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Northwest Africa 15859
Basic information Name: Northwest Africa 15859
     This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: NWA 15859
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2021
Country: Algeria
Mass:help 25.4 g
Classification
  history:
Recommended:  Lunar (feldsp. breccia)    [explanation]

This is 1 of 329 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (feldsp. breccia).   [show all]
Search for other: Lunar meteorites
Comments: Approved 29 Sep 2023
Writeuphelp
Writeup from MB 112:

Northwest Africa 15859 (NWA 15859)

Erg Chech, Algeria

Find: 1 Mar 2021

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: A single piece was found by hunters in the Sahara, close to the town of Tindouf, Algeria. A thorough search of the surrounding area revealed no further pieces. It was subsequently purchased by Ali Muftah in May 2021 who gave it to Sean Mahoney.

Physical characteristics: One single piece with fusion crust covering one oriented side making up approximately 50% of the surface. The main mass is in the collection of Sean Mahoney.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, Cascadia) Fragmental breccia comprised of mm to cm-sized lithic and mineral clasts set within a dark, fine-grained matrix. Lithic clast lithologies identified include anorthosites, noritic anorthosites, troctolitic anorthosites, and impact melt-rich clasts. Accessory phases identified include ilmenite and merrillite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa40.2±10.0, range Fa24.9-54.1, Fe/Mn=89±11, n=10), Low-Ca Pyroxene (Fs32.2±4.6Wo3.5±0.4, range Fs24.7-39.1Wo3.1-4.1, Fe/Mn=56±3, n=6), Pigeonite (Fs30.4±7.1Wo9.3±3.6, range Fs25.4-35.4Wo6.8-11.8, Fe/Mn=59±2, n=2), Calcic Plagioclase (An95.5±1.5, range An91.2-97.6, n=15).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 5.2 grams at Cascadia, main mass with Sean Mahoney.

Data from:
  MB112
  Table 0
  Line 0:
State/Prov/County:Erg Chech
Origin or pseudonym:Nearby to Tindouf
Date:1 Mar 2021
Mass (g):25.4
Pieces:1
Class:Lunar (feldsp. breccia)
Shock stage:moderate
Weathering grade:moderate
Fayalite (mol%):40.2±10.0
Ferrosilite (mol%):32.2±4.6, 30.4±7.1
Wollastonite (mol%):3.5±0.4, 9.3±3.6
Classifier:D. Sheikh, Cascadia
Type spec mass (g):5.2
Type spec location:Cascadia
Main mass:Sean Mahoney
Comments:CML 1589; OSM014; submitted by Daniel Sheikh
Institutions
   and collections		 Cascadia: Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory, Portland State University, Department of Geology, Room 17 Cramer Hall, 1721 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201, United States; Website (institutional address; updated 28 Oct 2011)
Catalogs:
References: Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 112, in preparation (2023)
Find references in NASA ADS:
Find references in Google Scholar:
Geography:

Algeria
Coordinates:Unknown.

Statistics:
     This is the only approved meteorite from Erg Chech, Algeria
     This is 1 of 1315 approved meteorites from Algeria (plus 30 unapproved names) (plus 4 impact craters)

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