[meteorite-list] AW: New Mars Meteorite Found In Morocco (NWA 1950)

From: David Weir <dgweir_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:34 2004
Message-ID: <3F982E73.A2FC5BD4_at_earthlink.net>

Hello Norbert,

I wonder why it is still the convention to name this Martian group
"lherzolitic shergottites". Although this geochemical group was
historically included as a subgroup within the shergottite class, and
therefore its members were called lherzolitic shergottites (or
shergottitic peridotites), there is no genetic relationship between the
basaltic and lherzolitic subgroups. The term "lherzolites" was proposed
by Eugster and Polnau in 1997 to represent this unique group of Martian
meteorites. In fact, they showed that the chemical composition of the
basaltic shergottite group is closer to the nakhlites than to the
lherzolites. Furthermore, these groups are resolved from each other on
an O-isotope plot.

I look forward to my next meeting with Bruno and Carine to add a small
sample of this rare lherzolite to my collection (but not as big as yours
Norbert!).

David
Received on Thu 23 Oct 2003 03:39:31 PM PDT