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Northwest Africa 15051
Basic information Name: Northwest Africa 15051
     This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: NWA 15051
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2021
Country: Western Sahara
Mass:help 106 g
Classification
  history:
Meteoritical Bulletin:  MB 111  (2023)  Lunar (frag. breccia)
Recommended:  Lunar (frag. breccia)    [explanation]

This is 1 of 35 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (frag. breccia).   [show all]
Search for other: Lunar meteorites
Comments: Approved 23 Jul 2022
Writeuphelp
Writeup from MB 111:

Northwest Africa 15051 (NWA 15051)

Western Sahara

Purchased: 2021

Classification: Lunar meteorite (frag. breccia)

History: Found by nomads in Western Sahara. Bought by Steve Arnold through a Moroccan Broker in November 2021 and a week-long team search of the find location in Nov 2021 by Arnold, the broker and the finders turned up no other specimens from the area.

Physical characteristics: Saw cut surface shows numerous white, light gray and dark gray clasts set in a very dark gray to black host groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Electron microprobe analysis and reflected light microscopy indicate a fragmental breccia. Major phases are plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine; minor phases, chrome spinel (Ti,Al-rich), chromite, ilmenite, troilite, and Fe-metal (low Ni) were detected.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Olivine Fa34.9±7.8, Fe/Mn=97±13, n=5; low-Ca pyroxene Fs37.6±2.9Wo2.4±0.5, Fe/Mn=63±2, n=2; pigeonite Fs28.5±11.7Wo7.1±0.9, Fe/Mn=54±9, n=2; augite Fs20.4±1.2Wo41.2±1.7, Fe/Mn=49±7, n=2; plagioclase An97.6±0.4, n=4.

Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia

Specimens: 20.1 g on deposit at UNM, Steve Arnold holds the main mass.

Data from:
  MB111
  Table 0
  Line 0:
Place of purchase:Morocco
Date:P 2021
Mass (g):106
Pieces:1
Class:Lunar (frag. breccia)
Shock stage:high
Weathering grade:moderate
Fayalite (mol%):34.9±7.8
Ferrosilite (mol%):37.6±2.9, 28.5±11.7, 20.4±1.2
Wollastonite (mol%):2.4±0.5, 7.1±0.9, 41.2±1.7
Classifier:C. Agee, UNM
Type spec mass (g):20.1
Type spec location:UNM
Main mass:Steve Arnold
Comments:Fieldname SA-20; submitted by C. Agee
Institutions
   and collections		 UNM: Institute of Meteoritics MSC03 2050 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-1126 USA, United States; Website (institutional address; updated 12 Feb 2015)
Catalogs:
References: Published in Gattacceca J., McCubbin F. M., Grossman J. N., Schrader D. L., Chabot N. L., D’Orazio M., Goodrich C., Greshake A., Gross J., Joy K. H., Komatsu M. and Miao B. (2023) The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 58, 901–904. ?
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Austin   
Geography:

Western Sahara
Coordinates:Unknown.

Statistics:
     This is 1 of 286 approved meteorites from Western Sahara (plus 20 unapproved names)

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