S78 - "NWA 17599" MAIN MASS Fresh Eucrite (unbrecciated) HED Achondrite Meteorite 1280g

Meteorite type & CLASS / OFFICIAL NAME or NUMBER (Meteoritical Bulletin Database): NWA 17599 - HED Achondrite - Unbrecciated Eucrite

FALL/FIND LOCATION: North West Africa

WEIGHT: 1280g full main mass

Size: 12,5 x 10 x 6,5cm

Meteoritical Bulletin Database entry: NWA 17599 Unbrecciated Eucrite

Writeup from Meteoritical Bulletin Database:

Northwest Africa 17599 (NWA 17599)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2024 Sep

Classification: HED achondrite (Eucrite, unbrecciated)

History: Purchased by Juan Aviles Poblador in September 2024 from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco

Physical characteristics: A single stone (1303 g) almost completely coated by black degraded fusion crust. The relatively fresh interior has an overall tan color with a few rusty spots visible.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS, and P. Carpenter, WUSL) This specimen has an intergranular igneous texture (mean grainsize ~0.4 mm) and is composed predominantly of exsolved pigeonite and calcic plagioclase with accessory silica polymorph, Ti-chromite, ilmenite, troilite and minor secondary Fe oxide.

Geochemistry: Pigeonite (Fs58.6-59.8Wo5.9-6.8, FeO/MnO = 30.31, N = 4), augite (Fs30.3-30.9Wo41.1-40.6, FeO/MnO = 31-35, N = 4), plagioclase (An87.6-88.7Or0.4-0.6, N = 4).

Classification: Eucrite (unbrecciated).

Specimens: 23.2 g including one polished thin section at UWB; remainder with Mr Juan Aviles Poblador.

Observations:

The authenticity of this specimen is guaranteed and certified by me, the Geologist J.A.Poblador, member of the Global Meteorite Association G0043 and International Meteorite Collectors Association IMCA 5681. 

The fresh cut observed in the specimen is from where a sample was taken for classification and deposit in UWB.

Provenance chain: Im the main mass holder - Geologist Juan A. Poblador (Jurassic Dreams)

The meteorite would have started its journey to Earth as a result of a massive meteor strike on the Vesta asteroid surface, likely creating huge craters. That initial strike had sufficient force to eject this and other rocks from the surface of the Vesta asteroid at escape velocity, leaving them to float freely in space. Eventually, this mass intersected with the Earth's own orbit where its surface was flash-heated to 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit on entry, then rapidly cooled in the frigid temperatures of Earth's upper atmosphere, before slowing to approximately 200 miles per hour on its final descent. This fall would have lit the Saharan sky up before hurtling down to its site of discovery.