Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Northwest Africa 1242

MetSoc Home Publications Contacts

Search the Meteoritical Bulletin Database
Last update: 13 Sep 2024
Search for:	Search type:	Search limits:	Display:	Publication:
Names Text Places Classes Years	Contains Starts with Exact Sounds like	NonAntarctic Falls Non-NWAs Has strewnfield		What's new in the last:
Include past classifications in search		Has photo	Limit to approved meteorite names
Search text:

Northwest Africa 1242

Basic information

Name: Northwest Africa 1242
This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: NWA 1242
Observed fall: No
Year found: 1985
Country: (Northwest Africa)
Mass: 7 kg

Classification
history:

NHM Catalogue:	5th Edition	(2000)	Mesosiderite
Meteoritical Bulletin:	MB 86	(2002)	Mesosiderite-A2
MetBase:	v. 7.1	(2006)	Mesosiderite-A2
Recommended:			Mesosiderite-A2 [explanation]

This is 1 of 6 approved meteorites classified as Mesosiderite-A2. [show all]
Search for other: Class A mesosiderites, Mesosiderites, and Metal-rich meteorites

Writeup

Writeup from MB 86:

Northwest Africa 1242

Gillio, Libya

Found 1985

Mesosiderite

Two fully ablatedpieces of a mesosiderite (total known weight ~7 kg) were found near the villageof Gillio by unknown oil exploration workers and put into service as bookendsfor 13 years. Purchased in 1998 by an anonymous dealer. Reports of a strewnfield are presently unconfirmed. Classification and mineralogy (T. Bunch and J.Wittke, NAU): type 2A; contains scarce, metal nodules up to 19 mm indiameter; Mg-rich pyroxene overgrowths on Ca-pyroxene clasts; moderateresorption of plagioclase. Orthopyroxene (Fs₃₃Wo₃)replaces pigeonite (Fs₃₄Wo₈) and exsolved augite (Fs₄₃Wo₄₂);plagioclase (An₉₂); pyrrhotite, chromite (Al₂O₃= 8.4 wt%); kamacite, 5.8 wt% Ni; rare taenite (42 wt% Ni), silica andphosphate. Shock stage, S1; weathering grade, W0. Specimens: type specimen,20.2 g thin section, NAU*; main mass is with the anonymous purchaser.

Data from:
  MB86
  Table 6
  Line 157:

Origin or pseudonym:	Libya
Date:	1985
Mass (g):	~7000
Pieces:	2
Class:	Mesosiderite

Data from:
  MB113
  Table 0
  Line 0:

Classifier:	This Libyan meteorite should have an NEA name
Type spec location:	NAU* type specimen now at UWB. 20.2 g including one polished thin section at UWB; remainder with owner. Pseudonym SAH 85000.
Comments:	Work name 123, thin section MAA3

Institutions
and collections

NAU*: Collection discontinued. Specimens redistributed as shown in individual meteorite records, United States (institutional address; updated 24 Jun 2024)
UWB: University of Washington, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Box 353010 Seattle, WA 98195, United States (institutional address; updated 9 Oct 2023)
NAU: Geology, Bldg 12 Knoles Dr Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States (institutional address; updated 12 Apr 2012)

Catalogs:

Search for this meteorite in the Natural History Museum collection (U.K.):

References:

Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 86, MAPS 37, A157-A184 (2002)
Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 113, in preparation (2024)

Find references in NASA ADS:
Find references in Google Scholar:

Photos:

Credit	Photos
Photos from the Encyclopedia of Meteorites:
Photograph by Geoffrey Notkin © Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery
Photos uploaded by members of the Encyclopedia of Meteorites. (Caution, these are of unknown reliability)
Aeroliths Collection Theodossiou
Dirk Hohmann
Franco Vignato
George Barclay
Gerald Armstrong
Kamil Maciag (meteoryt)
METEORITICON
Mirko Graul
Piotr gural100
Robert Zdancewicz
Woreczko Jan & Wadi