Northwest Africa 8291 (NWA 8291)
(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2013
Classification: Mesosiderite
History: Purchased by Brahim Tahiri from a Moroccan meteorite hunter and sent to his partner Sean Tutorow for classification, 2013.
Physical characteristics: 45 small stones that are visually identical, irregular dark exterior with some iron staining, saw cut reveals mm-sized, bright metal grains set in dark brown silicate matrix.
Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe examination of a polished mount shows approximately 70% silicate minerals and 30% metal. Silicate mineralogy ~70% pyroxene, ~25% plagioclase, accessory silica and olivine. Silicate grain sizes up to 300 μm. Metal: ~90% kamacite, ~10% taenite, 5-10% of total metal is oxidized. Metal domains up to 3 mm. Many metal/oxide veinlets and blebs throughout.
Geochemistry: (C. Agee and H. Miley, UNM) EMPA. Low Ca-pyroxene Fs32.4±7.0Wo2.7±0.7, Fe/Mn=28±2 n=9, olivine Fa31.7.7, Fe/Mn=43, n=1, plagioclase Or0.5±0.1Ab9.0±1.5An90.5±1.6, n=7.
Classification: Mesosiderite
Specimens: 20.95 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Sean Tutorow holds the main mass.
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