NWA 3159 (The "Plutonic" Eucrite) - 8.7g Complete Slice
The first NWA 3159
stone was discovered
in August, 2005 in the Sahara Desert, Africa. This initial stone
weighed 33.6g (pictured below) but another several stones were
later found and purchased bringing the Total Known Weight (TKW)
up to 397g.
This meteorite has been classified by the
University of Washington with a description mentioning that it
is a "monomict
breccia composed of rock and mineral clasts derived from a
plutonic eucrite." The classification also states that this
meteorite contains "Calcic
plagioclase, exsolved pigeonite, silica polymorph,
troilite, Al-Ti-poor chromite and ilmenite (one grain with a
very tiny zircon inclusion). FeO/MnO ratios in host
orthopyroxene (30.8) and exsolved clinopyroxene (30.0) are
typical of eucrites"
The plutonic description would refer to the
deep igneous or magmatic origin of this meteorite within the
asteroid. This meteoritic material would have been later liberated
during an impact event upon this asteroid. This meteorite is
very unusual and unique with its obvious light coloured clasts
set amongst a rich, contrasting charcoaled-coloured array of melt
veins. There are also many vesicles throughout this meteorite
which are primarily enclosed within melt veins. Some of these
range up to centimetre-sized cavities. This is extremely rare
and only a few Eucrites to date have been found with vesicles. The specimen below is
an 8.7g Complete Slice and is part of the Meteorites
Australia Collection (MA.06.0002). (High Resolution images also
available below.)
NWA 3159 (Eucrite) - 8.7g Complete Slice
(Click image to
enlarge in new window.)
NWA 3159 (Eucrite)
Approx Image Size: 7.6" x
6.6"
Resolution: 300 DPI File Size: 3.34MB Copyright ©
2006 Meteorites Australia
NWA 3159 (Eucrite) - 8.7g Complete Slice
(Click image to
enlarge in new window.)
NWA 3159 (Eucrite)
Approx Image Size: 8.2" x
7.1"
Resolution: 300 DPI File Size: 3.54MB Copyright ©
2006 Meteorites Australia
NWA 3159 (Eucrite) - Initial 33.6g Individual found in August, 2005.
(Photograph
courtesy of The Hupé Collection.)
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