Bechar 003 is a recent lunar find that was recovered out of the Algerian Sahara in March 2022. The find consisted of hundreds of tiny and small individuals with a characteristic light-colored white to cream to light grey exterior and corresponding mottled matrix. It was analyzed and classified at UWS by Dr. Tony Irving. The official type is "lunar feldspathic breccia".
The specimen being offered here is a small uncut fragment that weighs approx. .206g (206mg). Notably, this fragment appears to be solid white anorthosite with some orange on one spot of the exterior.
Refer to the photos. The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included. You are purchasing the specimen shown. Your purchase will include a labeled gemjar for safe storage.
From the Meteoritical Bulletin entry on Bechar 003 :
Bechar 003 30.887°N, 3.301°W
Bechar, Algeria
Find: 2022 Mar 24
Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)
History: Many small, similar-appearing stones were found together in Algeria on March 24, 2022.
Physical characteristics: The stones (total 2090 g) lack fusion crust and have light brown weathered exteriors. Fresh interiors are medium gray with diffuse small white clasts and rare tiny metal grains visible.
Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Electron microprobe analyses were conducted on small slices from four separate stones. Although there is some mineralogical and compositional heterogeneity among these pieces, all consist of mineral clasts of calcic plagioclase (predominantly anorthite but also some sodic bytownite), olivine, low-Ca pyroxene and augite within a very fine grained, sparsely microvesicular matrix containing Ti-chromite, troilite, kamacite and minor secondary barite.
Geochemistry: Calcic plagioclase (An70.7-97.7Or1.1-0.0, N = 12), olivine (Fa22.9-49.5, FeO/MnO = 86-114, N = 14), low-Ca pyroxene (23.1-26.5Wo4.3-4.4, Fe)/MnO = 56-57, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs22.0-32.3Wo6.9-12.5, FeO/MnO = 52-61, N =7), augite (Fs11.9-19.4Wo35.8-38.6, FeO/MnO = 42-52, N = 5).
Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).
