Morocco December 2003 Carbonaceous chondrite (CV3)
History: Hundreds of fragments (total weight of 5895 g) were purchased in Erfoud, Morocco in December 2003 by A. and G.
Hupé. Other collectors or dealers (T. Boswell, E. Olsen and B. Reed, among others) have recently sent us CV3 samples that are probably paired with NWA 3118. An accurate TKW is unknown, but probably exceeds 8 kg.
Description and Classification: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) olive gray to tan in color depending on the degree of weathering. In thin section, much of the matrix has a pronounced "ripple" texture: subparallel, curvilinear thin bands of
olivine grains (Fa32-36), up to 10 microns in size, enclose pod-like masses of micron to submicron Fe-rich
olivine (Fa42-58), pyroxenes, sulfides and minor weathering products. Chondrules are typically <2 mm in
diameter, although a few chondrules may be as large as 8 mm in diameter. Many types of small CAI inclusions are present
and rarely exceed a few mm in diameter. Low weathering grade: no metal observed in the matrix, although some chondrules
contain fresh metal.
