Aydar 003 CM1/2 #15 – 0,02 g

Aydar 003        27°40’06.09″N, 10°06’25.33″W

South, Morocco

Purchased: 2018

Classification: Carbonaceous chondrite (CM1/2)

History: Found between 2016 and 2018. Bought from Abdelaziz Alhyane.

Physical characteristics: Crusted stones. The fusion crust shows a network of cracks. Cut surface reveals dark interior

Petrography: (J. Gattacceca, CEREGE) Small altered chondrules (average apparent diameter about 270 µm) and altered mineral fragments and fine grained CAIs set in an abundant fine-grained phyllosilicate-rich matrix (about 75 vol%). Olivine has been almost entirely serpentinized. Opaque minerals are FeS and magnetite. No metal was found. Transmission Infrared spectroscopy (L. Bonal, IPAG) of matrix grains reveals a water and Si-O bands attributable to phyllosilicates.

Geochemistry: Olivine is serpentinized, with microprobe totals of 85.9%±1.1% (n=9). Unaltered olivine crystals give Fa_1.4 and Fa _17.9 (n=2). Defocused (10 µm) microprobe totals in the matrix 75.5±5.5% (n=7).

Classification: Carbonaceous chondrite (CM1/2). Petrologic type 1/2 from the almost total serpentinization of silicates but absence of narrow -OH band typically seen in phyllosilicates of the smectite group commonly observed seen in type 1 chondrites. Possibly paired with NWA 11322 and NWA 8534.

Specimens: Type specimen at CEREGE. Main mass with Jean Redelsperger.