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Lunar Meteorites: Dhofar 302

Oman
  
Although found near Dhofar 303 et al., we believe that Dhofar 302 is a distinct meteorite for compositional reasons.
  

A small sample of Dhofar 302. (Photo by Randy Korotev)
  
  

A different small sample of Dhofar 302. (Photo by Randy Korotev)
 
from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37, A157-A184 (2002)

Dhofar 302

19°19.6' N, 54°47.1' E 
Oman 
Found 2001 June 28

Lunar meteorite (anorthositic impact melt breccia) 

A dark grey stone weighing 3.83 g was found in the Dhofar region of Oman. Mineralogy and classification (M. Nazarov, Vernad; L. Taylor, UTenn): fusion crust is absent; meteorite is a clast-rich impact melt breccia; mineral fragments and lithic clasts are set within a poorly crystallized impact melt glassy matrix; impact melt breccias are most abundant in the lithic clast population; fragments of primary igneous rocks and granulites of anorthositic, gabbro-noritic, and troctolitic compositions are common; rare glass fragments of KREEP composition were found; mare basalt material is probably present; feldspar, An90-99; orthopyroxene, Wo1-4En45-88; clinopyroxene, Wo6-46En2-83, olivine, Fo8-94 (Fe/Mn ~86 atom%); accessory minerals are Ti-rich chromite, Mg-Al-spinel, ilmenite (0.4-6 wt% MgO), baddeleyite, silica, tranquilityite (?), troilite, and FeNi metal (0.7-44 wt% Ni; 0.2-1.4 wt% Co); composition of the impact-melt glassy matrix is SiO2 = 44.5, TiO2 = 0.27, Al2O3 = 28.1, Cr2O3 = 0.09, FeO = 4.02, MnO = 0.06, MgO = 4.84, CaO = 16.5, Na2O = 0.41, K2O = 0.09, P2O5 = 0.12 (wt%); terrestrial weathering is not significant. Dhofar 302 and Dhofar 081/280 were found nearby and are possibly paired. However, Dhofar 302 seems to be poorer in glass and richer in igneous and granulitic lithologies. Specimens: type specimen, 0.8 g plus a thin section, Vernad; main mass with anonymous finder.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Dhofar 302

Map

Schematic Map of the Find Locations of the Dhofar Lunar Meteorites

References

Korotev R. L. (2005) Lunar geochemistry as told by lunar meteorites. Chemie der Erde 65, 297–346.

Demidova S. I., Nazarov M. A., Taylor L. A., and Patchen A. (2003) Dhofar 304, 305, 306 and 307: New lunar highland meteorites from Oman (abstract). In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV, abstract no. 1285, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.

Demidova S. I., Nazarov M. A., Lorenz C. A., Kurat G., Brandstätter F., and Ntaflos Th. (2007) Chemical composition of lunar meteorites and the lunar crust. Petrology 15 (4), 386-407.

Nazarov M. A., Demidova S. I., Patchen A., and Taylor L. A. (2002) Dhofar 301, 302 and 303: Three new lunar highland meteorites from Oman (abstract). In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXII, abstract no. 1293, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.

Nazarov M. A, Demidova S. I., Patchen A., and Taylor L. A. (2004) Dhofar 311, 730 and 731: New lunar meteorites from Oman (abstract). In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV, abstract no. 1233, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.

Nazarov M. A., Demidova S. I., and Taylor L. A. (2003) Trace element chemistry of lunar highland meteorites from Oman (abstract). In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV, abstract no. 1636, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.  

Chemical Classification

Overview | Dhofar 302
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Prepared by:

Randy L. Korotev

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis

Please don't contact me about the meteorite you think you’ve found until you read this and this.

e-mail: korotev@wustl.edu

Last revised: 21-Nov-2007