Sample Petrographic Description
Sample Number | LEW 97216 |
Newsletter | 23,2 |
Location | Lewis Cliff |
Field Number | 9224 |
Dimensions (cm) | 4.7 x 2.5 x 1.0 |
Weight (g) | 23.00 |
Original Classification | L3 Chondrite |
Updated Classification | L3.7 Chondrite |
Mineral Composition (%Fa & %Fs) | |
Fayalite (mol%): 9-26;Ferrosilite (mol%): 3-4 | |
Weathering | |
B/C | |
Fracturing | |
A | |
Macroscopic Description - Cecilia Satterwhite | |
The exterior of this meteorite has black fusion crust over 75% of its surface with oxidation haloes visible. The interior is dark gray to black with oxidation scattered and metal present. | |
Thin Section Description (,2) - Tim McCoy | |
The section exhibits numerous well-defined chondrules (up to 2 mm) in a black matrix of fine-grained silicates, metal and troilite. Shock effects, including some flattening of chondrules, are evident. Polysynthetically twinned pyroxene is extremely abundant. The meteorite is weathered. Silicates are unequilibrated; olivines range from Fa9-26, with most grains Fa24-26, and pyroxenes from Fs3-4. The meteorite is an L3 chondrite (estimated subtype 3.7). | |
Reclassification Notes (AMN 23,2) | |
Classification updated to L3.7 as announced in AMN vol. 23, no. 2. | |
Notes | |
Righter et al. (2021) proposed that LEW 97216 was recovered from the southernmost part of the Lewis Cliff area and thus is not paired with the other LEW type L3.7s. |
Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample LEW 97216 | ||||
Lab Photo(s) : | ||||
References for Sample LEW97216 | |
Righter, K., Schutt, J., Lunning, N., Harvey, R, and Karner, J., 2021, Identification and pairing reassessment of unequilibrated ordinary chondrites from four Antarctic dense collection areas. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 56, 1556-1573, doi: 10.1111/maps.13707. |