Lunar meteorite NWA 15629 – 1,1g – Northwest Africa
Type: Lunar – feldspathic/basaltic breccia
Locality: Northwest Africa
Weight: 1,1g
Dimensions: 23 x 14 x 2 mm
Year found: 2022
Total known weight: 3,4 kg
Surface treatment: slice - polished on one size
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NWA 15629 – lunar mingled feldspathic/basaltic breccia
NWA 15629 is a lunar meteorite found in 2022 in Northwest Africa and officially classified two years later. It is a rock originating from the surface of the Moon, ejected during a strong impact that was capable of releasing material from the lunar crust into space and eventually delivering it to Earth.
Composition and classification
The meteorite is classified as a feldspathic/basaltic breccia containing maskelynite. It consists of a mixture of material from the lunar highlands, represented mainly by feldspathic (anorthositic) rocks, and basaltic rocks originating from the lunar maria. This combination of two distinct geological environments indicates intense mixing of material during a major impact event.
Shock features
The rock shows clear signs of shock metamorphism, which is typical for meteorites formed during strong impacts. All plagioclase in this specimen has been transformed into maskelynite, indicating exposure to extreme pressures during the impact. The meteorite also contains melt breccia clasts and glassy clasts, which further confirm intense impact processes.