NWA 13992 is a dual-lithology, lunar fragmental polymict breccia that was recovered out of the Mauritanian Sahara in 2020. It was analyzed and classified by Dr. Carl Agee at the UNM Institute of Meteoritics.
This specimen has been professionally cut and polished to a beautiful high gloss shine on one side. The other side is natural and unpolished. It clearly shows the contrasting white clasts of anorthosite and grey xenolithic clasts set against a dark black groundmass. It resembles some of the lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts. It weighs 1.185 grams and is perfectly flat - ready for display or microscope study.
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 NWA 13992 :
Northwest Africa 13992 (NWA 13992)
Mauritania
Purchased: 2021
Classification: Lunar meteorite (frag. breccia)
History: Found in 2020 by Mauritanian meteorite hunters.
Physical characteristics: Several identical large individuals and multiple medium to small identical individuals totaling 1035 g. Shiny, irregular shaped, sandblasted exteriors with patches of two colors, dark brown and light brownish-yellow, representing the main lithologies in these meteorite samples.
Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Electron microprobe analysis of a polished mount shows this meteorite to be a lunar polymict breccia with at least two distinct lithologies. Lithology 1: this is feldspathic breccia consisting of fragments of olivine and pyroxene, and anorthitic plagioclase, with accessory phases Fe,Ni-metal, Fe-sulfide, ilmenite, and chromite. Lithology 2: this is a basaltic textured domain with intergranular pyroxene and plagioclase grains that grades into a partially shock melted pyroxene cumulate textured domain, with minor barite, Fe-sulfide, ilmenite, and silica -- olivine is absent.
Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) olivine Fa48.1±9.0, Fe/Mn=104±12, n=12; clinopyroxene Fs38.5±14.9Wo13.8±13.9, Fe/Mn=58±7, n=13; plagioclase An94.9±1.7, n=6.
Classification: Polymict fragmental lunar breccia.
