Dhofar 301

Oman

Found 2001 April 13

Lunar meteorite (anorthositic impact melt breccia)

A brownish grey stone weighing 9 g was found in the Dhofar region, Oman. Mineralogy and classification (M. Nazarov, Vernad; L. Taylor, UTenn): fusion crust is absent; meteorite is a clast-rich impact melt breccia containing numerous mineral fragments and lithic clasts embedded in a very fine-grained impact melt matrix. The lithic clast population is dominated by impact melt breccias; primary igneous rocks and granulites of mostly anorthositic and gabbro-noritic compositions are rare; mare basalt material is possibly present; feldspar, An90–98; orthopyroxene, Wo1–4En70–99; clinopyroxene, Wo6–43En1–74; olivine, Fo58–86 (Fe/Mn ≈90 atom%); accessory minerals are Ti-rich chromite, ilmenite (7 wt% MgO), troilite, and FeNi metal (7–48 wt% Ni; 0.4–1.4 wt% Co); composition of the impact melt matrix is SiO2 = 44.1, TiO2 = 0.36, Al2O3 = 28.6, Cr2O3 = 0.10, FeO = 4.27, MnO = 0.07, MgO = 4.83, CaO = 16.5, Na2O = 0.39, K2O = 0.04, P2O5 = 0.07 (wt%); the meteorite is moderately weathered; gypsum, calcite, celestite, barite, and Fe hydroxides occur in cracks and holes. Dhofar 025 and Dhofar 301 are possibly paired because the stones were found nearby, and they are similar in texture and mineral chemistry.  Specimens: type specimen, 1.8 g plus a thin section, Vernad; main mass with anonymous finder.