Description
Diogenite
0.29g part slice
Sold in a collection box with label/certificate of authenticity
Northwest Africa 3143
Morocco
Purchased 2004 August
Achondrite (diogenite)
A complete 2335 g stone with black fusion crust and pale orange, translucent interior was purchased from a Moroccan dealer in Rissani by A. and G. Hupé (Hupé) in 2004 August. Classification and mineralogy (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS): Predominantly orthopyroxene (Fs24.9Wo3.3, FeO/MnO = 34.9) with minor chromite (some as relatively large grains), calcic plagioclase, olivine (Fa26.5, FeO/MnO = 40.8), troilite and altered Ni-poor metal. Partly cataclasized metamorphic texture with ~120° triple grain junctions among compositionally homogeneous orthopyroxene grains. The overall pale orange color of this sample appears to be the result of mild staining by iron hydroxides. Specimens: type specimen, 22.7 g, and one polished thin section, UWS; main mass, xHupé.