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Roll Overs:
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Copyright (c) Steve Brittenham.
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4.57 gram full slice. Martian (shergottite)
TKW 8 kg. Fall not observed. Found 2011 in Morocco.
  
Steve writes:
Within the last billion years, successive lava flows erupted on Mars in the
area of what would later become the 36 mile wide Mojave crater - the
youngest one of its size. Created less than ten million years ago, Mojave
is thought to be source of NWA 6963, the very first Martian gabbro.
An enriched mafic basalt, NWA 6963's large gray pyroxene crystals are zoned,
the long and whiter plagioclase crystals have been shocked by impact into a
glassy state, and black impact melt and shock veins permeate many of the
stones. Paired with NWA 7258, they both have mineral compositions closer to
the Shergotty type specimen than any prior Martian meteorite, sharing
Shergotty's high amounts of magnesium and iron and exhibiting a similar
trace mineral content.
NWA 6963's strewn field was originally kept secret, but it is now known to
be located near the Oued Touflit river, where stones ranging in size from
several to 700 grams have been found. The 4.57 gram full slice in these
photos measures 41 x 27 x 1 mm. Photo 1 is a composite showing the front
and rear sides of the slice. Photos 2 and 3 provide additional views of the
front side that better illustrate the shock vein running across its upper
right corner. The edge views in Photo 4 attempt to offer a glimpse of the
fusion crust.
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