On Offer: 1.952 gram complete individual of Erg Chech 002 achondrite-ung

Classification: Achondrite Ungrouped - this is an ungrouped achondrite from an unknown differentiated parent body.

Origin: Unkown

Description: A complete individual of an amazing ungrouped achondritic meteorite displaying large green diopside crystals. It was first analyzed and classified at the University of Washington, with the oxygen isotopic analysis having been done at a specialized lab at the University of Mexicos Institute of Meteoritics. Later study has determined it to be among the oldest differentiated achondrites ever discovered. Its age challenges previously held ideas about the timing of the formation of various meteorite parent bodies during the earliest periods of the Solar System.

What you get: meteorite specimen as shown and signed Certificate of Authenticity.

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Erg Chech 002Basic informationName: Erg Chech 002
This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: EC 002
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2020
Country: Algeria
Mass: 31.78 kg
Classification
history:Recommended: Achondrite-ung [explanation]
This is 1 of 122 approved meteorites classified as Achondrite-ung. [show all]
Search for other: Achondrites, Ungrouped achondrites
Comments:Approved 19 Jul 2020
Revised 9 Aug 2020: Updated informationWriteup
Writeup from MB 109:

Erg Chech 002 (EC 002) 26.032 N, 1.611 W

Adrar, Algeria

Find: 2020 May

Classification: Ungrouped achondrite

History: Numerous stones containing distinctive large greenish crystals were found in May 2020 near Bir Ben Takoul, southern Algeria, within the Erg Chech sand sea. Three of these stones (weighing 1839, 467, and 207 g) were obtained by Rachid Chaoui, and two of them were subsequently purchased by Mark Lyon and one by Jason Utas. Additional stones (110, 178, 355, 360, 408, 480, 550, 587, 750, 805, 855, 1071, 1175, 1417, 1857, 2647, 3485, 3910, 4130, and 4140 g) were purchased in June and July 2020 from different Moroccan dealers by Ben Hoefnagels, Eric Twelker, Luc Labenne, Darryl Pitt, Vincent Jacques, Ziyao Wang, Marcin Cima a, Adam Aaronson, Michael Farmer and Aziz Habibi.

Physical characteristics: The stones under classification (combined weight 31.783 kg) lack fusion crust, and have an overall relatively coarse grained, tan and beige appearance with sporadic larger green, yellow-green and less commonly yellow-brown crystals (up to 9 cm by 4 cm in some specimens). Some minor reddish-brown staining is evident in the groundmass regions. This classification is based on direct analysis of samples from the 1839 g stone augmented by examination of photographs and descriptions of other stones found with them.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Unbrecciated igneous texture. Sporadic pyroxene megacrysts (ranging in size from 1.7 to 11.5 mm in the studied thin section), exhibiting angular or ellipsoidal and embayed shapes, and comprising orthopyroxene (of varying composition), pigeonite and augite occur within a dominant, medium to relatively coarse grained groundmass. The cores of each of the analyzed megacrysts are fairly homogeneous in composition, but all are mantled by zones of different composition and distinct, fine grained rim overgrowths against the groundmass parallel to grain outlines (irrespective of geometry). Some low-Ca pyroxene cores contain thin lamellae and some larger inclusions (up to 300 m) of Ti-poor chromite. The groundmass representing the major portion of the specimens (mean grainsize ~1.5 mm) is composed predominantly of exsolved pigeonite (commonly as radiating clusters of prismatic grains) and lath-like sodic plagioclase (zoned from irregular oligoclase cores to albitic rims with oriented dagger-like K-feldspar exsolution blades) together with accessory Ti-chromite, ilmenite (some as rims on chromite), troilite, silica polymorph (with a curved "fish-scale" fracture pattern suggestive of cristobalite), merrillite, and rare Ni-poor metal (in composite grain clusters with ilmenite, Ti-chromite and troilite). Secondary weathering products include minor goethite after primary troilite and metal, and sporadic very thin veinlets of calcite.

Geochemistry: Orthopyroxene megacryst 1 (core Fs 17.7Wo 3.3; mantle Fs 23.4-31.1Wo 3.4-3.8; rim Fs 37.6-42.5Wo 2.9-3.3; FeO/MnO = 21-26, Cr 2O 3 = 0.3-0.5 wt.%; N = 6), orthopyroxene megacryst 2 (core Fs 14.4 0.0Wo 2.2-2.3; mantle Fs 19.2-28.7Wo 2.0-2.1; rim Fs 33.1-36.8Wo 2.8-3.5; FeO/MnO = 17-26; Cr 2O 3 = 0.3-1.0 wt.%; N = 7), orthopyroxene megacryst 3 (core Fs 22.8Wo 1.2; mantle Fs 30.8Wo 2.2; rim Fs 43.5Wo 2.5; FeO/MnO = 16-23; Cr 2O 3 = 0.2-0.4 wt.%; N = 3), pigeonite megacryst (core Fs 21.3Wo 7.0; mantle Fs 23.4Wo 11.8; rim Fs 40.7Wo 5.0; FeO/MnO = 17-20; Cr 2O 3 = 0.3-0.8 wt.%; N = 3), augite megacryst (core Fs 14.7-19.4Wo 38.5-30.2; rim Fs 24.7Wo 38.1; FeO/MnO = 15-18; Cr 2O 3 = 1.1 wt.%; N = 4), groundmass exsolved pigeonite (low-Ca pyroxene host Fs 42.3-52.2Wo 2.9-4.6, FeO/MnO = 21-23, N = 6; augite exsolution lamellae Fs 18.1-25.9Wo 40.8-38.1, FeO/MnO = 18-22, N = 5), groundmass plagioclase (oligoclase cores and intergrown with pyroxene megacrysts Ab 68.8-79.0An 26.7-17.9Or 4.4-2.6, N = 6; albitic rims on laths Ab 84.4-86.7An 11.4-7.1Or 4.2-7.0, N = 5), K-feldspar exsolution blade in albite (Or 84.1Ab 11.3An 4.6), Fe metal (Ni = 0.13-0.18 wt.%, N = 2). Oxygen isotopes (K. Ziegler, UNM): analyses of acid-washed subsamples of groundmass and an orthopyroxene megacryst by laser fluorination gave, respectively: groundmass 17O 1.548, 1.788, 1.831, 1.773; 18O 3.201, 3.657, 3.728, 3.593; 17O -0.142, -0.143, -0.137, -0.123 (linearized, all per mil, TFL slope = 0.528); megacryst 17O 1.780, 1.639, 1.682; 18O 3.594, 3.329, 3.379; 17O -0.117, -0.119, -0.103 (linearized, all per mil, TFL slope = 0.528). Magnetic susceptibility log ( 10 -9 m 3/kg) = 3.06.

Classification: Achondrite (ungrouped, gabbroic with pyroxene megacrysts, sodic). Although the exsolved pigeonite in this meteorite is reminiscent of pyroxene in typical eucrites (with the notable exception of systematically much lower FeO/MnO ratios), the highly sodic and mildly potassic plagioclase is very different from the much more calcic plagioclase in eucrites (typically bytownite to anorthite, and only rarely as sodic as calcic labradorite Ab 33An 67). The cores of orthopyroxene megacrysts differ from typical diogenitic orthopyroxene in usually being more magnesian, more Cr-rich and having lower FeO/MnO ratios. Oxygen isotopes ( 17O values) plot between the field for the majority of eucrites and the trend for angrites, in the vicinity of values for anomalous eucrites Bunburra Rockhole, Emmaville, Asuka 881394 and EET 92023. However, Erg Chech 002 is mineralogically quite different from those four meteorites in many respects, most notably the prevalence of highly sodic plagioclase and lower FeO/MnO ratios in pyroxenes.

Specimens: 50.1 g including one polished thin section and one polished mount at UWB; main mass of the 1839 g stone and the 207 g stone with Mr. M. Lyon; 467 g stone with Mr. J. Utas; 110 g stone with Mr. E. Twelker; 4140 g stone, 355 g stone and main mass of 408 g stone with Mr. B. Hoefnagels; 480 g stone with Mr. L. Labenne; 587 g, 855 g, 1071 g and 1417 g stones with DPitt; 550 g stone with Mr. M. Cima a; 4130 g stone with Mr. V. Jacques; 805 g stone with Mr. Ziyao Wang; 1857 g stone with Mr. S. Jurvetson; 2647 g stone with Mr. T. Boudreaux; 1175 g and 3485 g stones with Farmer; 178 g and 360 g stones with Aaronson; 3910 g stone at MMGM; 750 g with Mr. A. Habibi; 892 g with Matthew Stream.

Data from:
MB109
Table 0
Line 0:State/Prov/County:AdrarPlace of purchase:MoroccoDate:2020 MayLatitude:26.032 NLongitude:1.611 WMass (g):31783Pieces:23Class:Achondrite-ungShock stage:lowWeathering grade:lowFerrosilite (mol%):14.4-22.8; 20.3; 14.7-19.4; 42.3-52.2; 18.1-25.9Wollastonite (mol%):2.2-3.3; 7.0; 38.5-30.2; 2.9-4.6; 40.8-38.1Magnetic suscept.:3.06Classifier:A. Irving, UWS, and P. Carpenter, WUSLType spec mass (g):50.1Type spec location:UWBMain mass:B. HoefnagelsComments:Work name RC131.1; submitted by A. IrvingPlots:O isotopes: Institutions
and collectionsUNM: Institute of Meteoritics MSC03 2050 University of Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-1126 USA, United States; Website (institutional address; updated 12 Feb 2015)
UWS: University of Washington, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, 70 Johnson Hall, Seattle, WA 98195, United States (institutional address; updated 15 Jan 2012)
WUSL: Washington Univ., One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States (institutional address; updated 17 Oct 2011)
UWB: University of Washington, Box 353010 Seattle, WA 98195, United States (institutional address; updated 27 Jul 2012)
Aaronson: Sahara Overland Ltd., Harhora, Temara, 12000, Morocco (private address; updated 3 Jan 2010)
Boudreaux: Terry Boudreaux, Illinois, United States (private address)
DPitt: Darryl Pitt, 225 West 83rd Street, York, NY 10024, United States; Website (private address)
Labenne: 23, rue de Esperance, 75013 Paris, France; Website (private address; updated 29 Aug 2012)
Twelker: Eric Twelker, P.O. Box 844, Port Townsend, WA 98368, United States; Website (private address; updated 1 Dec 2014)
MMGM: Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, PO Box 500, 99 Main St., Bethel, ME 04217, United States; Website (institutional address; updated 9 Jan 2020)
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Product Attributes:

Country/Region Of Manufacture: United States

Featured Refinements: Meteorite

Weight (lbs.): 0.50 lb

Length (in.): 12

Width (in.): 10

Height (in.): 3