[meteorite-list] Ad - Rare Weekly Material Special

From: Adam Hupe <adamhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:36 2004
Message-ID: <089501c39dcc$765866a0$d2dbe60c_at_attbi.com>

Dear List Members,

In in effort to get back on track with the weekly rare material specials we
would like to introduce NWA 969.

NWA969 LL7 Meteorite Containing Bottled Water?

Northwest Africa 969 is an extremely rare LL7 type chondrite with fluid
trains found in June of 2001. What makes this chondrite so interesting is
that it was first mistaken for a Brachinite. Its composition, ratios and
120 degree triple junctions appeared identical to that of Brachina. The few
differences being sparse oriented intergrowths (interpreted as relic
chondrules) chondrules and actual trains of fluid in the olivine. Only
after exhaustive testing and oxygen isotopes was it determined to come from
the LL chondrite parent body. More interesting is the way the fluid
(water?) is trapped. It is contained in small round cavities in the olivine
grains forming bubble trains, which can be observed with a microscope in
thin section. We refer to this fluid as 4.5 billion year old bottled water.
Although water has been found in a few other chondrites, it was contained in
halite (salt) crystals not cavities in olivine making this a unique
meteorite. For more information we have included the separate entry found
in the 88th Meteoritical Bulletin below:


Northwest Africa 969
 Morocco
 Purchased 2001 June/October
 LL7 chondrite
A small stone was purchased from a Moroccan dealer by A. and G. Hupé (Hupé)
in 2001 June, and subsequently seven more stones were purchased bringing the
total weight to 463 g. Classification and mineralogy (A. Irving and S.
Kuehner, UWS): Genomict breccia consisting of angular clasts in a finer
grained matrix. Mostly olivine (Fa30, FeO/MnO = 57.7) exhibiting 120? grain
junctions, with subordinate interstitial troilite and Fe-Ni metal (30% Ni),
and accessory orthopyroxene (FeO/MnO = 37.6), chromite, chlorapatite,
interstitial sodic feldspar (Ab85Or5), and fine-grained intergrowth patches
(probably former melt or mesostasis). Silicate minerals contain trains of
fluid inclusions. Rare relict chondrules are present. Oxygen isotopes (D.
Rumble, CIWGL): analyses of two whole rock fragments by laser fluorination
gave ?18O = +5.3 ? 0.1, ?17O = +4.0 ? 0.1, ?17O = +1.22 ? 0.03 per mil.
Specimens: type specimen, 20 g, and three polished thin sections, UWS; main
mass, Hupé.

Link to eBay auctions:
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/meteoritelab/

Link to David Weir's Site:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9278/NWA969.HTM


Thank you for looking and if you are bidding, good luck.

All the best,

Adam and Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
IMCA 2185
Received on Tue 28 Oct 2003 10:26:37 PM PST