Gadamis 006        30.284°N, 11.005°E

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 Ziyao Wang in 2022.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. Exposed 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, minor amounts of zircon, spinel, and silica were also detected.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.0±0.6Ab_3.8±0.5Or_0.2±0.1, n=4; olivine Fa_39.5±0.3, Fe/Mn=103±5, n=6; pigeonite Fs_39.2±3.2Wo_5.6±3.7, Fe/Mn=61±3, n=3; augite Fs_18.2±11.1Wo_33.1±11.8, Fe/Mn=54±6, 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, Gadamis 004, and Gadamis 005.

Specimens: 20 g on deposit at UNM, Ziyao Wang holds the main mass.