Collection
Classification: HED achondrite (Eucrite)
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2020
City, Country: Mauritania
Mass: 272 g
In collection
Weight #1 : 4,9 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
NWA 13742 is classified as a Eucrite (EUC) meteorite—a type of achondrite that formed in the basaltic crust of the asteroid 4 Vesta. Eucrites primarily consist of plagioclase feldspar and clinopyroxene, reflecting magmatic processes that took place when lava flows or shallow intrusive bodies crystallized on Vesta’s surface. In the case of NWA 13742, you may also find minor accessory minerals such as chromite or ilmenite. Its igneous texture and chemical composition provide key insights into Vesta’s crustal evolution and the processes of volcanism and impact-driven metamorphism that shaped one of the earliest-formed differentiated bodies in the solar system.
Under the light microscope, a thin section of NWA 13742 – a Eucrite (EUC) meteorite reveals a predominantly basaltic texture, composed of interlocking plagioclase feldspar and clinopyroxene grains. The plagioclase typically shows polysynthetic twinning, while the pyroxene exhibits first-order interference colors under polarized light. Minor opaque minerals such as chromite or ilmenite may appear as dark, reflective grains scattered throughout. Occasional fractures or shock features can be observed, reflecting Vesta’s dynamic collisional history. This overall igneous framework illustrates the crystallization processes that formed the asteroid’s basaltic crust.
