S308 - Outstanding "NWA 17679" Lunar Meteorite (feldspathic breccia) Part Slice 3,5g

Meteorite type & CLASS / OFFICIAL NAME or NUMBER (Meteoritical Bulletin Database): "NWA 17679" Lunar Meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

FALL/FIND LOCATION: North West Africa

WEIGHT: 3,5g part slice

Size: 4,3 x 1,9 x 0,2cm

Meteoritical Bulletin Database Writeup  : 

Northwest Africa 17679 (NWA 17679)

Purchased: 2025

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Single stone purchased online in 2025 by Craig Zlimen from a meteorite dealer in Northwest Africa.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with minor fusion crust.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, Cascadia) Sample is brecciated and comprised of mm to cm-sized lithic and mineral clasts set within a fine-grained matrix. Clast lithologies are primarily dominated by anorthitic plagioclase (e.g., anorthosites, noritic anorthosites), but other clast lithologies are also observed (e.g., troctolites, norites, anorthositic norites, impact melt breccias). Accessory phases identified include chromite, Fe-Ni metal, ilmenite, and troilite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa34.1±10.2, range Fa8.9-46.8, Fe/Mn = 88±6, n=12), Low-Ca Pyroxene (Fs32.7±8.1Wo3.4±1.0, range Fs25.1-49.3Wo2.1-5.5, Fe/Mn = 55±5, n=8), Pigeonite (Fs30.9±7.9Wo12.8±4.9, range Fs24.9-51.4Wo6.4-22.0, Fe/Mn = 49±6, n=9), High-Ca Pyroxene (Fs22.5±3.8Wo38.9±5.3, range Fs15.7-26.3Wo27.0-41.5, Fe/Mn = 48±6, n=7), Calcic Plagioclase (An97.2±0.7, range An96.1-98.3, n=20).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 20.8 g at Cascadia, 139 g with Geologist Juan Avilés Poblador, main mass with Craig Zlimen. Bruce Kowalcyzk and Ralph Glasser are also mass holders.

Observations and Provenance chain:

The authenticity of this specimen is guaranteed and certified by me, the Geologist Juan Avilés Poblador, member of the Global Meteorite Association G0043 and International Meteorite Collectors Association IMCA 5681. Im also one of the official listed main mass holders of this lunar meteorite in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.

The meteorite would have started its journey to Earth as a result of a massive meteor strike on the moon's surface, likely creating one of the craters we see on the Moon today. That initial strike had sufficient force to eject this and other rocks from the surface of the moon 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.