SAU 130 Martian Meteorite
 
 

Click images to enlarge

sau130372a.JPG (178541 bytes)  sau130372b.JPG (153774 bytes)  sau130372c.JPG (198501 bytes)  sau130372d.JPG (96406 bytes)

Specimen shown above is a complete, uncut individual weighing 37.2 grams.  It measures 42.5mm x 29.7mm x 23.6mm.  Measurements taken at widest points.

 

 

sau130213a.JPG (258737 bytes)  sau130213b.JPG (245255 bytes)  sau130213c.JPG (91018 bytes)  sau130213d.JPG (146895 bytes)

The end-cut above weighs 21.3 grams and measures 37.9mm x 37.7mm x 11.1mm thick.  Measurements taken at widest points.
 

 
From the Meteoritical Bulletin #88 July, 2004:
  • SAU 130
  • Found January 11, 2004 
  • Martian meteorite (basalt, shergottite)

Four specimens totaling 278.5 grams were found in the Sayh al Uhaymir region of Oman.  Paired with SAU 005 / 008 / 050 / 060 / 090 / 094 / 120 / 125 / 131 / 150.  See below:

Sayh al Uhaymir 005 20\26059.76'N, 57\26019.55'E, Sayh al Uhaymir 008 20\26058.83'N, 57\26019.14'E Oman Found 1999 November 26 Martian basalt (shergottite) At two locations, 1864 m apart, 5 grey-greenish stones were found which are macroscopically identical. Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 005 comprises one fragment of 547 g and two individuals of 561g and 236g, which are partially covered by fusion crust and show regmaglypts. SaU 008 comprises one large individual of 7805 g and a smaller fragmented individual of 774 g. On the latter, the fresh black fusion crust is almost completely preserved. The total mass of SaU 005/008 is 9923 g. Mineralogy and classification (J. Zipfel, MPI): porphyritic texture with large olivine phenocrysts (Fo64-71) in a fine-grained groundmass of pigeonite (En61-70Wo6-13) and maskelynite (An51-65Or0.3-0.9); minor phases are augite, phosphates and opaques; strongly shocked: mosaicism and planar deformation of olivines, twinning and fracturing of clinopyroxene, and up to mm-sized shock melted areas with quench textures are common; brown-orange ringlike structures formed by extremely fine-grained intergrowths of unidentified phases are abundant in impact melt areas and pyroxenes;. the meteorite is extremely fresh, with only a few of the larger cracks partially filled with calcite. Bulk chemical analyses (B. Spettel, G. Dreibus, MPI; H. Palme, K\366ln), noble gas analyses (M. Paetsch, L Schultz, MPI), and Sm-Nd systematics (E. Jagoutz, MPI): texture, bulk chemistry, noble gases and Sm-Nd systematics indicate a very close relationship to Dar al Gani 476/489/670/735; however, based on the distinct mineral chemistry and the place of find, simple pairing with those meteorites can be excluded. Specimens: type specimen, 60 g, MPI; main mass with anonymous finder.

More information on SAU 130 pairings..... JPL Mars Meteorite Homepage
 
 

mmemail.gif (1175 bytes)
 

Home | Sikhote-alin Meteorites | All Other Meteorites | Photo Gallery

Ordering Information | Found a Meteorite?

All photos and text are copyright and may not be used without permission.