[meteorite-list] Re: New Lunar? New Continent

[Treiman, Allan]

Hi, Meteorite list -- 

   From the data in that abstract, I'd be very cautious 
this rock. 

   First, the data in the abstract are not consistent with
themselves. For isntance the rock is cited as 45% anorthite, 
but only 3.7% Al2O3. Anorthite contains ~36% Al2O3, so a 
rock that is 45% anorthite must contain at least 45% of 36% 
Al2O3, or 16% Al2O3. Only a factor of four off!!!

   Second, the chemical analysis is far off any known a moon rock. 
It shows 26.15% SiO2, which is not even enough if the rock were
all olivine. The rock has 5.38% MnO, which is way more than any
lunar rock. An earth rock with that much MnO would be mined as 
ore! The analysis has CaO of 39.6%, which is way higher than 
any moon rock -- lunar anorthosite has ~19% CaO, and mare basalts 
have ~8-12% CaO. 

   If it is lunar, its like nothing else.

   Allan   


Allan H. Treiman
Senior Staff Scientist
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX 77058-1113
   281-486-2117
   281-486-2162 (FAX)


-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com]On Behalf Of
Mikestockj at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 2:16 PM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com; COMeteoriteClub at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Re: New Lunar? New Continent


Hi All
Just wanted to let the word out about the new possible Lunar meteorite. It is 
a 3200 gram beauty from.........and no it is not the dry deserts of Africa or 
Antarctica..... a little hint it's the first North American Lunar.....drum 
roll please....Colorado. How exciting is that. I guess it is good/lucky to be in 
Colorado (two achondrites in one year).
It is from Granada near Lamar for all of you Coloradans. That would be the 
south eastern side of the state near Kansas for everybody else or about 200 
miles SE of Denver.
Again it is only a possible Lunar.....but I'll keep you posted.
I have included an abstract to the upcoming Geological Society of America 
meeting in Denver about the meteorite.

PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A NEW ACHONDRITE (MARE BASALT?) OF POSSIBLE LUNAR 
ORIGIN FROM NEAR GRANADA, COLORADO, USA

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004AM/finalprogram/abstract_76183.htm

Time to go hunt......anyone want to go. Oops I'm half way there. :)

Mike


Mike Jensen IMCA 4264
Bill Jensen IMCA 2359
Jensen Meteorites
16730 E Ada PL
Aurora, CO 80017-3137
303-337-4361
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