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New Lunar Meteorite Discovered (EET96008)

A new lunar meteorite has been discovered in the Antarctic.  The meteorite
is labeled EET96008.  It was discovered in the Elephant Moraine region
in the Antarctic, and was the 8th meteorite analyzed from the 1995-96
collecting season.  Below is the technical decription of the meteorite 
from the February 1998 issue of the Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter.

Ron Baalke
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Sample no:       EET96008
Location:        Elephant Moraine
Dimensions (cm): 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5
Weight (g):      52.97
Meteorite Type:  Lunar Basaltic Breccia

Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride

50% of the meteorite is covered by a black glassy fusion crust.  Areas
that lack fusion crust appear virtually unweathered.  The fusion crust
is very thinly distributed over the surface of the rock.  The matrix
is fine grained, medium gray and tan are are angular and subangular
in shape.  Metal and rust are not visible.  This is a brecciated basalt,
possibly lunar in origin.

Thin section (,4) Description: Brian Mason

The section shows a microbreccia of pyroxene and plagioclase clasts, up
to 1.2 mm across; traces of nickel-iron and sulfide are present, as small
scattered grains.  Microprobes analyses show that most of the pyroxene
ranges from Wo11Fs31 to Wo40Fs18, with a few more iron-rich grains; 
plagioclase composition in An93-96.  A few olivine grains of variable
compositions, Fa41-64, were analyzed.  Fe/Mn in pyroxene is about 70.
The meteorite is a lunar basaltic breccia.
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