Collection
Classification: Lunar Feldspathic Breccia
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2022
City, Country: Algeria
Mass: 4 kg
In collection
Weight #1 : 3,63 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
Bechar 007 is classified as a Lunar Feldspathic Breccia, a rare type of lunar meteorite that originated in the Moon’s ancient, heavily cratered highlands. Composed predominantly of plagioclase-rich fragments cemented together by impact-generated melt and fine-grained debris, this breccia records a long history of intense bombardment on the lunar surface. The rock’s brecciated texture—angular mineral and lithic clasts embedded in a complex, partially glassy matrix—attests to multiple generations of impacts, fractures, and thermal events. Studying Bechar 007 helps researchers understand the processes that formed the lunar highlands’ anorthositic crust and offers a window into the Moon’s early geological evolution.
Under a light microscope, a thin section of Bechar 007 – a Lunar Feldspathic Breccia reveals a patchwork of angular and subangular plagioclase-rich fragments set within a fine-grained, partially glassy matrix. The plagioclase grains often exhibit polysynthetic twinning and may show signs of shock deformation, such as undulatory extinction or fractures. Interspersed among these feldspathic clasts are smaller amounts of pyroxene and occasional opaque phases, appearing as dark, non-transmitting grains. Tiny pockets of impact melt and glassy veins may also be visible, indicating localized melting and rapid quenching during high-energy impacts. Together, these microscopic features provide a detailed snapshot of the chaotic, impact-driven processes that shaped the lunar highlands crust.
