Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) Search this
Place:
Antarctica
Collection Date:
1987
Notes:
# NASA data for LEW 87254 Weathering: B Fracturing: A Fa: 34-7 mol % Fs: 2-24 mol %
Smooth fusion crust covers about 70% of this meteorite and shows radiating flow marks. Light colored chondrules up to ~4 mm are clearly defined in a dark gray matrix.
The section shows a close-packed aggregate of chondrules and chondrule fragments, up to 1.8 mm across, in a minimum amount of black matrix containing trace amounts of nickel-iron and troilite. Chondrule types include granular olivine and olivine-pyroxene, barred olivine, and cryptocrystalline pyroxene. Much of the pyroxene is polysynthetically twinned clinobronzite. Microprobe analyses show olivine and pyroxene of variable composition: olivine, Fa₇₋₃₄, mean Fa₁₆ (CV FeO is 49); pyroxene, Fs₂₋₂₄. The trace amount of nickel-iron suggests LL group, and the variability of olivine and pyroxene compositions type 3; hence the meteorite is classified as an LL3 chondrite (estimated LL3.5).
