Dhofar 1428

Lunar, (anorthositic breccia).. This meteorite was found in March, 2006 in the Dhofar region of Oman. Below is the exact classification data as submitted to the nomenclature Committee.

Dhofar 1428 Find: March 2006 Lunar (anorthositic breccia)

Phyical characteristics: A 213 g. dark gray stone with little remaining fusion crust was found while driving through the desert. Petrography: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU). Clast-rich impact melt breccia (mingled)that consists mostly of light to dark gray clasts of previously formed, plagioclase-rich breccias and white lithic and mineral clasts of anorthositic rocks and plagioclase. Minor amounts of norits, anorthositic gabbros, troctolites, and ophitic/subophitic basalts were also observed. Groundmass is composed of quench-textured silicate melt (plagioclase, pyroxenes, opaque minerals and glass) and isolated pockets of vesicular glassy melt. Geochemistry: Anorthositic clast plagioclase (An93.8-98); norite olivine (Fa36, FeO/MnO = 104), plagioclase (An96.4), orthopyroxene (Fs28.4Wo4.1, Fe/MnO=51); troctolite plagioclase (An95.5), olivine (Fa25.8, FeO/MnO=89); and subophitic basalts that contain highly zoned pyroxenes (Fs14.9Wo5.1 to rims of Fs41.2Wo15.2). Classification: Lunar (anorthositic breccia). Components sohck levels range from moderate to completely melted (S3-S6) and the degree of interior weathering is very low. A 20.7 g type sample is on repository at NAU; Mr R. Ward holds the main mass. Farmer 90 grams.

This is a beautiful new Lunar meteorite, and 97.1 grams is locked up forever in the main mass, which will be held in private collection. I have the only pieces of this meteorite for sale.