Northwest Africa 1232                                                                                        

Morocco

Find: May 2001

Carbonaceous chondrite (CO3)

History: In May 2001 B. Fecay and C. Bidaut purchased the stone in Zagora, Morocco.

Physical characteristics:  A single piece weighing 1900 g.  Approximately 40 % of its surface is covered by fusion crust.

Petrography: (M. Kiriishi and K. Tomeoka, UKobe) Two different lithologies separated by a sharp boundary; lithology A is dark gray, lithology B is light gray. Both lithologies contain well defined chondrules set in a fine-grained matrix. Lithology A consists of ~ 53% chondrules, ~ 2% CAIs, and ~ 7% AOIs (all vol%), whereas lithology B consists of ~ 50% chondrules, ~ 3% CAIs, and ~ 5% AOIs (all vol%). Chondrules in lithology A range in apparent diameter from 50-510 mm with an average of ~ 128 mm, whereas those in lithology B range from 50-500 mm (average ~ 147 mm).

Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Lithology A: Chondrule olivine (Fa₃–Fa₂₀; mean Fa₁₁). CAI minerals:
Spinel (mean Hc₃₃), anorthite (An₉₉), melilite and minor nepheline. Lithology B: Chondrule olivine (Fa₁₅–Fa₄₀; mean Fa₃₀), CAI minerals: Spinel (mean Hc₅₁), diopside (En₅₁Wo₄₉), fassaite, minor nepheline.
Classification: Carbonaceous chodrite (CO3).

Type specimens: A total of 52 g are on deposit at UKobe. Fectay holds the main mass.

Submitted by: K. Tomeoka, UKobe.