/Mn=54.7±23.4, N=17; low-Ca pyroxene Fs_17.52±4.74Wo_0.65±0.61 (range Fs_14.26-24.56Wo_0.21-1.56; PMD Fs=27.05%), Fe/Mn=62.8±32.3, N=4; pigeonite Fs_41.53Wo_9.69, Fe/Mn=55.4, N=1; augite Fs_15.52±1.06Wo_35.42±6.63 (range Fs_14.80-17.09Wo_26.93-40.89), Fe/Mn=20.6±2.0, N=4.

Classification: Unequilibrated ordinary chondrite (LL3), estimated subtype is LL3.3. LL based on average chondrule diameter and low metal content. Estimated subtype is based on PMD Fa and Fs values and mean Cr₂O₃-content and sigma of ferroan olivine from Grossman and Brearley (2005). The Cr₂O₃ values and standard deviation of ferroan chondrule olivines are in the field of UOCs with petrologic type >3.2. The presence of glass in chondrules indicates petrologic type <3.5. Shock stage S1, weathering grade W3.

Specimens: 4 g on deposit at CSFK, B. Kormos holds the main mass and one polished thin section.