Rocks from Space Picture of the Day June 8, 2008
NWA 4781 CH3 W4
October 2006, Morocco
TKW 181 grams
Thin section in reflected light and in cross-polarized transmitted light
In spite of the W4 grade NWA 4781 contains many metal grains which are
arranged in clusters. The meteorite is composed of a fine-grained matrix
set with abundant chondrule fragments, mineral fragments and chondrules. The
small chondrules are mostly radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline types. The
chondrule fragments are from chondrules that were much larger than those
found in the present stone.
Like other CH meteorites NWA 4781 contains fine matrix lumps. This
particular thin section has a 3+ mm chondrule-like feature. None of these
is visible in this view.
© Anne Black - IMPACTIKA.com
Photo by John Kashuba
Author & editor:
Michael Johnson
