Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) Search this
Place:
Antarctica
Collection Date:
1988
Notes:
# NASA data for LEW 88261 Weathering: B Fracturing: A Pairing: LEW 85339 Fa: 3-41 mol % Fs: 19-5 mol %
Black fusion crust covers most of these 3 specimens. LEW88263 has one fracture surface. The interior matrix of all three specimens is dark gray to black with abundant 1-3 mm sized chondrules/inclusions. Weathering is moderate.
These meteorites are so similar that a single description will suffice; the possibility of pairing should be considered. They are highly chondritic, with chondrules ranging up to 2.9 mm across. The chondrules are rimmed with dark matrix, which contains a small amount of nickel-iron and troilite. Most of the chondrules are granular or porphyritic olivine and olivine-pyroxene, but radiating and cryptocrystalline pyroxene chondrules were noted; transparent brown glass was seen in one chondrule. Microprobe analyses show olivine and pyroxene of variable composition: olivine, Fa₁₋₄₁, mean Fa₁₆ (CV FeO is 54); pyroxene, Fs₁₋₂₃. The small amount of nickel-iron suggests L group, and the variability of olivine and pyroxene compositions type 3, hence these meteorites are classified as L3 chondrites (estimated L3.4).
