Rumuruti (R)
Name
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Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3.9
Country
Year found
2002
Mass
78 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 2.8g
This is 1 of 4 approved meteorites classified as R3.9. Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 87, MAPS 38, A189-A248 (2003)
Name
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Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R4
Country
Year found
2005
Mass
1675 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 20.59g (2) 10.46g
This is 1 of 67 approved meteorites classified as R4. Published in Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 90, MAPS 41, 1383-1418 (2006)
Name
*click on the Name for more information
Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3.5-4
Country
Year found
2012
Mass
248 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 1.9g
History: Purchased by Adam Bates in Morocco, August 2012. Physical characteristics: Single stone, fusion crust, with weathered orange-tinted coating, saw-cut reveals mostly scattered small chondrules, but some up to 3 mm, set in fine-grained, brown-orange groundmass. Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe examination of a polished mount shows numerous small to medium-sized PO, POP, and PP chondrules, most with mesostasis or glass, set in very fine-grained matrix. Brecciated, with a ~1 mm clast of R-chondrite matrix + chondrules imbedded in host R-chondrite. Geochemistry: (C. Agee and M. Spilde, UNM) (C. Agee and M. Spilde, UNM) Random sampling of chondrule olivines, range: Fa3.1-39.6, mean value Fa31.7±12.6, CV=40% (R3.5), Fe/Mn=78±21, NiO=0.20±0.13, n=37; chondrule low-Ca pyroxene Fs12.9±7.4Wo1.0±1.5 Fe/Mn=28±11, n=13; chondrule high-Ca pyroxene Fs10.5±1.2Wo45.6±1.1 Fe/Mn=47±10, n=2. Three distinct clasts were also analyzed to survey the range of petrologic types: Clast-#1 chondrules, olivine range: Fa8.3-40.9, mean value Fa31.0±13.0, CV=42% (R3.5), Fe/Mn=87±31, NiO=0.15±0.13, n=7; low-Ca pyroxene Fs19.5±5.6Wo2.7±3.9, Fe/Mn=23±8, n=12. Clast-#2 chondrules, olivine range: Fa22.1-44.3, mean value Fa36.5±5.8, CV=16% (R3.8), Fe/Mn=92±15, NiO=0.18±0.09, n=20; low-Ca pyroxene Fs8.0±7.0Wo1.0±1.9, Fe/Mn=23±13, n=20. Clast-#3 chondrules, olivine mean value Fa38.2±1.6, CV=4% (R4), Fe/Mn=83±7, NiO=0.31±0.08, n=20; low-Ca pyroxene Fs11.3±9.5Wo0.6±0.5, Fe/Mn=25±17, n=16. Ubiquitous chromite and pentlandite, minor troilite, no metal detected. Classification: Rumuruti chondrite (R3.5-4), petrologic type based on the coefficient of variation (CV) of chondrule olivine mean fayalite content in a random sampling of the probe mount and in three different clasts, which gave petrologic types 3.5, 3.5, 3.8, and 4 (n=84), see figure 8 from Bischoff (2000). Specimens: 20.71 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Adam Bates holds the main mass.
Name
*click on the Name for more information
Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3
Country
Year found
2017
Mass
5.35 kg
[Museum Collection]
(1) 1.7g
History: A batch of about 10 stones with similar appearance (total 5345 g, the largest stone 2670 g) was purchased by Jason Phillips in December 2017 from a Mauritanian dealer. Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular clasts in a matrix of related debris. Clasts contain well-formed, separated unequilibrated chondrules (apparent diameter 310±200 µm, N = 15) set in a finer grained metal-free matrix. Accessory minerals are sodic plagioclase, troilite, Ti-chromite and chlorapatite. Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa7.0-57.4, N = 5), orthopyroxene (Fs0.7-8.1Wo0.1, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs32.7Wo6.6), augite (Fs11.7Wo44.7). Magnetic susceptibility log χ (× 10-9 m3/kg) = 3.43. Classification: R3 chondrite (breccia). Specimens: 25.3 g including one polished thin section at UWB; remainder with Mr. J. Phillips.
Name
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Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R4-5
Country
Year found
2020
Mass
2.63 kg
[Museum Collection]
(1) 7.932g (2) 28.7g
History: Purportedly found in 2019 at the border between Algeria and Mali. Purchased by Mohamed Ali (972 g) and Miguel Angel Contreras (1662 g) from a Saharaui dealer in Mauritania in March 2020. Physical characteristics: Many pieces between a few grams and >500 g, some with fusion crust. Petrography: (K. Metzler, IfP) Chondritic genomict breccia, consisting of dark host material and light chondritic clasts up to ~2 cm. The host material is of petrologic type 4. It consists of chondrules and chondrule fragments, embedded in recrystallized interchondrule material. Relictic Mg-rich olivine cores can be occasionally observed. The light clasts are strongly metamorphosed and represent type 5 material with clearly recognizable chondrules. Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Dark host material : Mean olivine composition: Fa38.7±0.2 (Fa38.4-39.0); n=10; mean low-Ca pyroxene composition Fs19.8±6.7Wo1.0±1.0 (Fs7.6-29.9Wo0.2-2.9); n=8. Light clast of petrologic type 5: mean olivine composition Fa38.8±0.3 (Fa38.1-39.2); n=8; mean low-Ca pyroxene composition: Fs29.9±0.4Wo1.3±0.5 (Fs29.1-30.6Wo0.6-2.2); n=10. Accessories in both lithologies are troilite and pentlandite; no metal was found. Classification: R chondrite based on mineral chemistry. Genomict breccia, consisting of clasts of petrologic type 5 (equilibrated olivine and pyroxene), embedded in host material of petrologic type 4 (equilibrated olivine and unequilibrated pyroxene).
*click on the Name for more information
Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3
Country
Year found
2017
Mass
100 kg
[Museum Collection]
(1) 17.6g (2) 15.6g (3) 16.3g (4) 11.5g
(5) 14.7g (6) 10.8g
History: A large group of identically appearing stones, found together, was purchased by a Saharan dealer from a nomad in Algeria and was subsequently acquired by Mark Lyon and Dustin Dickens. The original find was reportedly in the Tanezrouft Plateau, with the nearest town being Reggane, Algeria. Physical characteristics: Approximately 500 pieces ranging in mass from 5 kg, with a total known weight of approximately 100 kg. Dark brown sandblasted exterior. Saw cut reveals a breccia with fragments up to ~2 cm set in a fine-grained matrix. Abundant distinct chondrules are visible throughout. Two main lithologic domains exist within this meteorite, one has a gray, unstained matrix, and the second has a brownish-orange-stained matrix. Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Chondrite with mean apparent chondrule size 350±240 µm (n=21) set in abundant matrix (~35 vol%). Electron microprobe analyses were performed separately on the two main lithologic domains. Domain "A" has compositionally unequilibrated olivine and pyroxene both in chondrules as well as single mineral fragments in the matrix. Very small grains of albitic plagioclase are present. Chromite, pentlandite, and troilite are ubiquitous. No metal or oxidized iron was detected. Domain "B" has compositionally unequilibrated olivine and pyroxene both in chondrules as well as single mineral fragments in the matrix. Domain "B" appears to have slightly more chondrules than domain "A". Very small grains of albitic plagioclase were present. Ti-rich chromite, pentlandite, and Ni-bearing troilite are ubiquitous. No metal or oxidized iron was detected. Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) Domain "A": olivine Fa36.6±8.4, CV=23%, Fe/Mn=83±15, n=12; low-Ca pyroxene Fs21.4±6.8Wo0.9±0.5, Fe/Mn=39±19, n=4; augite Fs8.8±0.7Wo46.0±0.2, Fe/Mn=43±4, n=2; plagioclase An8.8±0.6Ab86.5±0.2Or4.7±0.7, n=3. Domain "B": olivine Fa38.7±5.8, CV=15%, Fe/Mn=87±10, n=12; low-Ca pyroxene Fs10.0±7.7Wo2.0±1.8, Fe/Mn=15±7, n=4; augite Fs11.4±0.9Wo44.8±1.3, Fe/Mn=51±11, n=2; plagioclase An9.2±0.9Ab85.9±1.6Or4.9±0.8, n=3. Classification: Rumuruti chondrite (R3). Domain "A" is approximately R3.7 and domain "B" is approximately R3.9, based on olivine coefficient of variation (CV) after Bischoff (2000). Specimens: 1127.72 g complete stone, and a 57.69 g full slice from a different complete stone, are on deposit at UNM. Mark Lyon holds the main mass including a total of 14 pieces weighing 19.84 kg, Dustin Dickens holds ~60 kg of medium to small stones.
Name
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Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3-6
Country
Year found
2022
Mass
430 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 9.08g
History: The meteorite was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Morocco. Physical characteristics: Brownish rock without fusion crust. Petrography: The meteorite displays a light brownish to orange interior and is composed of up to 2 cm sized mostly angular type 6 and black impact melt clasts in type 3 matrix. Fe-rich olivine, Ca-pyroxene, and sodic plagioclase are the most dominant mineral phase in the type 6 clasts. In the matrix, olivine and low-Ca pyroxene are compositionally unequilibrated and chondrules have an average diameter of about 400 μm. Sodic plagioclase occurs as small isolated grains. Opaques phases are sulfides and Ti-bearing chromite; no metal detected. Geochemistry: type 3 lithology: olivine: Fa25.4±13.7 (Fa3.0-41.3, n=19); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs16.7±10.3Wo0.9±0.7 (Fs1.4-34.7Wo0.2-3.1, n=15); type 6 lithology: olivine: Fa37.5±0.2 (FeO/MnO=80±5, n=10); Ca-pyroxene: Fs14.6±0.9Wo39.8±1.4, n=10; feldspar: An9.0-14.7Ab81.4-85.8Or3.9-5.8
Name
*click on the Name for more information
Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3-6
Country
Year found
2022
Mass
1376 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 340.2g (2) 18.71g
History: The meteorite was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Morocco. Physical characteristics: Brownish rock without fusion crust. Petrography: The meteorite is a breccia composed of up to 3 cm sized light brownish coloured mostly angular type 6 and few black impact melt clasts set in type 3 matrix with abundant chondrules. Type 6 clasts are dominated by Fe-rich olivine, diopside, and sodic plagioclase, type 3 clasts contain well defined mostly rounded chondrules with an average diameter of about 400 μm. Olivine and low-Ca pyroxene are compositionally unequilibrated. Opaques phases include pentlandite, troilite, and Ti-bearing chromite; no metal detected. Geochemistry: type 3 lithology: olivine: Fa25.5±14.3 (Fa3.6-39.8, n=12); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs18.9±7.8Wo0.8±0.6 (Fs8.9-29.6Wo0.3-2.2, n=10); type 6 lithology: olivine: Fa39.0±0.5 (FeO/MnO=83±6, n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs8.8±0.7Wo46.3±0.3, n=7; feldspar: An10.2-14.4Ab84.0-87.9Or1.6-2.4, n=7 Classification: Rumuruti 3-6 breccia; likely paired with NWA 14862.
Name
*click on the Name for more information
Structure Class
Rumuruti chondrites
Chemical Class
R3-4
Country
Year found
2022
Mass
1470 g
[Museum Collection]
(1) 674g (2) 30.22g
History: The meteorite was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Morocco. Physical characteristics: Brownish rock without fusion crust. Petrography: Chondritic breccia composed of up to 5 cm sized type 4 and dark up to 3 mm sized melt clasts set in type 3 matrix. Type 3 and 4 lithologies are composed of well outlined mostly rounded chondrules (apparent mean diameter about 450 μm) and mineral fragments set in abundant matrix dominated by Fe-rich olivine. Minor phases include Ca-pyroxene and sodic plagioclase. Opaques are troilite, pentlandite, and chromite; no metal has been detected. Geochemistry: type 3 lithology: olivine: Fa26.5±16.3 (Fa1.0-44.2, n=22); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs15.8±12.6Wo0.8±0.3 (Fs2.7-30.0Wo0.3-1.1, n=10); ; type 4 lithology: olivine: Fa37.6±0.4 (Fa37.1-38.5, FeO/MnO=78±4, n=10); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs20.4±7.1Wo0.7±0.9 (Fs13.9-29.2Wo0.1-3.1, n=10); Ca-pyroxene: Fs9.3±0.4Wo45.5±1.0 (Fs8.8-10.4Wo43.0-47.0, n=10)