Bechar 003 30.887°N, 3.301°W

Bechar, Algeria

Find: 2022 Mar 24

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Many small, similar-appearing stones were found together in Algeria on March 24, 2022, by a team represented by David Lehman. Some of the material was also acquired by John Higgins and Jasper Spencer.

Physical characteristics: The stones (total 1522 g) lack fusion crust and have light brown weathered exteriors. Fresh interiors are medium gray with diffuse small white clasts and rare tiny metal grains visible.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Electron microprobe analyses were conducted on small slices from four separate stones. Although there is some mineralogical and compositional heterogeneity among these pieces, all consist of mineral clasts of calcic plagioclase (predominantly anorthite but also some sodic bytownite), olivine, low-Ca pyroxene and augite within a very fine grained, sparsely microvesicular matrix containing Ti-chromite, troilite, kamacite and minor secondary barite.

Geochemistry: Calcic plagioclase (An_70.7-97.7Or_1.1-0.0, N = 12), olivine (Fa_22.9-49.5, FeO/MnO = 86-114, N = 14), low-Ca pyroxene (23.1-26.5Wo_4.3-4.4, Fe)/MnO = 56-57, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_22.0-32.3Wo_6.9-12.5, FeO/MnO = 52-61, N =7), augite (Fs_11.9-19.4Wo_35.8-38.6, FeO/MnO = 42-52, N = 5).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.14 g including a composite four-slice polished thick section at UWB; 1064 g with Mr. D. Lehman; 483 g with Mr. J. Higgins and Mr. J. Spencer.