Collection
Classification: Lunar Feldspathic Breccia
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2022
City, Country: Algeria
Mass: 7,21 kg
In collection
Weight #1 : 1,33 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
Bechar 006 is classified as a Lunar Feldspathic Breccia, a rare type of lunar meteorite originating from the Moon’s ancient, heavily cratered highlands. Composed primarily of plagioclase-rich fragments derived from anorthositic crustal rocks, this breccia formed through repeated impacts that shattered, melted, and welded together various mineral and rock clasts. The resulting rock is a complex mixture of angular grains, impact melt pockets, and fine-grained matrix, recording a tumultuous history of crater formation, regolith development, and crustal evolution. Studying Bechar 006 provides valuable insights into the Moon’s earliest crustal processes and the dynamic environment that shaped its surface over billions of years.
Under the light microscope, a thin section of Bechar 006 – Lunar Feldspathic Breccia reveals an assemblage of angular to subangular plagioclase-rich clasts embedded in a fine-grained, impact-generated matrix. These feldspathic fragments often display characteristic polysynthetic twinning and, at times, show shock-induced features such as undulatory extinction or minor fracturing. Interspersed among the feldspar-dominated grains, you may find small amounts of pyroxene and occasional opaque minerals, appearing as darker, non-transmitting particles. Fine melt veins or glassy pockets, formed by localized impact heating and rapid cooling, can also be observed. This complex texture provides a detailed record of the Moon’s intense impact history and the processes that shaped its ancient highlands crust.
