Lunar meteorite Adrar 013 – 0,7g – Algeria
Type: Lunar / melt breccia
Locality: Algeria
Weight: 0,7g
Dimensions: 14 x 12 x 2 mm
Year found: 2023
Total known weight: 3,15 kg
Surface treatment: cut slice, polished on one side
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Lunar Meteorite Adrar 013 – Melt Breccia from the Lunar Highlands
Adrar 013 is a lunar meteorite classified as a melt breccia – a rock composed of mixed fragments of lunar material that were re-melted during an impact event. It was found in 2023 in the Adrar region of Algeria. The total recovered mass is approximately 3.15 kg, with the largest individual piece weighing about 3 kg.
Structure and Mineral Composition
The Adrar 013 meteorite consists of grey-green to greenish fragments (clasts) enclosed in a molten anorthitic matrix showing clear flow and rapid-cooling textures. The main mineral phases are pigeonite, zoned augite and a smaller amount of olivine. Accessory minerals include ilmenite, chromite and troilite.
The meteorite shows a high degree of shock metamorphism and a low degree of weathering, indicating that it experienced a strong impact but remained well preserved after landing on Earth.
Origin and Scientific Significance
The structure and composition indicate that Adrar 013 originates from the lunar highlands and formed during a powerful impact event that melted and mixed original rocks into a single melt breccia. Such meteorites are extremely valuable as they provide insights into the geology of the lunar crust, the history of impact processes, and the chemical composition of the Moon.
