kasbah.jpg (6568 bytes) Northwest Africa 2995

a piece of the moon from the Sahara Desert

 

  • Northwest Africa 2995

  • Found in Algeria 2005

  • Achondrite (Lunar Feldspatic breccia)

A 538 g, fully crusted and minimally weathered stone was purchased in Morocco by A. Aaronson in November 2005. Petrography and Geochemistry: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): The feldspathic fragmental breccia contains many highlands fine-grained lithologies including norite (orthopyroxene, Fs26.4Wo4, FeO/MnO = 66); olivine basalt (olivine, Fa87.2 FeO/MnO = 95; plagioclase, An84.7); subophitic basalt (Ca-pyroxene, Fs25-48Wo37.1-25.9; pigeonite, Fs27.8-31.7Wo15.4-9.3 FeO/MnO = 53; olivine Fa36.3 FeO/MnO = 90; plagioclase, An97); gabbro (olivine Fa34.7 FeO/MnO = 95; pigeonite Fs28.2Wo8.9 FeO/MnO = 67; plagioclase An94); KREEPy-like basalt (plagioclase, Ab50Or17.4; K-feldspar, Ab14.3Or83.6 in addition to silica, phosphate and Fe-rich pyroxenes); troctolite (Fa30.8 FeO/MnO = 94; plagioclase An94.7); granulitic impact melts (Fa31; orthopyroxene, Fs25.2Wo3.4; plagioclase An95); anorthosite (An92.7-96,8); glassy impact melts, coarse-grained mineral fragments, and a 0.350 mm sized grain of meteoritic Ni, Fe metal (Ni = 6.3 Co = 1.0, both wt %). In addition, the assemblage appears to be characterized by large amounts of breccias within breccias: at least 4 generations of brecciation were observed in one cm-sized breccia clast. Numerous shock-induced melt veins are present along large breccia clast margins as well as isolated melt pockets within clasts. Interior weathering grade is very low, all glasses are fresh and no apparent terrestrial alteration veins were noted.  Classification:  Achondrite (Lunar feldspathic breccia). Specimens: A 21.2 g specimen is on deposit at NAU.

 

Click images to enlarge:

nwa2995a.jpg (228324 bytes)   nwa2995b.jpg (390417 bytes)   nwa2995c.jpg (280601 bytes)   nwa2995d.jpg (287504 bytes)

Photos of the 521 gram Meteorite prior to cutting.

 

NWA2995LFBastich2P800x425.jpg (613602 bytes)   NWA2995LFBastichP800x432.jpg (642359 bytes)

Thin section photos by John Kashuba

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY and product ID card included with each specimen.

Notice the beautiful anorthositic clasts in this meteorite.

Click images to enlarge:
nwa2995054a.JPG (73592 bytes)  nwa2995054b.jpg (45446 bytes)  nwa2995054c.JPG (98088 bytes) .054 grams and measures 5.0 mm by 3.5 mm by 1.0 mm thick at widest points.  Nice big anorthositic clast.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $110-
 

 

nwa2995078a.JPG (72403 bytes)  nwa2995078b.jpg (50703 bytes)  nwa2995078c.JPG (156865 bytes)

 

.078 grams and measures 12.5 mm by 3.2 mm by 1.0 mm thick at widest points.  The outside edge of the meteorite is represented by the top edge in the second photo.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  -  $150-
 

 

nwa2995134aa.JPG (76617 bytes)  nwa2995134bb.jpg (50277 bytes)  nwa2995134cc.JPG (86207 bytes) .134 grams and measures 6.3 mm by 5.3 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  -  $270-
 

 

nwa2995166a.JPG (47137 bytes)  nwa2995166b.jpg (50917 bytes)  nwa2995166c.JPG (66282 bytes) .166 grams and measures 14.4 mm by 5.5 mm by 1.0 mm thick at widest points.    There is fusion crust along the top edge as referenced in the second photo.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $330-
 

 

nwa2995250a.JPG (80753 bytes)  nwa2995250b.jpg (47883 bytes)  nwa2995250c.JPG (90547 bytes) .250 grams and measures 10.8 mm by 9.5 mm by .9 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  -  $500-
 

 

nwa2995630a.JPG (80975 bytes)  nwa2995630b.jpg (146438 bytes)  nwa2995630c.JPG (103344 bytes) .630 grams and measures 17.9 mm by 17.0 mm by .8 mm thick at widest points.  Lots of Anorthositic clasts and a great surface to weight ratio on this specimen.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $1250-
 

 

nwa29951506a.JPG (139163 bytes)  nwa29951506b.JPG (163093 bytes)  nwa29951506c.JPG (185452 bytes)

 

1.506 grams and measures 38.1 mm by 23.6 mm by 1.0 mm thick at widest points.  Lots of Anorthositic clasts and a great surface to weight ratio.  This is a great specimen.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $3000-
 

 

nwa29954500a.JPG (138891 bytes)  nwa29954500b.JPG (167830 bytes)  nwa29954500c.JPG (144751 bytes) 4.5 gram FULL SLICE. This beautiful full slice of this lunar meteorite measures 73.0 mm by 35.4 mm by .9 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable membrane suspension display box,  Notice the huge anorthositic clast in additon to the numerous other large clasts.   Third photo is opposite side  with quarter for size reference.  This is a stunning slice and has a very large surface to weight ratio.  - $9000-
 
 

 

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