EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Some Meteorite Information

Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 4898

Northwest Africa 4898 (137 g). The meteorite is a crystalline basalt. Note the dark fusion crust,
unlike those on feldspathic lunar meteorites. Photo credit: Stefan Ralew

Northwest Africa 4898 (137 g). The meteorite is a crystalline basalt. Note the dark fusion crust,
unlike those on feldspathic lunar meteorites. Photo credit: Stefan Ralew

Inside of NWA 4898 (137 g). Photo credit: Stefan Ralew (left) and Norbert Classen (right)
Two views of lab sample of NWA 4819. Photo credit: Randy Korotev
The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 93, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 43, 571–632 (2007)
(http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/docs/mb93.pdf)

Northwest Africa 4898

Morocco

Find: 2007

Mass: 137 g (1 piece)

Achondrite (Lunar basalt)

History: The meteorite was found by an anonymous finder in Northwest Africa and bought by the main
mass holder in Quarzazate, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: One fragment almost completely covered with fusion crust weighing 137 g was
found.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB). The meteorite exhibits a spherulitic texture of dominantly lath-shaped

plagioclase, pyroxene, and skeletal ilmenite. Olivine occurs as single larger crystals often containing Ti-
rich chromite inclusions. Plagioclase is Ca-rich and has been completely transformed into maskelynite
during shock metamorphism; pyroxene is compositionally zoned Ti-rich pigeonite and augite. Minor
phases include FeNi-metal and troilite.

Geochemistry: Plagioclase (An92.6-96.5), olivine (Fa26.3-27.2; FeO/MnO = 73-92), pyroxene (Fs25.1-58.7Wo13.2-34;

FeO/MnO = 42-76).

Classification: Achondrite (Lunar basalt); extensive shock, minimal weathering.

Specimens: A total of 21.1 g plus one polished thin section are on deposit at MNB. Ralew holds the main
mass.

Randy Says…

NWA 4898 is an uncommon type of unbrecciated basalt, a feldspathic (“high-Al,” 12.4% Al2O3) basalt, the
only one among the lunar meteorites.

More Information
Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 4898 (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=45982)

References
Fernandes V. A., Korotev R. L., and Renne P. R. (2009) 40Ar-39Ar ages and chemical composition for lunar
mare basalts: NWA 4734 and NWA 4898 (https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/1045.pdf) . 40th
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1045.

Gaffney A. and Borg L. (2008) What we are learning about the Moon from lunar meteorites
(https://goldschmidtabstracts.info/abstracts/abstractView?id=2008001893) . Geochimica et Cosmochimica
Acta 72, 12S, A287.

Gaffney A. M., Borg L. E., DePaolo D. J., and Irving A. J. (2008) Age and isotope systematics of Northwest
Africa 4898, a new type of highly depleted mare basalt
(https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/pdf/1877.pdf) . Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX, abstract
no. 1877.

Greshake A., Irving A. J., Kuehner S. M., Korotev R. L., Gellissen M., and Palme H. (2008) Northwest Africa
4898: A new high-alumina mare basalt from the Moon
(https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/pdf/1631.pdf) . Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX, abstract
no. 1631.

Hsu W., Guan Y., Li S., and Wang Y. (2011) REE microdistributions in NWA 4898: A high-Al mare basalt
(https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2011/pdf/5062.pdf) . 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical
Society, abstract no. 5062.

Li S., Hsu W., Guan Y., Wang L., and Wang Y. (2016) Petrogenesis of the Northwest Africa 4898 high-Al mare
basalt (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.12663/abstract) . 1268-1288. Meteoritics &
Planetary Science 51, 1268-1288.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2021) Lunar meteorites from northern Africa

(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/maps.13617) . Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 206–240. 

Korotev R. L., Irving A. J., and Bunch T. E. (2008) Keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2008
(https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/pdf/1209.pdf) . Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX, abstract
no. 1209.

Macke R. J., Kiefer W. S., Britt D. T., Irving A. J., and Consolmagno G. J. (2011) Densities, porosities and
magnetic susceptibilities of meteoritic lunar samples: Early results
(https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/1986.pdf) . 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science
Conference, abstract no. 1986.

Miyahara M., Kozuma K., Ohtani E., Yamaguchi A., Sakai T., Ohfuji H., Tomioka N., Kodama Y. (2019) Shock-
induced melting and high-pressure polymorphs in lunar basaltic meteorites
(https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2019/pdf/6014.pdf) . 82nd Annual Meeting of the
Meteoritical Society, abstract no. 6014.

Webb S., Neal C. R., Gawronska A., and Day J. M. D. (2019) Crystal size distribution patterns for lunar
meteorites Northwest Africa 12008, 4898, 8632, 3136 and three LaPaz Icefield lunar meteorites
(https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/2686.pdf) . 50th Lunar and Planetary Science
Conference, abstract no. 2686.
 Lunar Meteorites

List – ABC123 Order

List – Al2O3 Order

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