NWA 2975 - Basaltic Shergottite
Collection:
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Fact sheet

NWA 2975 - Basaltic Shergottite

The first specimen of this basaltic shergotitte (achondrite) was purchased in Erfoud, Morocco (in 2005), but the strewn field is thought to be in Algeria. There may be over 100 pieces, estimated to total 1.6 kg. Many have a fresh fusion crust (partial), a basaltic texture and distinctive black glass pockets and veins. 

NWA 2975 is medium-grained and consists of pale green prismatic pyroxene (augite and pigeonite) intergrown with white/colourless plagioclase feldspar that has been entirely converted to maskelynite due to shock metamorphism. Minor constituents include the phosphate merrillite and three opaque species (ilmenite, pyrrhotite and ulvospinel). The Mn/Fe ratio of the pyroxene is comparable to other samples of Martian origin.

NWA 2975 is a paired sample - indicating that there are other samples that are thought to be derived from the same meteorite shower. These include NWA 2986, 2987, 4766, 4783, 4857, 4864, 4878, 4880, 4930, 5140, 5214, 5219 and 5366.

This description is based on the work of NASA scientist Charles Meyer - compiler of The Mars Meteorite Compendium, and scientists from the universities of Northern Arizona and Washington.

Our sample has a small area of fusion crust and has been mounted in a mixture of mounting medium and sand. 

Map
34.033333, -6.85
Description:
Morocco
Precision:
Poor
About this collection

This collection of meteorites includes Shergottites, Nakhlites and Chassignites (or SNC meteorites) which originate from the surface of the planet Mars.

They carry unique signals of the surface of the planet that allows scientists to study the composition and age of Martian rocks. The collection includes a sample of the famous ALH84001 meteorite, evidence from which was used in 1996 to begin the debate of 'life on Mars?'. 

 

Sample details

Collection: Martian Meteorites
Type
meteorite
Category
basaltic shergottite
Rock-forming mineral
pyroxene
glass
olivine
Category guide  
Category Guide
Title
Refers to any word or phrase that appears in the individual rock names. Names are generally descriptive; they allow users to search for broad terms like ‘granite’ as well as more specific names such as ‘breccia’. However, the adjacent descriptions of the specimens captures a wider range of general words and phrases and is a more powerful search tool.
Description
Refers to any word or phrase that appears anywhere in the descriptions of the specimens
Accessory minerals
Minerals that occur in very low abundance in a rock. They are usually not visible with the naked eye and contribute perhapssver, they often dominate the rare elements such as platinum group metals.
Rock-forming minerals
Minerals that make up the bulk of all rock samples and are also the ones used in rock classi?cation.
Timescale
Selecting one or more period, for example 'Jurassic'.
Theme
A term used to group together related samples that are not already gathered into a single Collection. For instance, there is a ‘SW England granites’ theme that includes such rock types as granite, hydrothermal breccia, skarn and vein samples.
Category
A general term used to label a rock sample. It is a useful way of grouping similar samples throughout a collection. Category names are often, but not exclusively, common rock names (e.g. granite, basalt, dolerite, gabbro, greisen, skarn, gneiss, amphibolite, limestone, sandstone).
Owner
The owner of the sample that appears in the collection. For example, NASA owns all the samples that appear in the Moon Rocks collection
We would like to thank the following for the use of this sample:
Southern Illinois