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3.11g TOUAT 005 Lunar Meteorite

Top Meteorite

  • $2,161.00


On Offer: an exceptional 3.11 gram individual of the beautiful lunar meteorite TOUAT 005.

Dimensions: 32.51 mm x 15.70 mm x 6.29 mm 

Type: Lunar Feldspathic Breccia

Official Name: TOUAT 005

Year Found: 2020

Country: Algeria

Parent body: The Moon - this is part of the lunar surface that was ejected from our Moon when it was hit by a meteorite that sent it to Earth.

Description: This is an exceptional and beautiful 3.11 gram lunar meteorite. This specimen of Touat 005 is composed almost entirely of a calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar mineral called anorthite. It was ejected from the lunar highlands, which are also composed primarily of anorthite. The anorthite is what makes these specimens so light in color and lightweight compared with most other meteorites. Individual lunar meteorites like this are very rare. So much so that we have nicknamed this one and two other similar specimens "White Buffalo". This particular specimen is indeed a rare and exceptional piece of an already exceptional group of lunar meteorites.
What you get: 3.11 gram Lunar Meteorite specimen as shown, membrane storage/shipping box, and signed Certificate of Authenticity.
We offer a 100% no questions asked 30 day return policy.

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Touat 005
Basic information Name: Touat 005
     This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: There is no official abbreviation for this meteorite.
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2020
Country: Algeria
Mass: 3.71 kg
Classification
  history:
Recommended:   Lunar (feldsp. breccia)   

This is 1 of 208 approved meteorites classified as Lunar (feldsp. breccia).   [show all]
Search for other: Lunar meteorites
Comments: Approved 19 Nov 2020
Writeup
Writeup from MB 109:

Touat 005        27.747222, -1.369722

Adrar, Algeria

Find: 2020

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: These two stones were found by meteorite hunters driving off-road between Tabelbala, Algeria, and the Erg Chech 002 find locality. Nearest towns to this find are Adrar and Tamentit, Algeria.

Physical characteristics: Two stones, identical in appearance, (2035 and 1675 g) were found together. This is a fragmental breccia with white plagioclase megacrysts and lithic clasts set in a dark shocked matrix. Plagioclase megacrysts are up to two centimeters in length and are translucent in thinly sliced slabs. No fusion crust is present.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) 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.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) Plagioclase megacrysts An97.2±0.7Ab2.6±0.3Or0.2±0.1, n=6; groundmass plagioclase An96.5±0.3Ab3.2±0.3Or0.2±0.1, n=6; low-Ca pyroxene Fs28.2±5.9Wo5.6±3.1, Fe/Mn=59±6, n=6; augite Fs18.7±0.4Wo43.2±1.5, Fe/Mn=48±1, n=2; olivine Fa36.7±10.1, Fe/Mn=95±3, n=9; shock melt vein SiO2=43.6±0.4, Al2O3=31.1±0.8, FeO=3.7±0.6, MgO=3.3±0.5, MnO=0.05±0.02, CaO=17.3±0.1, Na2O=0.32±0.05 all wt%, n=3.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia with plagioclase megacrysts. Mafic minerals similar in composition to that present in ferroan anorthosites.

Specimens: 25.8 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main masses.

Data from:
  MB109
  Table 0
  Line 0:
State/Prov/County: Adrar
Date: 2020
Latitude: 27.747222
Longitude: -1.369722
Mass (g): 3710
Pieces: 2
Class: Lunar (feldsp. breccia)
Shock stage: high
Weathering grade: moderate
Fayalite (mol%): 36.7±10.1
Ferrosilite (mol%): 28.2±5.9, 18.7±0.4
Wollastonite (mol%): 5.6±3.1, 43.2±1.5
Classifier: C. Agee, UNM
Type spec mass (g): 25.8
Type spec location: UNM
Main mass: Mark Lyon
Comments: Field name ML-1; submitted by C. Agee, UNM



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