NWA 4801, a very fresh and stunning plutonic igneous cumulate Angrite. It was discovered in Northwest Africa in May 2007. NWA 4801, along with NWA 4590 "Tamassint," represents a new type of angrite lithology, unlike any of the other coarse grained examples or the fine grained "basaltic" to quench-textured specimens known previously. They exhibit unique features that have important implications for the size, cooling history and tectonics of the angrite parent body. Angrites are believed to have come from a planet-sized body. The matrix is a dazzling display of reddish-brown, yellow-green, white and black coarse grains. The Total Known Weight is a mere 252 grams from a single friable stone broken naturally into four pieces. Most all of the material has been purchased by institutions who are performing extensive analysis on an ongoing basis. THey are very exciting about NWA 4801 and NWA 4590!
NWA 4801 is featured in the November 2008 issue of "Astronomy" Magazine, along with angrites, NWA 2999 and NWA 4590 "Tamassint."
Scientist quote:
"Except for the abundant plagioclase (anorthite), this angrite (NWA 4801) is somewhat like Angra dos Reis, and in fact has almost the same formation age (the youngest among the dated angrites)."
I am almost completely out of NWA 4801. All you see here is what is available!
Meteoritical Bulletin entry for NWA 4801:
Click here for the Official classification of NWA 4801
