The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 92, 2007 September
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Meteoritics & Planetary Science 42, Nr 9, 1647–1694 (2007) Abstract available online at http://meteoritics.org The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 92, 2007 September Harold C. CONNOLLY, JR.1, 2, 3*, Caroline SMITH4, Gretchen BENEDIX4, Luigi FOLCO5, Kevin RIGHTER6, Jutta ZIPFEL7, Akira YAMAGUCHI8, and Hasnaa CHENNAOUI AOUDJEHANE9 1Department of Physical Science, Kingsborough Community College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11235, USA 2Department of Earth and Planetary Science, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West, New York, New York 10024, USA 3Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA 4Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK 5Museo Nazionale Antartide, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy 6Code ST, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA 7Sektion Meteoritenforschung, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 8Antarctic Meteorite Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8515, Japan 9Université Hassan II Casablanca, Faculté des sciences, Département de Géologie, BP 5366, Mâarif, Casablanca, Morocco * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (Received 04 September 2007) Abstract–In this edition of The Meteoritical Bulletin, 1394 recognized meteorites are reported, 27 from specific locations within Africa, 133 from Northwest Africa, 1227 from Antarctica (from ANSMET, PNRA, and PRIC expeditions), and 7 from Asia. The Meteoritical Bulletin announces the approval of four new names series by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, two from Africa and one from Asia, including Al Haggounia, from Al Haggounia, Morocco, which is projected to be on the order of 3 metric tons of material related to enstatite chondrites and aubrites. Approved are two falls from Africa, Bassikounou (Mauritania) and Gashua (Nigeria). Approved from areas other than Antarctica are one lunar, two Martian, 32 other achondrites, three mesosiderites, two pallasites, one CM, two CK, one CR2, two CV3, one CR2, and four R chondrites. The Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society announces 48 newly approved relict meteorites from two new name series, Österplana and Gullhögen (both from Sweden). AFRICA larger lithic clasts (up to 0.3 mm) and vesicular glassy matrix and veins. Minerals identified include pyroxene, Libya plagioclase, olivine, ilmenite, kamacite, and troilite. Lithic clasts include gabbro (composed of plagioclase and Dar al Gani 1048 27°12.10′N, 16°18.67′E pigeonite) and very fine grained, ophitic-textured basalt Libya (composed of plagioclase and olivine with accessory Find: June 28, 2001 orthopyroxene, troilite, metal, and rutile). Several glassy Achondrite (lunar, feldspathic breccia) spheres were found. History: A tiny complete individual stone was recovered by Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa19.6–49.6, FeO/MnO = 93–98), an anonymous finder in June 2001 and purchased by pigeonite (Fs20.2–61.9Wo5.3–7.2, FeO/MnO = 54.8–66.5), and N. Classen in 2003 in Vienna, Austria. plagioclase (An97–98Or0). Physical characteristics: A single 0.801 g medium gray Classification: Achondrite (lunar, feldspathic breccia). This stone with some diffuse whitish clasts. About 70% of the stone is likely paired with Dar al Gani 262 and Dar al Gani stone is covered by fusion crust. 996. Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Type specimens: A total of 0.33 g of sample is on deposit at Predominantly very fine-grained mineral debris with some UWS. Classen holds the main mass. 1647 © The Meteoritical Society, 2007. Printed in USA. 1648 H. C. Connolly, Jr., et al. Mauritania samples potentially from this area varies, ranging from EL3 chondrite to aubrite. Bassikounou 15°47′N, 5°54′W Bassikounou, Hodh Ech Chargui, Mauritania Al Haggounia 001 27°30′N, 12°30′W Fall: 16 October 2006, 04:00 UTC Al Haggounia, Morocco Ordinary chondrite (H5) Find: 2006 History: A fireball was witnessed in the area, but no records Achondrite (aubrite) of the direction of movement were recorded. A single stone of History: Several tons of this material have been found on 3165 g was found by A. Salem El Moichine, a local resident, the ground or by digging near Al Haggounia, Morocco on the same day at 13:00 h local time, 11 km SE of (see Chennaoui et al. 2007 for description of the strewn Bassikounou. The sample for classification was provided to field), and sold to several dealers. The coordinates are NMBE by M. Ould Mounir, Nouakchott, who obtained it given for the center of the strewn field, which extends from his cousin who recovered the meteorite. According to ~40 km. S. Buhl (Hamburg, Germany), more than 20 specimens were Physical characteristics: It is impossible to precisely later recovered by locals and meteorite finders. These finds assess the amount of material already (and to be) define an 8 km long strewn field. The total recovered mass is recovered, but according to dealers, collectors, and Jambon, 46.00 kg. it is about 3 metric tons composing many samples of varied Physical characteristics: The 3165 g specimen is largely sizes (from a few g to 50 kg). The largest stones were covered by black fusion crust. The interior is light gray. On recovered after excavating them from the ground. The outer the surface of the fusion crust there is some adherent soil surface is rusty brown due to severe alteration and looks material, some of which is bright red. Shortly after recovery, like a sedimentary breccia cemented by iron oxide and the stone was cut into two pieces of 1200 and 1950 g. The carbonate. Color changes from bluish gray to rusty brown larger piece has a rectangular shape and shows indications of closest to the fractures are observed. Yellow patches of flow lines in the fusion crust. sulfur (alteration) are widespread. The rocks are Petrography: (E. Gnos, MHNGE; B. Hofmann, NMBE, significantly porous, with pore sizes from several M. Eggimann, Bern/NMBE): Mean chondrule size centimeters to hundreds of microns. 0.35 mm (n = 53). Metal abundance is 8 vol%, troilite Petrography: (A. Jambon, O. Boudouma, and D. Badia. 6.6 vol%. Mean plagioclase grain size is ~20 μm. Troilite UPVI) Dominated by enstatite and plagioclase. Troilite, is polycrystalline, rich in silicate inclusions, and shows graphite daubreelite, oldhamite, kamacite rich in Si, and diffuse boundaries to metal. Metal is partly rich in schreibersite are present. μ silicate and troilite inclusions. Rare metallic Cu (10 m) Mineral compositions: Enstatite (En98Fs1Wo1) and occurs at kamacite-taenite boundaries and in troilite. plagioclase (Ab78An16Or5). Some shock veins and no weathering products were Classification: Achondrite (aubrite); extensive weathering. observed. Similar to and likely paired with NWA 002, 1067, 2736, 2828, Mineral compositions: Olivine (Fa18.6), pyroxene (Fs16.3 2965. Wo1.1), and plagioclase (An13.7). Type specimens: A total of 50 g of sample and three polished Cosmogenic radionuclides: (P. Weber, PPGUN) Gamma- sections are on deposit at UPVI. spectroscopy performed in December 2006 and January 2007 Main masses: Beroud, 3886 g (26 pieces from 1185 g to showed the presence of the following radionuclides: 48V, 46Sc, 5.8 g); P. Thomas, 4497 g (33 pieces from 11 to 1507 g); 56Co, 54Mn, 58Co, 7Be, 51Cr, 57Co, 22Na, 26Al, and 60Co. Hmani, about 500 kg; Ouzrou, about 500 kg. Recalculated to 12 October 2006 22Na was 38.0 ± 2.2 and 26Al 31.5 ± 2.1 (both dpm/kg), the activity ratio of 1.21 is The Meteoritical Bulletin announces a new name series fully consistent with a fall on that date. approved by the Nomenclature Committee of the Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H5); S2, W0. Meteoritical Society, Istifane, located in the Istifane region of Type specimens: A total of 115 g are on deposit at NMBE. Morocco. Boudreaux holds the main mass. Istifane 001 31°29.911′N, 5°43.045′W Morocco Morocco Find: 24 July 2005 The Meteoritical Bulletin announces a new name series Ordinary chondrite (H4) approved by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Physical characteristics: It consists of three separate pieces Society from a dense collection area near Al Haggounia, of 68.0, 51.8, and 11.8 g, with a total mass of 131.6 g. The Morocco (Chennaoui et al. 2007), comprising approximately three pieces fit together documenting that they are fragments 3 tons of material. It should be noted that the classification of of a single stone. The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 92 1649 Petrography: (A. Ibhi and H. Nachit IZU, H. Chennaoui Nigeria Aoudjehane UHAC) It is severely weathered with a dark orange-brown color. Metallic Fe-Ni and/or troilite grains are Gashua 12°51′N, 11°02′E frequently replaced by iron oxide. Plagioclase grains are up to Dapchi, Nigeria 100 μm in size. Fall: April 1984 Mineral compositions: Olivine (Fa18.4–19.2), orthopyroxene Ordinary chondrite (L6) (Fs16.2–17.5). History: The meteorite fall was reported by anonymous Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H4); S3, W4. eyewitnesses to have occurred around April 1984 (about the Type specimens: Three polished thin sections and three time of the nearby Gujba fall) near the tiny desert settlement fragments totalling 104 g are on deposit at IZU. Kolomari close to the town of Gashua, Dapchi district, Nigeria. Istifane 002 31°29.909′N, 5°43.044′W Physical characteristics: A single stone of 4162 g was Morocco recovered and broken by villagers into many pieces at the Find: 17 August 2005 place of the fall. The pieces were stored by villagers until they Ordinary chondrite (H5) were collected in 2005 and sent to E. Twelker. Physical characteristics: One 40 g stone, brownish in color. Petrography: (A. Greshake, NHB) The meteorite is a weakly Mineral compositions: (A.