Northwest Africa 16120 (NWA 16120)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2023

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3)

History: Sergey Vasiliev purchased a single 2870 g stone from a Moroccan meteorite dealer in 2023.

Physical characteristics: Stone is rounded in shape and is sparsely coated with a dull black fusion crust. The cut face shows many visible chondrules set within a light grey matrix.

Petrography: Description and classification (A. Love, App) Sample shows a chondritic texture composed of abundant chondrules with an average apparent diameter of 589 µm (n=63) set within a fine-grained, opaque matrix. Some chondrules are zoned and some contain isotropic glassy mesostasis. Additional minerals are: FeNi grains, troilite, chromite and rare apatite.

Geochemistry: (A. Love, App) Olivine (Fa_21.0±12.7, Fe/Mn=68.4±21.2, n=21; Cr₂O₃ in ferroan olivine=0.1±0.2, n=17); low Ca-pyroxene (Fs_9.3±8.1Wo_0.8±0.6, Fe/Mn=40.6±35.6 n=10).

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3 C-S2 W2). Based on the textures, mineral compositions, and magnetic susceptibility, sample is an LL3 chondrite. Unequilibrated compositions of minerals and Cr₂O₃ of ferroan olivines, indicate a subtype ≥3.2. CL signatures indicate a subtype ≥3.5. Estimated subtype is LL3.5.

Specimens: Sergey Vasiliev holds the main mass. A polished thin section and an endcut weighing 42.7 g are on Deposit at App.