Northwest Africa 13006 (NWA 13006)

Niger

Purchased: 2019 Mar

Classification: Iron meteorite (IIIAB)

History: Reportedly found in Niger in December 2018. Purchased in March 2019 via the internet from Moroccan dealer Mustapha Oulkouch.

Petrography: (C. Herd and J. Victor, UAb) Optical investigation of a ~3 × 5 cm polished and etched slice, as well as photos provided by the owner, reveals a well-developed Widmanstatten pattern consistent with a medium octahedrite (1.05 ± 0.13 mm; n=23). No inclusions were observed. Terrestrial alteration appears to have only affected the exterior surface.

Geochemistry: ICP-MS data, using sample of North Chile (Filomena) as standard (C. Herd and G. Chen UAb): Ni = 7.1, Co = 0.46 (both wt%); Ir = 11.7, Ga = 20, Cr = 63, As = 4.6, W = 1.2, Ru = 11.3, Rh = 1.6, Pd = 2.0, Re = 1.2, Os = 3.2, Pt = 15.0, Cu = 160, Au = 0.6 (all μg/g).

Classification: (C. Herd, UAb): IIIAB iron, medium octahedrite.

Specimens: Type specimen consisting of a 49.2 g representative slice at UAb. Main mass owned in equal parts by Craig Zlimen, Mark Lyon and Peter March.