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Met Name

Met Type

Thin Sections

  CK5/6

TKW 2.48 kg. Fall not observed. Purchased 2021, Agadir, Morocco.


 

Steve writes:

NWA 15888 is a CK5/6 carbonaceous chondrite with an uncommon classification having only 6 other members before it. Two stones were found totaling 2.48 kg TKW, making NWA 15888 the largest of the group (the next largest is 385 grams). The first CK5/6 – Antarctica’s Elephant Moraine 87860 – was classified in 1987.

Photo 1 shows the cut surface of the end piece featured in today’s post.

Photo 2 offers crossed-eyes 3D views of its back and sides.

Photos 3 and 4 are Photo 2’s corresponding red-cyan anaglyphs..

With only small patches of fusion crust on what is otherwise a vesicular basalt-like texture, the stone’s exterior appears highly weathered, but in fact the weathering grade is low.

Photo 5’s 3D crossed-eyes images offer examples of the broken crust.

Photos 6 and 7 are Photo 5’s corresponding red-cyan anaglyphs.

Photo 8’s 3D crossed-eyes images show areas lacking fusion crust.

Photos 9 and 10 are Photo 8’s corresponding red-cyan anaglyphs.

The cut surface exhibits a plethora of chondrules, most generally uniform and dark, but some that are more colorful or texture-rich.

Photos 11 and 12 are collages showing chondrule-rich areas.

Photo 13's 3D crossed-eyes images show two chondrules with voids.

Photo 14 and Photo 15 are Photo 13’s corresponding red-cyan anaglyphs.

Photo 16 offers two examples of chondrules filled with semi-translucent crystals.

Besides the two end cuts, a few slices were taken from this meteorite. One fractured, and I was offered some small pieces to make thin sections. None have any chondrules besides the relatively uninteresting dark ones, but if the thin sections look interesting, I’ll submit them in a subsequent post.