[meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163

Wed Nov 2 11:22:22 EST 2005

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for your inquiry.

I had a discussion on the phone with the lead scientist last night regarding 
the weathering level of NWA 3163 would be after the question was brought up 
by a collector. He basically stated that due to the very low amount of 
caliche and virtually no interior staining, that he would suggest the 
weathering grade would be very low, perhaps W1 if he had to apply the grade 
(which he did not in his submitted classification).

We are still waiting for the terrestrial age. I know this does not determine 
the weathering level, but may help in this case due to the current 
weathering grade rules (as you kindly listed below). I suppose it is all up 
to interpretation for this type of meteorite and I guess one could compare 
this lunar meteorite to another similar one and could make an educated guess 
or suggestion of weathering level.

Perhaps the scientific community and/or NomCom can come up with a scientific 
way to determine weathering levels for meteorites of this type, which
lack significant metal and sulfide. They might be able to use the Apollo 
samples which have small clasts of the same material to use as a guide? Just 
a thought.

Best regards,

Greg

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Grossman" <jgrossman at usgs.gov>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163

Just out of curiosity, how can you determine the
weathering level of a meteorite like this, which
lacks significant metal and sulfide?  The scale
up to W4 is defined by these and only these minerals:

>W0: No visible oxidation of metal or sulfide.  A limonitic staining may be 
>noticeable in transmitted light.
>W1: Minor oxide rims around metal and troilite; minor oxide veins.
>W2: Moderate oxidation of metal, about 20-60% being affected.
>W3: Heavy oxidation of metal and troilite, 60-95% being replaced.
>W4: Complete (>95%) oxidation of metal and troilite.

jeff

At 10:33 AM 11/2/2005, Greg Hupe wrote:
>Hi Martin and list,
>
>The scientists believe the terrestrial age of the new lunar, NWA 3163, will 
>show to be very low as to the lack of weathering, which he states is most 
>likely a weathering level of W1. Results will be forthcoming and I will 
>share the new data as it becomes available.
>
>Best regards,
>Greg
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Altmann" 
><Altmann at Meteorite-Martin.de>
>To: "Greg Hupe" <gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com>; 
><meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 6:28 AM
>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163
>
>
>>Exciting stuff!
>>
>>Do you have hints yet about the terrestial age?
>>
>>Jelously,
>>Buckleboo
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Hupe" <gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com>
>>To: "Matson, Robert" <ROBERT.D.MATSON at saic.com>
>>Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 2:04 AM
>>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163
>>
>>
>>>Hi Rob and list members,
>>>
>>>I am more than happy to share the pictures. In fact, here is a list of 
>>>the
>>>largest specimens with photo links:
>>>
>>>1,121g main mass
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163mainmass.jpg
>>>
>>>74.1g complete slice, polished both sides (SOLD)
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/nwa3163slice2c.jpg
>>>
>>>48.7g complete slice, polished both sides
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-48_7.jpg
>>>
>>>45.2g complete slice, polished both sides
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-45_2.jpg
>>>
>>>25.3g part slice, polished one side
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-25_3.jpg
>>>
>>>23.7g complete slice, polished one side
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-23_7.jpg
>>>
>>>12.1g end cut, polished face
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-12_1.jpg
>>>
>>>7.1g part slice, polished one side
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-7_1.jpg
>>>
>>>7g complete slice, polished one side
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/more/nwa3163-7.jpg
>>>
>>>I have many smaller part slices which I have not photographed yet.
>>>
>>>Take care and enjoy the pictures,
>>>Greg
>>>
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Matson, Robert" 
>>><ROBERT.D.MATSON at saic.com>
>>>To: "'Greg Hupe'" <gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com>;
>>><meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 7:24 PM
>>>Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163
>>>
>>>
>>>Beautiful lunar meteorite, Greg!  Thanks for the links to all the drool-
>>>producing images!  I'm sure are resident lunatic Norbert will agree...
>>>
>>>--Rob
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
>>>[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com]
>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 3:53 PM
>>>To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>Subject: [meteorite-list] New Lunar Meteorite Discovered - NWA 3163
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear List Members,
>>>
>>>I am very pleased to announce the discovery of a new Lunar meteorite, NWA
>>>3163.
>>>
>>>Here is what we know at this point:
>>>NWA 3163 (Provisional) - Ultra-Rare Lunar Feldspathic Granulite Meteorite
>>>
>>>A single 1,634 gram meteorite, believed to have been found in Mauritania
>>or
>>>Algeria, was purchased in Morocco in August 2005 by Greg Hupé, who 
>>>thought
>>>at first that it may be an unusual eucrite or diogenite.  Actually it is 
>>>a
>>>Lunar Feldspathic Granulite and represents the largest known sample of
>>this
>>>rare rock type available for scientific study.  It is composed primarily
>>of
>>>maskelynite (shocked plagioclase) with lesser amounts of pyroxene,
>>olivine,
>>>chromite and other minerals.  This extremely rare type of lunar rock is
>>>known from small clasts in a few Apollo 15, 16 and 17 samples.
>>>
>>>Click here for image of Main Mass
>>>
>>>http://www.lunarrock.com/nwa3163/nwa3163a.jpg
>>>
>>><snip>
>>>
>>>______________________________________________
>>>Meteorite-list mailing list
>>>Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
>______________________________________________
>Meteorite-list mailing list
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Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman       phone: (703) 648-6184
US Geological Survey          fax:   (703) 648-6383
954 National Center
Reston, VA 20192, USA

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