Lunar meteorite Oued el Hamim 001 – Libya
Type: Lunar / Fragmentary breccia
Locality: Libya
Weight: 3,28g
Dimensions: 28 x 27 x 3 mm
Year found: 2024
Total known weight: 33,18 kg
Surface treatment: slice - polished on one size
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Oued el Hamim 001 |
|---|---|
| By name: | Oued el Hamim 001 |
| ? Type: | Stony |
| Subspecies: | Achondrite |
| ? Surface treatment: | Cut |
| Packaging: | In box |
| ? Origin: | Moon |
The Oued El Hamim 001 meteorite is a rare lunar meteorite classified as a fragmentary breccia. It was found in 2024 near Ajdabiya, Libya and its total mass is 33.18 kg found in four larger fragments with masses of 12.6 kg, 10.8 kg, 6.0 kg and 3.78 kg.
The outer surface of the meteorites is light brown and weathered due to prolonged exposure to desert conditions. No fusion crust is present. When cut and polished, they reveal fragments of white feldspar and various clasts embedded in a fine-grained grey-green matrix.
Analyses show that Oued El Hamim 001 contains plagioclase, clinopyroxene and olivine, together with minor admixtures of chromite, ilmenite and troilite. Of interest is the presence of olivine with indications of aqueous alteration, a relatively rare phenomenon in lunar meteorites.