United Arab Emirates
Find: 2006
Achondrite (diogenite)
History and physical characteristics: This 145 g stone, together with five other achondrites (AP 002, 003 004, 005, 006) and 18 ordinary chondrites, were found near the Rub al-Khali desert (Empty Quarter) by native workers in 2005-6. These stones were sent to an American collector for verification in August 2006. AP 001 is a very fresh stone with black crust and retains flow ridges.
Petrography: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) Unbrecciated medium – grained orthopyroxenite with inclusions of euhedral to subrounded chomite. Contains (vol. %): orthopyroxene, 94; chromite, 4; FeS 2 and a trace of olivine. Orthopyroxene exhibits heavy undulatory extinction, shear zones show intense granulation and distortion of minerals.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Orthopyroxene (Fs21.6Wo2.0; FeO/MnO = 29 g/g); olivine (Fa27.3, FeO/MnO = 45 g/g) chromite, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.79.
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite). Moderately shocked and slightly weathered.
Type specimen: A 21 g sample is on deposit at NAU. The main mass holder is anonymous.
United Arab Emirates
Find: 2006
Achondrite (diogenite)
Physical characteristics: A 56 g stone that has been heavily sandblasted, no crust remains.
Petrography: (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU) Unbrecciated with well-developed preferred orientation of orthopyroxene. Large chromite crystals (< 2 mm) are surrounded by a corona-like “necklace”of very small orthopyroxene and olivine grains. Chromite also has very tiny (< 0.01 mm) inclusions of pigeonite, diopside, plagioclase, and FeS. Small grains of FeS, metal, and clusters of olivine occur as inclusions in cumulate orthopyroxene.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: cumulate orthopyroxene (Fs23.5Wo2.3; FeO/MnO = 28 g/g); orthopyroxene inclusions (Fs21Wo2.7; FeO/MnO = 28 g/g), olivine (Fs25.5; FeO/MnO = 43 g/g); diopside inclusions (Fs11.1Wo42); chromite, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.76.
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite). Internal weathering is very low as is the shock level.
Type specimen: An 11 g sample is on deposit at NAU. The main mass holder is anonymous.
United Arab Emirates
Find: 2006
Achondrite (diogenite)
Physical characteristics: A 31 g stone that is partially covered with a dull black fusion crust.
Petrography: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) Protogranular texture with several poikilitic grains of orthopyroxene host and rounded olivine inclusions. Mineral modes (vol. %): orthopyroxene, 94; olivine, 4; chromite, metal and FeS, 2.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: orthopyroxene (Fs24.3Wo3.7; FeO/MnO = 28 g/g), olivine (Fa30.3; FeO/MnO = 45 g/g), chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.66), metal (Ni = 3.1 wt %).
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite). Low weathering grade and low shock level.
Type specimen: A 7 g sample is on deposit at NAU. The main mass holder is anonymous.
Oman
Find: 2005
Achondrite (diogenite, polymict breccia)
History and physical characteristics: A dark brown, 42 g stone was found in the Dhofar region of Oman by Eric Olson on March 4, 2005.
Petrography: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) A polymict breccia that contains two distinct lithologies: (A) coarse-grained orthopyroxene (<5 mm fragment size), plagioclase, and chromite. (B) Partially brecciated gabbro (olivine orthopyroxenite) containing cumulate olivine + orthopyroxene + chromite with plentiful inclusions of FeS. Modal analyses of lithology B made on 4 clasts (vol. %): orthopyroxene = 48-65, olivine = 31-49, FeS = 3-5 and chromite = 1.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Lithology A: orthopyroxene (Fs21.9Wo2.8; FeO/MnO = 31 g/g, chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.70). Lithology B: Orthopyroxene (Fs23.8Wo3.2; FeO/MnO = 29 g/g), olivine (Fa29.1; FeO/MnO = 48 g/g), chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.53), FeS (contains 0.45 wt % Zn and 0.38 wt % Ti), metal (2.8 wt % Ni).
Classification: achondrite (diogenite, polymict breccia), Weathering grade is low as is the shock level.
Type specimen: An 8.4 g sample is on deposit at NAU. E. Olson holds the main mass.
Morocco
Found 2003
Achondrite (diogenite, polymict)
A 57.73 g, fully crusted and oriented stone, was purchased in Rissani, Morocco, September 2003. Classification and mineralogy (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): diogenite polymict breccia; modal analyses: diogenite clasts, 91 vol. %; basaltic eucrite clasts, 3 % cumulate eucrite clasts, 3 %; shock-melt clasts, 3 %. Shock level, S3-4: maskelynite, PDFs and reduced birefringence in pyroxenes. Diogenite orthopyroxene, Fs23.7Wo2.3 to Fs35Wo3; Fe/Mn = 29.3 to 34.6; exsolved augite, Fs2.8Wo44. Minor olivine, Fa38.8; metal, Ni = 1.03, Co = 0.63. Also minor plagioclase, phosphate, sulfides, ilmenite, and basaltic eucrite components. Very low weathering grade. Specimens: 7.0 g, NAU; main mass, Farmer.
Morocco
Find: 2003
Achondrite (diogenite, monomict)
History: A single stone was found in Morocco and purchased in Rissani, Morocco, September 2003. Physical characteristics: The 44.5 g, buff-colored stone is partially fusion crusted with moderate desert etching. Petrography (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): Monomict breccia with ~ 2mm sized orthopyroxene porphyroclasts that are surrounded by recrystallized matrix. Very small (< 0.05 mm) olivine, chromite, troilite, plagioclase, and ilmenite grains are scattered throughout the orthopyroxene matrix. The stone is moderately weathered and lightly shocked. Geochemistry: Orthopyroxene compositions are tightly clustered around Fs25Wo2, FeO/MnO = 34.6; with minor olivine, Fa28.7, FeO/MnO = 51; plagioclase, An83; chromite, cr# = 68. Classification: Achondrite (diogenite, monomict breccia). Type Specimens: A 9.71 g sample is on deposit at NAU; Mr. Mike Farmer is the main mass holder.
Morocco
Found 2003
Achondrite (diogenite, polymict)
A 36 g partially crusted and complete stone was purchased in Erfoud, July 2003. Classification and mineralogy (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): plentiful, angular orthopyroxene clasts of considerable compositional range (Fs17.7-47.5Wo1.9-4.2) and a few large plagioclase clasts (An81-91.6) together with sparse cumulate and basaltic eucrite clasts. Clast modes: diogenite, 87 vol. %; eucrite, 11 vol. % and shock clasts, 2 vol. %. Cumulate basaltic pyroxenes average Fs41.6Wo24.6. Very small metal inclusions (<0.01 mm) in diogenite pyroxenes have very low Ni (<0.57 wt. %) contents. Overall shock level, S2; very little weathering. Specimens: type specimen 7.3 g, NAU; main mass, Boswell.
Morocco
Found 2003
Achondrite (diogenite)
Two mostly complete stones (114 g) were purchased in Rissani, Morocco in October 2003. Description and classification (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): monomict breccia composed of partially recrystallized orthopyroxene clasts set in a fine to medium grained matrix of crushed orthopyroxene. Mineral modes (vol. %): orthopyroxene, 95; olivine, 4; chromite, 1; metal and sulfide, <1. Orthopyroxene commonly exhibits fine deformation lamellae that are parallel to the [001] zone axis. Orthopyroxene, Fs23.3Wo2.1; olivine, Fa6.9; chromite, Mg/(Mg+Fe) = 0.22, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.86. Shock level, S2/3; very low weathering grade (no oxidation of metal and no staining). Specimens: 22.2 g plus one thin section, NAU; main mass, Farmer.
Northwest Africa
Purchased January 2004
Achondrite (olivine diogenite)
A partially crushed stone of 642.3 g was purchased from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco. Description and classification (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): Yellowish green to brown, friable olivine diogenite. Very large olivine phenocrysts (up to 18.5 mm in longest dimension) and orthopyroxene (up to 11 mm) remain in a highly crushed, grainy matrix; millimeter-sized chromite is also visible in the hand specimen. Unzoned olivine, Fa27.7; FeO/MgO = 45.4 g/g; orthopyroxene, Fs22.9Wo1.5; FeO/MnO = 26.9 g/g; chromite, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 88.6; Mg/(Mg+Fe) = 18.4. Also contains minor metal (Ni = 0.29 wt. %; Co = 0.59 wt. %) and troilite. No plagioclase was observed. Modal analyses, based on 90 mm2, give 47 vol. % olivine, 49 vol. % orthopyroxene, 3 vol. % chromite and <1 % troilite and metal. Shock level, S3, weathering grade, W2. Likely paired with NWA 1877. Specimens: 21.3 g, NAU; main mass, Oakes.
Northwest Africa
Purchased 2004
Achondrite (diogenite, metal-rich)
A 441 g partially crusted stone was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco. Description and classification (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): highly brecciated, metal-rich diogenite with orthopyroxene fragments up to 11 mm in size and scattered recrystallized pockets. Modal content in vol. %: orthopyroxene, 86.2; metal, 7.3 (heterogeneously distributed, 4.3 to 13.2 vol. %); plagioclase, 5.5, phosphate, sulfide and chromite <2. Orthopyroxene, Fs24.2Wo1.3 (FeO/MnO = 32.7 g/g); Ca-rich pyroxene, Fs8Wo46.9; plagioclase, An95.7; chromite, cr# = 69; metal, Ni = 6.5 wt. %. Very fresh; shock level, S2. Specimens: type specimen, 27.6 g, NAU; main mass, Hall.
Northwest Africa
Purchased 2004
Achondrite (diogenite)
A 244 g uncrusted, partial stone was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco. Description and classification (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): yellowish-green to brown, friable olivine-rich diogenite with orthopyroxene grains up to 21 mm in size; rare, unzoned olivine. Fa28 (FeO/MnO = 44 g/g). Orthopyroxene, Fs23.4Wo1.5 (FeO/MnO = 24.9 g/g); chromite, cr# = 87, mg# = 19.4. Also contains metal (Ni = 0.29 wt. %) and troilite. Shock level is S2-3 and lightly to moderately weathered. Likely paired with NWA 1877. Specimens: type specimen, 22 g, NAU; main mass, Farmer.
Northwest Africa
Purchased 2005
Achondrite (diogenite)
History: A 329 g partial stone with moderately weathered fusion crust was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco, in 2005.
Petrography: (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU) Brecciated fine to coarse grain size (<1 cm).
Geochemistry: Orthopyroxene (Fs26.2Wo2.5; FeO/MnO = 29.5 g/g), minor Ca-rich pyroxene (Fs18.5Wo28.8), plagioclase (An87.7), chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.79), ilmenite, and kamacite present.
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite), moderately shocked (some maskelynite and high strain in orthopyroxene).
Specimens: A 20.4 g type specimen is on deposit at NAU. G. Hupé holds the main mass.
Northwest Africa
Found 2005
Achondrite (diogenite polymict breccia)
History: A 606 g complete stone fully crusted with moderately fresh fusion crust was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco, in July 2005.
Physical Characteristics: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) A light buff-color interior matrix with clear, yellow, green, dark diogenite clasts.
Petrography: Modal analyses of a 27 cm2 surface area: diogenites (grain size <2.7 cm) = 83, olivine microbasalts = 6, shock melt clasts = 5, recrystallized cumulate basalts = 4, chromite, sulfide, ilmenite, metal = 2 (all vol. %). Geochemistry: Diogenite: Orthopyroxenes (Fs22-27.6Wo2.9; FeO/MnO = 28-31 g/g). Unique olivine microbasalt clasts: olivine (Fa33.6; FeO/MnO = 54 g/g; these are microphenocrysts <0.48 mm in diameter), orthopyroxene (<0.2 mm) (Fs27.7Wo2.8; FeO/MnO = 27 g/g) with <0.05 mm diameter grains of vermicular metal (Ni = 6.2 wt. %), and FeS (Cr = 6.2 wt. %); minor diopside (Fs10.0Wo45.7).
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite, polymict breccia); low to high (recrystallized melts) shock, minimal weathering.
Specimens: A 50 g type specimen is on deposit at NAU. Farmer holds the main mass.
Algeria
Found 2006
Achondrite (diogenite, unbrecciated)
History: A complete stone was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco in July 2006 and sold to an anonymous buyer in Sept. 2006.
Physical characteristics: A brownish 43 g stone with no remnant fusion crust.
Petrography (T. Bunch and J. Wittke NAU): Unbrecciated, cumulate-textured diogenite with well-developed preferred orientation of orthopyroxene grains. Large orthopyroxene oikocrysts (up to 8 mm in longest dimension) surround smaller orthopyroxene grains of similar
composition that have long axis deviations from the oikocryst orientation axis. Grain boundaries of all orthopyroxene grains are scalloped to serrated. Sparse, large chromite crystals (up to 2.5 mm) are surrounded in "necklace" fashion by small olivine grains (< 0.2 mm) and contain tiny inclusions (< 0.03 mm) of
aluminous orthopyroxene, diopside, a silica phase, pigeonite, K-feldspar, plagioclase, metal, and FeS. With the exception of feldspars, all of these
phases are also found as very small inclusions in host orthopyroxenes.
Geochemistry: Orthopyroxene, Fs22.1-24.3Wo3.0, FeO/MnO = 29-32 g/g; chromite, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.78, "necklace" olivine, Fa21.2-24.5, FeO/MnO = 45-56 g/g. Inclusion phases: diopside, Fs10.5Wo41.4,
pigeonite, Fs20Wo11.5; K-feldspar, An10.4Or42; plagioclase, An77.6 and metal, Ni = 0.56 wt %.
Classification: Achondrite (unbrecciated cumulate diogenite). The stone is lightly weathered and lightly shocked (blocky, domain extinction). This meteorite is very similar to NWA 4215 in many mineralogical characteristics, but differs greatly in orthopyroxene grain size.
Type specimens: Ten g and one thin
section are on deposit at NAU. The main mass holder is anonymous.
Morocco
Found 2003
Achondrite (diogenite)
A single, 130 g complete stone was purchased in Rissani in December, 2003. Description and classification (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): brecciated, monomict diogenite with subrounded clasts that range from shock level S2 to S4; metal-rich (metal = 11.7 vol. %). Low-Ca pyroxene shows a narrow compositional range in all clasts and matrix: Fs30.0-30.7Wo3.4-3.9, Fe/Mn = 23.8-26.6; plagioclase, An94.2; kamacite, Ni = 5.9 wt. %; taenite, Ni = 39.9 wt. %. Low weathering grade, slight oxidation and staining. Specimens: 20.4 g, NAU; main mass, Oakes.
Algeria
Found 2005
Achondrite (diogenite)
History: A 254 g stone was found in the southern desert of Algeria and sold in Erfoud, Morocco, in December 2005.
Physical characteristics: A light blue-gray stone with no remnant fusion crust and a highly irregular outer surface. Contains large orthopyroxene crystals up to 2.7 cm in longest dimension. Large
euhedral chromite crystals (~1-3 mm) extend outward from the surface as a result of differential eolian ablation.
Petrography (T, Bunch and J. Wittke,
NAU): In addition to the large chromite crystals, orthopyroxene contains stringers of tiny subhedral chromite together with FeS grains and rare metal that is mantled by light Fe oxide staining.
Geochemistry: The stone is mostly orthopyxoxene (96.2 vol. %) with chromite, FeS, and metal (3.8 vol. %). Orthopyroxene is Fs23.4Wo2.4, FeO/MnO = 26 g/g, Chromite, Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.85 and metal contains 0.46 wt. % Ni. Weathering effects are low and the shock level is S2.
Classification: Chondrite (diogenite).
Type specimens: a total of 28 g and one thin section are on deposit at NAU. Mr. Edwin Thompson is the main mass holder.
Algeria
Found 2005
Achondrite (diogenite)
History and physical characteristics: A 48 g buff -colored stone with fresh, black fusion crust was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco, in December 2005.
Petrography (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU): coarse-grained breccia of fragments up to 1.8 cm with interstitial cataclastite. Mineral modes in vol. % are: orthopyroxene 88, olivine 5, chromite 3, plagioclase 2, and FeS plus metal 2.
Geochemistry: Orthopyroxene Fs24.5Wo3.7, FeO/MnO = 26 g/g; olivine Fa29.1, FeO/MnO = 54; plagioclase An88, chromite Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.68; troilite Cr content = 2.2 wt. % and metal Ni content = 1.15 wt. %. The weathering grade is very low and the shock level is S2-3.
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite, olivine and plagioclase - bearing).
Type specimens: A total of 10 g and one thin section are on deposit at NAU. Mr. Edwin Thompson is the main mass holder.
Algeria
Find: 2006
Achondrite (diogenite)
History and physical description: A 49 g buff-colored stone with patchy, fresh fusion crust was found in Algeria in 2006 and purchased in Erfoud, Morocco by A. Aaronson in July 2006.
Petrography: (J. Wittke and T. Bunch, NAU) Coarse-grained orthopyroxene (< 7 mm in dia.) enclose large chromite grains (one to 2.6 mm). Tiny troilite grains (< 0.02 mm) are widespread in the matrix.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: orthopyroxene (Fs21.6 – 22.6Wo 1.7 – 2.1), chromite (Cr/(Cr+Al) = 0.79).
Classification: Achondrite (diogenite0, lightly weathered and lightly shocked.
Type specimen: a 10.2 g specimen is on deposit at NAU. A. Aaronson holds the main mass.
