[meteorite-list] NWA 5400: Earth-Related Meteorite

From: Greg Hupe <gmhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 19:31:05 -0400
Message-ID: <7C9D99FCD84B4F3F88D02D0E4FEF1B6E_at_greg323a964987>

Dear List Members,

I would like to announce an important new meteorite that has been under
intense analysis over the last two years by a select group of scientists
from around the world...

NWA 5400: Earth-Related Ungrouped Meteorite


Northwest Africa 5400 may be a sample from a large asteroid or dwarf planet,
which accreted in the early solar nebula in the vicinity of proto-Earth or
Theia. NWA 5400 has oxygen isotope ratios indistinguishable from those of
rocks from the Earth and the Moon, which plot on the TFL (Terrestrial
Fractionation Line). A precise formation age has not yet been measured, but
it cannot be older than 4.54 billion years, which likely makes NWA 5400
anomalously young among primitive achondritic objects from the early Solar
System. It is generally accepted that the Earth-Moon system was created when
Theia collided with proto-Earth about 4.3 billion years ago. Is it possible
that NWA 5400 is somehow related to this phenomenal event?



NWA 5400 adds valuable understanding of events that took place in the early
evolution period of the Solar System. After two years of intense analysis,
scientists at prominent institutions from around the world continue to
diligently study this 'stand-alone' meteorite, which will add to the already
incredible information NWA 5400 has to offer.



Link to 2009 LPSC abstract on NWA 5400:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/2332.pdf



Link to 2010 LPSC abstract on NWA 5400:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/1492.pdf



NWA 5400 has a Total Known Weight of 4.818 kg in a single stone that was
discovered in Northwest Africa in 2008. The chocolate-brown mottled matrix
takes an extremely nice polish, which reveals the dazzling olivine crystals
exhibited in this scientifically important new meteorite!



Cross-polarized light optical thin section image of NWA 5400 (width of field
= 1.2mm):

http://www.lunarrock.com/NWA5400/nwa5400xpl.jpg



Image of 58.9-gram complete slice with hologram-like olivine crystals that
dance across the polished surface when tilted from side to side:

http://www.lunarrock.com/NWA5400/nwa5400slice.jpg


Best regards,
Greg

====================
Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
NaturesVault (eBay)
gmhupe at htn.net
www.LunarRock.com
IMCA 3163
====================
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Received on Tue 08 Jun 2010 07:31:05 PM PDT