Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter, Volume 26, No. 2 - August 2003
Volume 26, No. 2 - August 2003

Petrographic Descriptions

Sample No.: MET 00711
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13369
Dimensions (cm):   2.5x2.5x1.5
Weight (g): 17.013
Meteorite Type: CO3 Chondrite
    MET00711

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
100% of the exterior is covered with brown/black fusion crust with oxidation halos. The interior is mostly rusty with tiny patches of gray matrix. This meteorite has a high metal content.

Thin Section (,2) Description: Linda Welzenbach, Tim McCoy
The section consists of abundant small (up to 1 mm) chondrules, chondrule fragments and mineral grains in a dark matrix. Metal and sulfide occur within and rimming the chondrules. Olivine ranges in composition from Fa5-34, with a clustering of compositions around Fa34. Orthopyroxene is Fs1-11. The meteorite is a CO3 chondrite of moderately high subtype (estimated 3.6) and is almost certainly paired with MET 00694 and MET 00737.


Skip TS Images met00711
MET 00711 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 00711 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 00711 - Plane-Polarized Light
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MET 00711 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 00711 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 00711 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MET 00951
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13794
Dimensions (cm):   4.0x3.0x1.5
Weight (g): 25.030
Meteorite Type: EL6 Chondrite
   
MET00951

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
The exterior surface has brown/black fusion crust with oxidation halos. The rust and black colored crystalline interior is fine grained with a high metal content.

Thin Section (,2) Description: Linda Welzenbach, Tim McCoy
The section shows an equigranular aggregate of enstatite, with abundant metal and sulfide. Weathering is moderate, with alteration along fractures. Microprobe analyses reveal pyroxene compositions of Fs0-1 and metal contains 1.2 wt.% Si. The section exhibits extensive evidence of post-formation heating, probably due to shock. Quenched metal-sulfide intergrowths are common and sulfides grade from, e.g., FeS to MnS in a complete range at their mutual boundary. The meteorite is an EL6 chondrite.


Skip TS Images met00951
MET 00951 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 00951 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 00951 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 00951 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MET 001031
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 12891
Dimensions (cm):   2.0x1.5x1.0
Weight (g): 6.336
Meteorite Type: Mesosiderite
   
MET001031

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
Smooth brown/black fusion crust with oxidation haloes covers the exterior of this meteorite. It has a rusty crystalline interior with a high metal content intermingled with small patches of gray matrix.

Thin Section (,2) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section is a breccia composed of angular isolated grains up to 1.5 mm and clasts of orthopyroxene (Fs30Wo2), anorthitic feldspar, metal (with included tetrataenite and schreibersite), troilite and oxides. The meteorite appears to be an isolated clast from a mesosiderite.


Skip TS Images met001031
MET 001031 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 001031 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 001031 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 001031 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MET 01017
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13814
Dimensions (cm):   7.5x5.0x3.5
Weight (g): 238.000
Meteorite Type: CR2 Chondrite
   
MET01017

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
50% of the exterior has weathered fusion crust with oxidation haloes and polygonal fractures. The interior is very fractured and weathered. It is friable with an abundant amount of rust. Some light colored mm-sized condrules are visible.

Thin Section (,2) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section exhibits large (up to 2 mm), well-defined, metal-rich chondrules and CAI's in a dark matrix of FeO-rich phyllosilicate. Weathering is extensive, with staining, patches and veins of hydrated iron oxide. Silicates are unequilibrated; olivines range from Fa3-19 and pyroxenes from Fs2-26. The meteorite is a CR2 chondrite.


Skip TS Images MET01017
MET 01017 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01017 - Reflected Light MET 01017 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01017 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Reflected Light Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light


Sample No.: MET 01018
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13874
Dimensions (cm):   6.5x5.5x3.5
Weight (g): 222.40
Meteorite Type: EH3 Chondrite
   
MET01018

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
80% of the sample's exterior has weathered fusion crust with oxidation haloes and polygonal fractures. The interior is weathered with some rust and light colored chondrules (mm sized).

Thin Section (,4) Description: Linda Welzenbach, Tim McCoy
The section shows an aggregate of chondrules (up to 1 mm), chondrule fragments, and pyroxene grains in a matrix of about 30% metal and sulfide. Several chondrules contain olivine. Weathering is modest, with staining of some enstatite grains and minor alteration of metal and sulfides. Microprobe analyses show the olivine is Fa0-1, orthopyroxene is Fs0-2 and metal contains ~3.5 wt.% Si. The meteorite is an EH3 chondrite.


Skip TS Images MET01018
MET 01018 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01018 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 01018 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01018 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MET 01149
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13028
Dimensions (cm):   3.5x1.5x1.25
Weight (g): 10.251
Meteorite Type: CK3 Chondrite
   
MET01149

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
30% of the exterior has dull black fusion crust with polygonal fractures. The interior is medium gray matrix with very little weathering. Some gray and white clasts and chondrules are visible.

Thin Section (,2 ) Description: Linda Welzenbach, Tim McCoy
MET 01149 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01149 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light
The section consists of well-defined chondrules (up to 1 mm) in a matrix of finer grained silicates, sulfides, magnetite and abundant sulfide. The meteorite is a little weathered, but extensively shocked. Silicates are heterogeneous, with olivine Fa2-39, with many grains around Fa39. The meteorite is probably a CK3 chondrite.


Sample No.: MET 01195; MET 01198; MET 01244
Location: Meteorite Hills
Field No.: 13884; 13820; 13050
Dimensions (cm):   4.0x3.5x3.0
5.0x4.0x2.5
5.0x3.5x3.0
Weight (g): 98.725; 98.489; 76.490
Meteorite Type: Acapulcoite
    MET01195 and MET01198 MET01244

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
The exteriors of these meteorites are covered with brown/black fusion crust with oxidation haloes. The interiors are a fine-grained, rusty, crystalline material with some metal.

Thin Sections (,2) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The meteorites are so similar that a single description suffices. The sections consist of an equigranular aggregate with grains up to 0.5 mm. Minerals include olivine (Fa8-9), orthopyroxene (Fs9), chromian diopside (Fs3-4Wo44-45), phosphates, metal and troilite. Metal and sulfide occur as large grains, veinlets and metal-sulfide blebs within orthopyroxene. Weathering is moderate, with extensive staining. The meteorites are acapulcoites.


Skip TS Images met01195
MET 01195 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01195 - Cross-Polarized Light MET 01195 - Plane-Polarized Light MET 01195 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02205
Location: LaPaz Ice Field
Field No.: 15503
Dimensions (cm):   10.0x8.5x5.5
Weight (g): 1226.300
Meteorite Type: Lunar-Basalt
   
LAP02205

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
95% of the exterior surface has black fusion crust. Small areas of material have been plucked out. The fusion crust exhibits a slight ropy texture with polygonal fractures. The interior consists of interlocking tan and white coarse-grained minerals. There are numerous criss-crossing fractures filled with black glass.

Thin Section (,6) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section consists of coarse-grained unbrecciated basalt with elongate pyroxene (up to 0.5 mm) and plagioclase laths (up to 1 mm) (~60:40 px:plag), rare phenocrysts of olivine (up to 1 mm) and interstitial oxides and late-stage mesostasis. Shock effects include undulatory extinction in pyroxene and shock melt veins and pockets. Microprobe analyses reveal pigeonite to augite of Fs26-80Wo14-36, plagioclase is An85-90Or0-1 and a single olivine phenocryst is Fa50. The Fe/Mn ratio in the pyroxenes averages ~60. The meteorite is a lunar olivine-bearing basalt.


Oxygen Isotope Analysis: T.K. Mayeda and R.N. Clayton
Our analysis for LAP 02205 gives: δ 18 O = +5.6 and δ 17 O = +2.7. This is consistent with a lunar basalt.


Skip TS Images lap02205
LAP 02205 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02205 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02205 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02205 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02206; LAP 02228
Location: LaPaz Ice Field
Field No.: 15504; 15409
Dimensions (cm):   9.5x7.5x8.0
7.25x5.0x5.0
Weight (g): 1284.60; 335.80
Meteorite Type: CV3 Chondrite
   
LAP02206 LAP02228

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
The exteriors of these meteorites are covered with a rough, black fusion with polygonal fractures. The interior reveals a medium to dark gray matrix with white, irregularly shaped inclusions. A few dark crystalline clasts are present. Chrondrules are mm sized and are gray or rust in color.

Thin Section (,5) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
LAP 02206 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02206 - Cross-Polarized Light
LAP 02206
Plane-Polarized Light
LAP 02206
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The sections are so similar that a single description suffices. The sections exhibit large chondrules (up to 3 mm) and CAIs in a dark matrix with minor metal and sulfide. Olivines range from Fa0-45, with many Fa0-5, and pyroxenes from Fs0-2. The meteorites are CV3 chondrites.


Skip TS Images lap02228
LAP 02228 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02228 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02228 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02228 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02216
Location: LaPaz Ice field
Field No.: 15523
Dimensions (cm):   9.0x7.0x4.25
Weight (g): 612.6
Meteorite Type: Diogenite
   
LAP02216

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
50% of the exterior has a chocolate brown fusion crust. The fusion crust is in patches and has a dull luster with polygonal fractures. The exposed interior has a greenish gray color and shows numerous inclusions. The interior is composed of a concrete gray matrix containing numerous olivine clasts of various sizes (mm to cm). The clasts range in color from a deep gray-green to light areas. There are a few black minerals with a rusty stain around them. The rock has a 0.5 to 0.75 cm weathering rind, yellow to rust in color. The clasts are easily plucked. There are many "casts" where olivine grains had been.

Thin Section (,6) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
LAP 02216 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02216 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light
The section shows a groundmass of coarse (up to 1.5 mm) comminuted pyroxene, with minor SiO2. Orthopyroxene has a composition of Fs23Wo2 and an Fe/Mn ratio of ~28. The meteorite is a diogenite and is compositionally similar to LAP 91900, with which it may be paired.


Skip TS Images lap02216
LAP 02216 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02216 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02216 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02216 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02233
Location: LaPaz Ice field
Field No.: 15156
Dimensions (cm):   3.0x2.5x2.0
Weight (g): 18.056
Meteorite Type: Aubrite
   
LAP02233

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
This meteorite has no fusion crust. The interior is striated, snow white crystalline material that is loosely held together. There are numerous fractures and "canyons". Accessory minerals are rounded, black and rootbeer colored (1-2 mm in size) crystals. Small areas of rust are present.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
LAP 02233 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02233 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light
The section consists of an aggregate of coarse (up to 5 mm), heavily shocked enstatite grains with minor to trace abundances of diopside, Si-bearing metal, Ti-bearing troilite, oldhamite, and a Mn,Mg,Fe-sulfide. Silicates are essentially FeO-free enstatite (Fs0Wo1) and diopside (Fs0Wo45). The meteorite is an aubrite.


Skip TS Images lap02233
LAP 02233 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02233 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02233 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02233 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02238
Location: LaPaz Ice field
Field No.: 15181
Dimensions (cm):   3.0x2.5x2.0
Weight (g): 26.553
Meteorite Type: R Chondrite
   
LAP02238

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
75% of the exterior has a shiny, black fusion crust. The bottom portion of the rock shows polygonal fractures. The exposed interior has weathered to a greenish-brown color. The interior is a gray matrix with white to light gray clasts 1-3 mm in length. Black clasts < 1 mm. This meteorite is moderately hard, with metal grains. Some rusty and oxidized areas are present.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section consists of relatively few chondrules (up to 1 mm) and chondrule fragments in a fine-grained brecciated matrix, with very abundant iron sulfide and pentlandite and lesser abundances of oxides and graphite. Mineral compositions are olivine of Fa27-46 (most Fa38-40), orthopyroxene of Fs18-36Wo1-3 and augite Fs9-15Wo44-48. The olivine composition is similar to R chondrites, although graphite has not been previously reported in this group.


Oxygen Isotope Analysis: T.K. Mayeda and R.N. Clayton
Our analysis for LAP 02238 gives: δ 18 O = +3.5 and δ 17 O = +4.5. This gives Δ 17O of +2.7, in the range of R-chondrites, consistent with the very iron-rich olivine. The δ values are a little lower than the previous values seen in R chondrites (Y-75302).


Skip TS Images lap02238
LAP 02238 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02238 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02238 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02238 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: LAP 02239; LAP 02333
Location: LaPaz Ice field
Field No.: 15176; 15531
Dimensions (cm):   4.25x3.5x3.0
7.5x4.5x3.0
Weight (g): 39.272; 131.430
Meteorite Type: CM2 Chondrite
   
LAP02239 LAP02333

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
65% of the exterior of 239 has rough pitted black fusion crust with polygonal fractures and a purple cast. The interior is a black matrix with < mm sized tan and gray chondrules. 95% of 333's exterior is covered with thick chocolate brown fusion crust with a purplish tinge and polygonal fractures. The interior is a black matrix with mm sized white chondrules and inclusions. Two 4-5 mm gray clasts are visible.

Thin Section Description: (,4; ,5) Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The meteorites are so similar that a single description suffices. The sections consist of abundant small chondrules (most less than 0.5 mm), mineral grains and CAIs set in a black matrix; rare metal and sulfide grains are present. Olivine compositions are Fa0-55, with a majority Fa0-2, orthopyroxene is Fs1-9. The matrix consists dominantly of an Fe-rich serpentine. The meteorites are CM2 chondrites.


Skip TS Images lap02239 333
LAP 02239 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02239 - Cross-Polarized Light LAP 02333 - Plane-Polarized Light LAP 02333 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MAC 02497
Location: MacAlpine Hills
Field No.: 14036
Dimensions (cm):   3.0x2.25x1.5
Weight (g): 13.731
Meteorite Type: L5 Chondrite
   
MAC02497

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
Chocolate brown fusion crust covers ~75% of the exterior surface. The meteorite has a rough appearance. The interior is a dark gray, fine-grained crystalline matrix with a lot of rust and some fractures. It has a high metal content and a few gray clasts are visible.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
MAC 02497 - Reflected Light
Reflected Light
The section consists dominantly of a fine-grained (2-50 micron grain size) melt-textured matrix of olivine and pyroxene with elongated metal and sulfides and fragments of mineral grains and chondrules reaching 200 microns. Lenticular clasts of relict chondritic material also occur. These clasts are heavily shocked, but chondrule outlines can be discerned. The mineral compositions are homogenous; olivine is Fa23 and orthopyroxene is Fs20. The meteorite is an L5 impact-melt breccia.


Skip TS Images mac02497
MAC 02497 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02497 - Cross-Polarized Light MAC 02497 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02497 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MAC 02522
Location: MacAlpine Hills
Field No.: 14069
Dimensions (cm):   2.5x1.5x1.25
Weight (g): 5.695
Meteorite Type: Eucrite (Unbrecciated)
   
MAC02522

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
40% of the exterior is covered with a brown/black, slightly shiny, rough fusion crust. The exposed interior is dark gray. The interior reveals a moderately hard tan/gray matrix with dark gray clasts.

Thin Section (,3) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section consists of a coarse-grained (0.5-1 mm) basalt composed of pyroxene and plagioclase, with minor SiO2 and oxides. The meteorite has been extensively shocked, producing mosaicism in the pyroxene and undulatory extinction in the plagioclase. Mineral compositions are intermediate pyroxene ranging from Fs51Wo12 to Fs38Wo30 (Fe/Mn ~30) and plagioclase of An87-90. The meteorite is an unbrecciated eucrite.


Skip TS Images mac02522
MAC 02522 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02522 - Cross-Polarized Light MAC 02522 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02522 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MAC 02527
Location: MacAlpine Hills
Field No.: 14272
Dimensions (cm):   2.0x1.0x0.75
Weight (g): 3.377
Meteorite Type: Eucrite (Brecciated)
   
MAC02527

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
50% of the exterior has a dark brown, dull fusion crust. The interior is light gray matrix with white and tan inclusions < 1 mm in size.

Thin Section (,3) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The sections are composed of a groundmass of pyroxene and plagioclase (up to 0.5 mm) with few basaltic clasts. Pyroxene grains are mixtures of orthopyroxene and augite with exsolution lamellae of 1-5 microns. Most pyroxene analyses were intermediate compositions, but end members appear to be FeO-rich with orthopyroxene of Fs61Wo3 and augite of Fs28Wo41 (Fe/Mn ~ 30). Plagiolcase is An90. The meteorite is a brecciated eucrite.


Skip TS Images mac02527
MAC 02527 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02527 - Cross-Polarized Light MAC 02527 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02527 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MAC 02666
Location: MacAlpine Hills
Field No.: 14149
Dimensions (cm):   3.0x2.5x1.5
Weight (g): 20.273
Meteorite Type: Howardite
   
MAC02666

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
A brown/black fusion crust covers over 50% of the exterior. Exposed interior is gray with white clasts. Some areas show plucking. The gray matrix has white to tan clasts. Some have black rims. A few angular black clasts are visible.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section shows a groundmass of comminuted pyroxene (up to 1 mm) and plagioclase with fine- to coarse-grained basaltic clasts ranging up to 3 mm. It also contains clasts (up to 0.5 mm) of C1 carbonaceous chondrite material. Minerals include abundant orthopyroxene with compositions ranging from Fs23-55Wo2-4 (Fe/Mn ~30), a single augite of Fs30, plagioclase (An90-95) and SiO2. The meteorite is a howardite.


Skip TS Images mac02666
MAC 02666 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02666 - Cross-Polarized Light MAC 02666 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02666 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: MAC 02703
Location: MacAlpine Hills
Field No.: 14103
Dimensions (cm):   3.5x2.5x2.25
Weight (g): 19.269
Meteorite Type: Howardite
   
MAC02703

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
Shiny, black fusion crust covers ~50% of the exterior. Some areas actually look like they are wet. Interior is a concrete gray matrix with numerous clasts of various shapes, sizes and colors.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
MAC 02703 - Plane-Polarized Light MAC 02703 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light
The section shows a groundmass of comminuted, compositionally zoned pyroxene (up to 3 mm) and plagioclase with fine- to coarse-grained basaltic clasts ranging up to 1 mm. Most of the pyroxene is orthopyroxene with compositions ranging from Fs26-40Wo2-3 (Fe/Mn ~ 30), a single augite of Fs19Wo43 and plagioclase An74-94. The meteorite is a howardite.


Sample No.: PCA 02007
Location: Pecora Escarpment
Field No.: 13690
Dimensions (cm):   4.0x3.5x1.0
Weight (g): 22.372
Meteorite Type: Lunar-Basaltic Breccia
    PCA02007 PCA02007

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
This is a disk shaped meteorite with brown exterior on the top portion of the rock. The bottom face has tan colored, ropy glass with a frothy appearance. Polygonal fractures and various clasts of different sizes, shapes and colors can be seen. The interior is composed of a hard, dark gray matrix with white clasts. Underneath the tan ropy glass is a layer of shiny green glass.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section consists of an extremely fine-grained (melt?) matrix with isolated mineral grains and fine- to coarse-grained basaltic clasts in all size ranges up to 2 mm. Microprobe analyses reveal olivine of Fa27-33, pyroxene in a wide range of compositions from pigeonite Fs50Wo4 to augite of Fs19Wo43 with intermediate and more FeO-rich compositions, and plagioclase of An64-100 (with the most An96-100). The Fe/Mn ratio of the pyroxene averages ~53. The meteorite is a basaltic lunar breccia.


Skip TS Images pca02007
PCA 02007 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Cross-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Cross-Polarized Light
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PCA 02007 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Cross-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02007 - Cross-Polarized Light
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Sample No.: PCA 02010
Location: Pecora Escarpment
Field No.: 13635
Dimensions (cm):   5.5x3.5x3.0
Weight (g): 70.772
Meteorite Type: CM2 Chondrite
   
PCA02010 PCA02010

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
30% of the exterior has a thick, black fusion crust with polygonal fractures. The exposed interior is brown with tiny chondrules of various colors. The interior is s rusty gray matrix with white chondrules < mm in size. It has an oxidation rind and is relatively hard and contains some metal.

Thin Section (,6) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
PCA 02010 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02010 - Cross-Polarized Light
Plane-Polarized Light Cross-Polarized Light
The sections consist of a few small chondrules (up to 0.8 mm), mineral grains and CAIs set in a black matrix; rare metal and sulfide grains are present. Olivine compositions are Fa0-36, orthopyroxene is Fs1-6. The matrix consists dominantly of an Fe-rich serpentine. Chondrules are flattened and exhibit a distinctive preferred alignment. The meteorite is a CM2 chondrite.


Sample No.: PCA 02016
Location: Pecora Escarpment
Field No.: 13652
Dimensions (cm):   3.0x2.5x1.75
Weight (g): 23.865
Meteorite Type: Howardite
    PCA02016

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride
Brown/black fusion crust covers over 50% of the exterior surface. The crust exhibits polygonal fractures and oxidation halos. The exposed interior is multiple shades of gray with some rust and exposed clasts. The interior is brecciated with a medium gray matrix with numerous multi-colored clasts, round to angular in shape and varying in size from 1-2 mm.

Thin Section (,4) Description: Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach
The section contains abundant basaltic clasts with rare orthopyroxene clasts. The basaltic clasts include heavily shocked coarse-grained clasts, clasts dominated by metal and sulfide and a glassy quench-textured clast, with individual clasts ranging up to 2 mm. Minerals present include olivine (Fa33), orthopyroxene (Fs33-59; Fe/Mn ~ 25), augite (up to Fs53), plagioclase (An92-95), metal and sulfide. The meteorite is a howardite.


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PCA 02016 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02016 - Cross-Polarized Light PCA 02016 - Plane-Polarized Light PCA 02016 - Cross-Polarized Light
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