NWA 032 Lunar Meteorite

Specimen shown is 1.155 grams and measures approx. 24.1mm x 18.4mm x 1.0mm thick.  The outside edge of the meteorite is represented along the curved edge in the left of the photo.

• NWA 032
• Found October 1999 near Moroccan/Algerian border 
• Lunar meteorite (olivine-pyroxene basalt)

A stone of ~300 g was found in the desert. Classification and mineralogy (T. Fagan, UHaw; T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): olivine, pyroxene, and chromite phenocrysts occur in a groundmass of elongate, zoned pyroxene (En_1-25Wo_15-25) and feldspar (~An₈₅) crystals radiating from common nucleation sites; opaque phases include elongate, skeletal ilmenite, troilite, and trace metal; olivine phenocrysts (~12 vol%) up to 300 mm are zoned from Fo65 (cores) to Fo₆₀ (rims), and commonly have chromite inclusions; pyroxene phenocrysts (~5 vol%) are complexly zoned, with En_40-50 Wo_20-40 and En_15-25 Wo_10-20 domains; both olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts surrounded by Fe-rich quenched margins (olivines, ~Fo₃₀; pyroxenes, En_5-25 Wo_15-30); glass with ~45.7 wt% SiO₂ occurs in semi-continuous shock veins up to 50 mm wide; some terrestrial weathering products are present in fractures, but primary assemblage is essentially unaltered.

Oxygen isotope compositions (R. Clayton, UChi): d ¹⁸ O = +5.63 Å, d ¹⁷ O = +2.92Å. Bulk composition (in wt%, E. Jarosewich, SI): SiO₂ = 44.7; TiO₂ = 3.08; Al2O3 = 8.74; FeO = 23.0; MnO = 0.33; MgO = 8.45; CaO = 10.9; Na₂O = 0.37; K₂O = 0.11; H₂O = 0.06. Specimens: type specimen, ~5-6 g, contact T. Bunch, NAU; 1.1 g plus thin section, UHaw.

More information on NWA 032..... Washington University of St. Louis

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