History: The stones were recovered in Algeria in summer 2006 and G. Hupé purchased them in M'Hamid, Morocco in July 2006 Physical characteristics: The meteorite consists of two broken, brown stones weighing 10.06 g. The stones have weathering rinds ~2 mm thick. Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Olivine occuring with either prismatic low-Ca pyroxene phenocrysts or chromite microphenocrysts is set in a matrix of pigeonite, maskelynite, Ti-chromite, ilmenite, merrillite and pyrrhotite. Minor veinlets of calcite and barite are present. Mineral compositions: Olivine phenocrysts are zoned from Fa19.8-22.4 cores to Fa49.2-50.9 rims (FeO/MnO = 41-56); pyroxene phenocrysts are zoned from orthopyroxene cores (Fs22.8Wo4.1, FeO/MnO = 40) to pigeonite rims (Fs40.1Wo11.9, FeO/MnO = 40); olivine microphenocrysts Fa32.7 (FeO/MnO = 51); maskelynite (An53.7-66.4Or0.7-0.1); matrix chromite is relatively Ti-rich, whereas chromite occurring as microphenocrysts and as inclusions in olivine phenocrysts is Ti-poor and Mg-rich. Classification: Achondrite (Martian, basaltic shergottite). Type specimens: A total of 2.1 g of sample and one thin section are on deposit at UWS. GHupé holds the main mass.
Scientific abstracts and news regarding NWA 4527:
Kuehner S.M., Irving A.J., Herd C.D.K., Gellissen M., Lapan T.J. and Rumble D.
(2011) Pristine olivine-phyric Shergottite NWA 6162:
A primitive magma with accumulated crystals derived from depleted Martian mantle (abs#1610).
42nd Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf.,
Lunar Planetary Institute @ The Woodlands. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/1610.pdf
Nishiizumi K., Nagao K., Caffee M.W. Jull A.J.T. and Irving A.J.
2011) Cosmic-ray exposure chronologies of depleted olivine-phyric Shergottites (abs#2371).
42nd Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf.,
Lunar Planetary Institute @ The Woodlands. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/2371.pdf
Franz H.B., Farquhar J. and Irving A.J.
(2010) Acid volatile sulfur isotopic composition of seven Shergottites from Northwest Africa (abs#2341). Lunar Planet. Sci. XLI.
Lunar Planetary Institute Houston. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/2341.pdf
Rumble D. and Irving A.J.
(2009) Dispersion of oxygen isotopic compositions among 42 Martian meteorites determined by laser fluorination:
Evidence for assimilation of (ancient) altered crust (abs#2293). Lunar Planet. Sci. XL,
Lunar Planetary Institute @ The Woodlands. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/2293.pdf