Angrite Asuka-881371: Preliminary examination of a unique meteorite in the Japanese collection of Antarctic meteorites

• Main Author: Keizo Yanai
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 1994
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=4635; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00004635/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=4635&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

A new angrite-type achondrite was discovered at a new site of meteorite concentrations in Antarctica by the Japanese expedition party in December 1988. Antarctic meteorite Asuka-881371 (previously Asuka-9) is an angrite-type achondrite, which is a rounded individual stone, almost completely covered with a dull-black fusion crust. Pale green, relatively large porphyritic olivine crystals can be seen on the exposed face of the interior. Asuka-881371 is an unbrecciated, igneous rock with typically ophitic (doleritic) texture, consisting mainly of olivine, pyroxene (fassaite) and plagioclase with spinel. From its texture, mineral assemblages and chemical composition, Asuka-881371 is identified and classified as an angrite. However, based on several characteristics, especially bulk chemical composition, Asuka-881371 is different from Angra dos Reis, LEW86010 and LEW87051 angrites which are the three previously known angrites collected from non-Antarctic and Antarctic regions.