Touat 005 2.24g Lunar Meteorite Poss Pairing of Moon Rock Fragment

Description

Item for auction is a 2.24g fragment of lunar meteorite Touat 005 found in Algeria between Tabelbala, Adrar, and Tamentit, near the Erg Chech 002 find location, in the Touat 005 strewnfield. Petrography of Touat 005 was performed by C. Agee, UNM, where electron microprobe analysis and imaging reveals a fragmental breccia with large, sometimes euhedral anorthite crystals (megacrysts). The megacrysts appear to be shock-mosaicized or recrystallized with a significant amount of dark and light inclusions present, some of the observed inclusion veining in the megacysts is possibly maskelynite. The compositions of the plagioclase megacrysts are slightly more anorthitic than the groundmass plagioclase fragments, although there is compositional overlap between the two that is within microprobe error. This is possibly a monomict breccia since the section analyzed had only one coherent population of pyroxenes and olivines that appear to be related by equilibrium igneous crystallization. The olivine and pyroxene compositions are similar to that in ferroan anorthosites. Shock melt veins with vesicles were observed. Minor opaque phases are ilmenite and chromite. This specimen has been cleaned ultrasonically to remove excessive caliche, and would make an excellent addition to any collection. It comes with a Big Kahuna Meteorites Certificate of Authenticity. Scale cube in photo is 1cm on each side, and not included in sale. Big Kahuna combines shipping, and addresses must be in the English language, to facilitate customs input at US Postal Service. Non-English addresses cannot be shipped, and may incur additional fees for handling. We no longer ship to Italy.
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