NWA 5549 Iron Meteorite with Silcate Inclusions
 
 

Click images below to enlarge:

nwa5549g.JPG (282360 bytes)  nwa5549b.JPG (350137 bytes)  nwa5549c.JPG (265279 bytes)

nwa5549d.JPG (343654 bytes)  nwa5549e.JPG (269840 bytes)  nwa5549f.JPG (349319 bytes)

This stunning individual is likely paired with NWA 5549.  It is the freshest specimen found and the fusion crust is incredible.  There are countless large crystals poking through the fusion curst. 

It was on display at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show this year and everyone marveled at the pristine appearance of this desert iron.  It was not offered for sale at the show but is now available to the discerning collector or museum at $35,000

 
 

 

Classification from The Meteoritical Society:

  • Northwest Africa 5549 (NWA 5549)

  • (Northwest Africa)

  • Found: 2008

  • Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB-MG)

Petrography: UCLA samples from two masses; in these and in web photos, silicates are common. We examined two sides of a slice with total area 25 cm2. Silicate abundance ~15 vol%, troilite ~1.5 vol%. Kamacite lengths only ~1.5x widths, making width determination uncertain; best estimate 1.6±0.3 mm. Neumann lines abundant. Some silicates contain abundant small metal grains. A few large (3x4 mm) kamacites with incompletely resorbed taenite.

Geochemistry: Co (mg/g) 4.55, Ni (mg/g) 68.8, Ga (µg/g) 81.6, Ge (µg/g) 370, As (µg/g) 4.1, Ir (µg/g) 4.1, Au (µg/g) 1.49.
 

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