[meteorite-list] Adam's NWA 2989 Acapulcoite

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Feb 14 21:48:10 2006
Message-ID: <BAY111-F1838C0CF97BDF681F5CD0AB3FA0_at_phx.gbl>

Hello list,

To get back to the spirit of Bernd's e-mail.

This NWA acapulcoite, a.k.a., NWA 2656, NWA 2714 and NWA 2989 (others?) is
one of the better deals on the market right now. (And Blaine Reed I think
has the best price). The meteorite is somewhat weathered and slices very in
weathering, the darker....due to the high amount of metal, the more
weathered portions. My slice, sold to me as NWA 2656, looks like Adam's NWA
2656...which is on the lower end of this meteorite's weathering...from the
slices I have seen at least.

In case you thinking, I know acapucolites are achondrites....but just what
are these tourist city sounding meteorites really?

Acapucolites are igneous rocks composed primarily of olivine, bronzite, and
plagioclase and with nickel-iron as principal minerals. They also have
accessory minerals of clinopyroxene, troilite, and schreibersite (among
others).

I bought a thin section of the acapulcoite NWA 1054 (paired?) in Tucson and
was surprized at how small the mineral crystals are in acapulcoites when I
got it under the scope at home. The matrix appears much finer then other
achondrite's in my collection and predictably, the olivine and plagioclase
light up nicely in crossed polars. I haven't figured out how to take thin
section photos with my new camera but I will work on it and share some with
the list if interested.

Anyway, this meteorite classification type has been selling in the $200-$300
range until recently. If you don't have a piece....keep your eye open. Or
give Adam or John and e-mail...or possibly Blaine a call.

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com
Received on Tue 14 Feb 2006 09:48:07 PM PST