Description
Northeast Africa 078 (NEA 078)
Libya
Purchased: 2024
Classification: Lunar meteorite (frag. breccia)
History: Reportedly found in Libya near the Egypt border, and purchased by Mohamed Lamin Muftah in Libya in 2024.
Petrography: (K. Metzler, IfP) Polymict achondritic breccia, consisting of lithic clasts (up to 5 mm) and mineral fragments (mainly olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase) set in a fine-grained clastic matrix of related debris. Several pyroxene grains show thin augite exsolution lamellae. Lithic clasts are mostly olivine gabbro and fragment-rich impact melt rocks. Accessories are an SiO2 polymorph, ilmenite, troilite, Cr-spinel, and Ni-bearing metal. No glass beads were found.
Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Olivine Fa49.3±25.8 (Fa21.9-91.1); mean Fe/Mn (at.): 94.6; n=11. Pyroxene Fs40.2±12.6Wo18.2±7.6 (Fs26.6-67.0Wo9.5-31.5); mean Fe/Mn (at.): 63.5; n=16. Plagioclase An92.3±1.7Or0.2±0.2 (An90.0-94.8Or0.0-0.6); n=15. Ni concentration in metal: 6.6 wt% (n=3).
Classification: Lunar rock, based on Fe/Mn values in olivine and pyroxene, and high An values in plagioclase. Fragmental breccia due to its polymict character with considerable amounts of olivine and pyroxene in lithic clasts and as mineral fragments.
