NWA 10540
HED Achondrite Monomicit Gabbroic Eucrite Meteorite 95 gram Main Mass
NWA 10540 is a fresh HED meteorite with important attributes. The attributes of this meteorite teach us essential plutonic conditions under which magma crystallizes on the largest known asteroids in outer space. NWA 10540 was classified by the prominent team of scientist led by Anthony J. Irving Ph. D. at the University of Washington, Seattle. The research performed at the Earth and Space Sciences micro-probe laboratory determined this meteorite to be a rare monomict gabbroic eucrite breccia meteorite. This remarkable classification records important historical data of the largest Vesta and Ceres type asteroids residing within our solar system. This meteorite formed as a plutonic igneous rock that crystallized from magma underground at some depth. The depth and slow steady rate of cooling allowed for large crystal growth giving this meteorite the Gabbroic designation. The silica poly morph is most likely in the form of quartz or tridymite because of the temperatures associated with large crystal formation. Distinctly this meteorite has large dark color augite crystals that were originally homogeneous pigeonite pyroxene , some even reflecting a captivating prismatic iridescent light. This interesting breccia evidently experienced no melting only grinding up by impacts before it was ejected from the asteroid. CLASSIFICATION DATA SOURCE: The Meteoritical Society International Society for Meteoritics and Planetary Science Lunar and Planetary Institute Meteoritical Bulletin Database
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