Northwest Africa 14570 (NWA 14570)

Morocco

Purchased: 2017

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB complex)

History: Purchased by Ziyao Wang from Moroccan dealer Mohamed Sbai during the China (Hunan) Mineral and Gem Show in Chenzhou City in 2017

Physical characteristics: The approximately 10 × 8 × 4 cm mass has a mottled dark and light brown surface, with metal exposed in spots.

Petrography: (C. Herd and P. Hill, UAb) Examination of a polished and etched surface shows a Widmanstatten pattern with kamacite bandwidths consistent with coarse octahedrite (estimated from photos provided by the owner). A few sulfide inclusions are present; other inclusions were not observed. Terrestrial alteration extends into the interior along grain boundaries.

Geochemistry: ICP-MS data, using sample of North Chile (Filomena) as standard (C. Herd, P. Hill, and S. DuFrane UAb): Ni = 6.8, Co = 0.452 (both wt%); Ir = 2.4, Ga = 79, Ge = 333, As = 13.9, Sb = 0.300, Ru = 5.8, Re = 0.2, Os = 2.0, W = 0.8, Pt = 6.0, Cu = 148 (all µg/g).

Classification: (C. Herd and P. Hill, UAb): IAB iron, closest to Main Group subgroup. Coarse octahedrite (estimated). Au was not measured due to uncertainties associated with the solution ICP-MS method.

Specimens: Type specimen of 82.8 g at UAb. Main mass with Ziyao Wang.