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Northwest Africa 13441
Basic information Name: Northwest Africa 13441
     This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: NWA 13441
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2019
Country: Algeria
Mass:help 84.7 g
Classification
  history:
Recommended:  Martian (shergottite)    [explanation]

This is 1 of 281 approved meteorites (plus 2 unapproved names) classified as Martian (shergottite).   [show all]
Search for other: Martian meteorites
Comments: Approved 2 Nov 2020
Writeuphelp
Writeup from MB 109:

Northwest Africa 13441 (NWA 13441)

Algeria

Find: 2019

Classification: Martian meteorite (Shergottite)

History: The same group of camel herders, who found Rafsa 001, found 4 samples weighing a total of 84.69 g in December of 2019 near Rafsa, Oum El Assel, Algeria.

Physical characteristics: Samples are rounded to tabular in shape and range in color from dark green-to brownish dark green. The samples lack fusion crust but show a defined porphyritic igneous texture on the exterior.

Petrography: (A. Love, App) Sample has a porphyritic, intergranular texture composed of (vol%): (13) subhedral to euhedral olivine phenocrysts (avg. grain size 1125µm, n=23) set within a groundmass composed of (avg. grainsize 313 µm) polysynthetic twinned clinopyroxene laths (64), euhedral to subhedral olivine (10), maskelynite (13) and trace amounts of merrillite and opaques. Sample shows a weak preferred orientation of olivine phenocrysts and clinopyroxene laths. Additional minerals are: augite (present as irregular shaped inclusions within pyroxenes, Ni-bearing pyrrhotite, ilmenite and Ti-rich and Ti-poor chromite.

Geochemistry: (A. Patchen, UTenn) Olivine phenocrysts (cores Fa27.8-33.8, Fe/Mn=47-55, n=28; rims Fa31.5-41.6, Fe/Mn=49-57, n=32); groundmass olivine (Fa33.3-37.5, Fe/Mn=51.1-55.4, n=42); pigeonite (Fs23.0-30.9Wo6.7-11.9, Fe/Mn=27.3-32.5, n=140); maskelynite (An45.4-66.3Or0.4-1.4, n=53).

Classification: (Martian) Olivine-phyric shergottite. Mineral compositions, porphyritic texture and shock effects, suggest sample is an olivine-phyric shergottite. Sample shows a high level of shock (M-S5) and low level of weathering.

Specimens: D. Lehman and his partner hold the main masses. A polished thin section and several slices weighing 16.95 g are on deposit at App.

Data from:
  MB109
  Table 0
  Line 0:
Date:2019
Mass (g):84.69
Pieces:4
Class:Martian (shergottite)
Shock stage:high
Weathering grade:low
Fayalite (mol%):32.8±2.4; 35.9±1.2
Ferrosilite (mol%):25.7±1.7; 18.0±1.1; 23.43
Wollastonite (mol%):9.3±1.1; 33.5±1.6; 3.9
Magnetic suscept.:2.82
Classifier:A. Love, App
Type spec mass (g):16.95
Type spec location:App
Main mass:Dave Lehman
Comments:Based on composition and petrography, this sample may be paired with Rafsa 001 (pers. comm. T. Irving, 2020).; submitted by Anthony Love
Institutions
   and collections		 UTenn: Planetary Geosciences Institute, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, 1412 Circle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-1410, United States (institutional address; updated 1 Nov 2011)
App: Department of Geology, 572 Rivers St., Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, United States (institutional address; updated 7 Mar 2013)
Catalogs:
References: Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 109, in preparation (2020)
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Geography:

Algeria
Coordinates:Unknown.

Statistics:
     This is 1 of 1208 approved meteorites from Algeria (plus 29 unapproved names) (plus 4 impact craters)

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