Gadamis 005        30.284, 11.005

Ghadamis, Libya

Purchased: 2022

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorth)

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002, 003 and 004, purchased by Mark Lyon in 2022.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikiolitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.6±0.7Ab_3.1±0.7Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa_30.7±1.7, Fe/Mn=109±10, n=5; pigeonite Fs_27.8±5.2Wo_7.2±8.0, Fe/Mn=53±3, n=3; augite Fs_15.3±4.7Wo_39.4±5.1, Fe/Mn=44±9, n=3.

Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993). The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs. Paired with Gadamis 002, Gadamis 003, and Gadamis 004.

Specimens: 20.5 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.