Northwest Africa 11045 (NWA 11045)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2011

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L3-6)

History: One mostly crusted stone with a mass 24.8 g was found and purchased in Morocco in 2011. The sample was acquired from prospector David Holden in 2011.

Physical characteristics: A dark-brown weathered fusion crust covers approximately 98% of the stone. The stone is oriented with an obvious nose cone leading edge and trailing edge with with roll-over lipping and frothing.

Petrography: Description and classification (T. Anderson, App): Sample is a breccia composed of equilibrated clasts (ranging from type 5 to type 6) set within a host of unequilibrated, well-defined CC, BO, PP, GOP, Poik OP, POP, PO and RP chondrules and fragments with an average diameter of 746 μm (n=44). Accessory minerals are apatite, chromite, troilite and ~7 vol% Fe-Ni metal. Some unequilibrated chondrules contain isotropic glassy mesostasis.

Geochemistry: (T. Anderson, App) Host: Olivine Fa_21.5±12.4 (4.8-32.9 N=7); Low Ca pyroxene Fs_11.2±4.4Wo_3.6±5.7 (Fs_4.8-19.3Wo_0.64-17.4, N=10), Clasts: Olivine Fa_23.6±0.4, N=8; Low Ca pyroxene Fs_19.8±0.8Wo_1.9±0.4, N=12.

Classification: Based on textures and mineral compositions this is an ordinary chondrite breccia composed of type 5 and 6 clasts set within a host on unequilibrated chondrules (L3-6, S4, W2).

Specimens: Two endpieces whose masses total 17.27 g and one polished thin section are on deposit at App.