Al Hawaya 004        19°47.634’N, 49°09.605’E

Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia

Found: 16 Feb 2013

Classification: HED achondrite (Eucrite, polymict)

History: Found by Abu Badr al Obeidi during a search for meteorites on small patch of sandy soil between dunes on February 16, 2013.

Physical characteristics: Wind-polished individual with a total mass of 176.9 g, showing partial brecciated texture, no fusion crust preserved.

Petrography: Breccia containing a variety of basaltic lithologies, generally plagioclase-rich with lath-like plagioclase typically 0.5-0.9 mm long, and some pyroxene laths up to 1.8 mm. A silica phase is commonly present. A macroscopically dark grey, fine-grained clast (mean grain size 5-10 μm) with equilibrated metamorphic texture also contains silica phase. Accessories are ilmenite, magnetite, troilite and rare iron metal.

Geochemistry: (N. Greber, Bern) Orthopyroxene compositions are Fs_55.0-60.2Wo_1.7-8.4, median Fs_56.9Wo_5.2 (n=12). Clinopyroxene compositions are Fs_27.7-53.2Wo_10.5-41.5, median Fs_42.4Wo_22.7 (n=4). Plagioclase: An_92.2Or_0.3 (n=1). Bulk analysis of cut surface by XRF (wt%): Fe 14.6, Mn 0.43 (Fe/Mn 34.2). Oxygen isotopes: (R. Greenwood, OU) gave δ¹⁸O = 3.93, δ¹⁷O = 1.82, Δ¹⁷O = -0.226 (all per mil).

Classification: Based on texture, mineral composition, oxygen isotopes and bulk Fe/Mn this is a eucrite (basaltic eucrite breccia).

Specimens: 31.66 g and one polished thin section at MHNGE. Remaining material SGS.