An amazing piece of one of the most beautiful lunar meteorite ever found
Dhofar 1180 - Lunar
A piece of the Achondrite (lunar) found in January 2005, Dhofar, Oman
Measurements: 9*5*0,5 mm
History: M. Farmer recovered a specimen in the Dhofar region of Oman.
Physical characteristics of the original: The 115.2 g meteorite has an odd external shape akin to a thick-bladed talon.
Petrography: (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU) The sample is a feldspathic fragmental breccia that contains a variety of lithologies set in matrix of similar materials with a preferred orientation of fragments and clasts. Mostly ferroan anorthosites with clasts of gabbroic anorthosites, anorthositic gabbros and norites, troctolites, olivine gabbros, microporphyritic and fine-grained impact-melt breccias, and rare, ophitic/subophitic basalts and symplectites of unknown provenance.
Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Anorthositic plagioclase (An94.5–98; FeO = 0.28–0.78 wt%); olivines (FeO/ MnO = 82–110), ferroan anorthosite (Fa38), norite (Fa18), olivine gabbro (Fa36.8); orthopyroxenes (FeO/MnO = 50–73), ferroan anorthosite (Fs38.6Wo2.1), olivine gabbro (Fs33.4Wo4.3), ophitic basalt core (Fs40Wo11.8) and rim (Fs69.1Wo15.8).
Classification: Achondrite (lunar, feldspathic fragmental breccia). Minimal weathering.
Type specimen: A 20.6 g sample is on deposit at NAU*. MFarmer and Strope hold the main mass.