NORTHWEST AFRICA 11273

Numerous relatively fresh fragments of a 2,808 g stone was found near Tindouf, Algeria and subsequently purchased by a group of meteorite collectors (Rob Wesel, Eric Twelker, and Jason Phillips). A type specimen was submitted for analysis and classification to the University of Washington in Seattle (A. Irving and S. Kuehner), and NWA 11273 was determined to be a lunar feldspathic regolith breccia.

Northwest Africa 11273 consists of mineral clasts of anorthite (An_95.9–96.5), olivine, pigeonite, augite, chromite, Ti-Cr-Fe spinel, FeNi-metal, and troilite, embedded within a fine-grained matrix (MetBull 106). Rare basalt clasts and glass fragments were also identified. The specimen of NWA 11273 shown above is a 3.8 g partial slice acquired from Sergey Vasiliev. Further photos of this lunar breccia can be seen in the official write-up in the Meteoritical Bulletin.