HED achondrite (Eucrite, molten breccia) NWA 17011 - 7.46 g - (1)

Northwest Africa 17011 (NWA 17011)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2023

Classification: Achondrite HED (Eucrite, molten breccia)

History: The meteorite was purchased from a local dealer in Temara, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: Grayish rock largely covered with a partly shiny black fusion crust.

Petrography: Achondritic fusion breccia composed of basaltic and bulk rock fragments up to 2 mm and mineral fragments up to 1 mm separated by abundant finely crystallized shock melt veins and pockets. The predominant minerals are exsate pyroxenes and calcic plagioclase. Mineral grains often exhibit resorption textures where they are in contact with fusion zones. Minor phases include silica, chromite, ilmenite and FeS. No metallic iron was detected.

Geochemistry: low-Ca pyroxene: Fs 61.5±0.2 Wo 2.2±0.3 (Fs 61.2-61.7 Wo 1.8-2.7, FeO/MnO=29-32 , n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs 27.4 ± 0.5 Wo 43.5 ± 0.4 (Fs 26.8-28.2 Wo 42.9-44.0, FeO/MnO = 27-36, n = 7) ; Calcium plagioclase: An 88.9 ± 2.4 (An 83.5-91.1, n = 7)