Gadamis 003 Lunar 0.57g Similar to Apollo 16 Return Samples

Description

Item for auction is a 0.57g partial slice of Gadamis 003 Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. This meteorite was reportedly found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002 in 2021, and purchased by Abdelhadi Aithiba in 2021. Two identically appearing stones (670 and 600 g) were found together at the Gadamis 002 strewn field site. The stones have a light green sand-blasted exterior, patches of smoothed dark fusion crust, as well as some light tan desert weathering. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal a brecciated, very fine-grained light gray interior with a few scattered white grains. Petrography was performed by A. Ross and C. Agee, UNM. Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikilitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite.
Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic
. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993).
The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs.
Paired with Gadamis 002.
The lunar ferroan anorthosites represent Ca- and Al-rich cumulate rocks that formed as a flotation crust above a slowly-cooled magma ocean (Taylor et al., 1991). The Ghadamis 002/003/004 meteorite is only the second lunar anorthosite classified after the 265g unbrecciated Ghadduwah 001, which was found in Awbari, Libya in January 2020 (University of New Mexico, C. Agee). Ferroan anorthosites are the most common rock type identified at the Apollo 16 highland landing site. Credit: David Weir
This extraordinary meteorite comes in a quality labeled display box or membrane box, and comes with a temporary Certificate of Authenticity / Identification card until classification is official. Scale cube in photo is 1cm on each side, and not included in sale. Big Kahuna combines shipping, and addresses must be in the English language, to facilitate customs input at US Postal Service. Non-English addresses cannot be shipped, and may incur additional fees for handling. We no longer ship to China or Italy.
*Please be aware that the current COVID circumstances may have an impact on delivery times of domestic and international shipments. Many parcels are not leaving the US and/or are not being processed by international postal services and customs, and therefore may not be deliverable within the 30 day delivery policy that eBay demands. I am doing everything I can to dispatch purchases as expeditiously as possible. Please have patience as your package will eventually get to you.