Northwest Africa 11649 (NWA 11649)

Morocco

Purchased: 2005

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB-MG)

History: Purchased from a Moroccan dealer at the 2005 Munich show.

Physical characteristics: The meteorite is oblong, approximately 20 cm in longest dimension, and is characterized by a dark brown to black, regmaglypted exterior.

Petrography: (C. Herd, UAb) Optical investigation of a ~1.5 × 3 cm polished and etched surface reveals cm-scale, equant kamacite grains with Neumann lines. Sulfide inclusions are present; no other inclusions are visible, although the surface area examined is relatively small. Terrestrial alteration has occured along fractures connecting to the exterior.

Geochemistry: ICP-MS data, using sample of North Chile (Filomena) as standard (C. Herd and G. Chen UAb): Ni = 6.7, Co = 0.46 (both wt%); Ir = 3.5, Ga = 88, As = 12.5, W = 1.4, Re = 0.31, Pt = 8.6, Cu = 134, Au = 1.3 (all μg/g).

Classification: (C. Herd, UAb): IAB iron, Main Group, through comparison of bulk composition with data from Wasson and Kallemeyn (2002).

Specimens: Type specimen consisting of one representative piece (22.8 g) at UAb. Main mass in the Hollis Meteorite Collection.