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

 

Click images to enlarge:
 
nwa2995078a.JPG (56303 bytes)  nwa2995078b.JPG (32396 bytes)  nwa2995078c.JPG (86824 bytes) .078 grams and measures 5.1 mm by 4.2 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $155-
 

 

nwa2995094a.JPG (81435 bytes)  nwa2995094b.jpg (52820 bytes)  nwa2995094c.JPG (108863 bytes) .094 grams and measures 5.7 mm by 4.5 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $185-
 

 

nwa2995100a.JPG (81718 bytes)  nwa2995100b.jpg (51547 bytes)  nwa2995100c.JPG (102666 bytes) .100 grams and measures 5.4 mm by 5.1 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $200-
 

 

nwa2995104a.JPG (67527 bytes)  nwa2995104b.jpg (52059 bytes)  nwa2995104c.JPG (87692 bytes) .104 grams and measures 6.4 mm by 4.3 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $205-
 

 

nwa2995146a.JPG (83292 bytes)  nwa2995146b.jpg (53900 bytes)  nwa2995146c.JPG (109993 bytes) .146 grams and measures 6.4 mm by 6.4 mm by 1.0 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - $290-
 

 

nwa2995270a.JPG (70892 bytes)  nwa2995270b.jpg (82208 bytes)  nwa2995270c.JPG (79097 bytes) .270 grams and measures 10.2 mm by 7.8 mm by .9 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box, third photo is for size reference.  - SOLD
 

 

nwa29952670a.JPG (92566 bytes)  nwa29952670b.JPG (302116 bytes)  nwa29952670c.JPG (114885 bytes) 2.67 grams and measures 27.5 mm by 25.2 mm by 1.1 mm thick at widest points.  First photo shows specimen in removable display box,  Notice the large metal globule in the upper left section of the second photo.   Third photo is opposite side  with quarter for size reference.  This is a stunning specimen cut from the center section of the meteorite.  - $5250-
 
 

A few Full Slices of this meteorite are still available. Inquire

 

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