Unclassified NWA - 17.5g Halved Individual with Unusual Interior

This 17.5g Halved Individual was found during 2004 in the Sahara Desert in Northwest Africa. It is appears to be relatively unweathered with quite fresh fusion crust. There is only some very minor iron staining in two locations at the left of the first two images. The second is around a black armoured chondrule which also has an unusual inclusion in the centre. Two forms of metal are present in this meteorite which includes metallic Iron/Nickel (Fe/Ni) and Troilite (iron sulphide) of which this latter occurs mostly as blobs and veins.

The matrix is grey-coloured and coarse with fragments of other materials present. There is an unusually prolific concentration of Bleached Chondrules in this meteorite which vary widely in size and shape. Some even appear to be fragmented chondrules which have undergone bleaching afterwards. One even has an metallic blob consuming around 10%-20% of the chondrule including through the bleached zone. Just left of bottom-centre in the first image is a large white inclusion which looks suspiciously like some form of CAI. It may not be but there are also numerous similar smaller ones throughout the matrix which all appear to be unrelated to the host. Another major feature of this piece is the large black angular inclusion which is particularly evident in the top-centre of the second image. This inclusion is enclosed within a large clast which has been highlighted in the below reverse colour image originally edited by Martin Horejsi. The clast and surrounding matrix look similar but are actually different. This specimen is part of the Meteorites Australia Collection (MA.05.0082).

Unclassified NWA - 7.0g Half Individual. (MA.05.0082)

Unclassified NWA - 10.5g Halved Individual. (MA.05.0082)

Unclassified NWA - 10.5g Halved Individual. (MA.05.0082)

Unclassified NWA - 10.5g Halved Individual. (MA.05.0082) - Reverse Colour Image

Click the photographs below to enlarge

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