Howardite with unique texture - NWA 3078

Achondrite (howardite)

One single stone of 733 g mostly covered with fresh fusion crust

was found in winter 2002/2003 by an anonymous finder in the Western Saharan desert. Classification and mineralogy (A.

Greshake and M. Kurz, MNB): polymict breccia dominated by

often chemically zoned orthopyroxene fragments set into a clastic

matrix. Other types of fragments include large blocky pagioclase,

Other types of fragments include large blocky pagioclase, pigeonite with augite exsolution lamellae, and unusual

orthopyroxene and sulfide-rich clasts; orthopyroxene, Fs23.8-  47.7Wo1.4-3.3, plagioclase, An90.9; pigeonite, Fs25-40.3Wo5.1-6.3; augite, Fs17.7-29.6Wo27.3-42.4; minor phases are sulfides, FeNi metal,

chromite, and Al-Ti-rich chromite; low degree of shock; low degree of weathering. Specimens: Main mass with anonymous

finder; type specimen 20 g plus one polished thin section MNB.

 

Classification and mineralogy: (Dr.A. Greshake and M. Kurz): Berlin, Humboldt Univ; Germany

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