THE NAKHLITES PART I: PETROGRAPHY AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY

Abstract

The only two Nakhlite meteorites, Nakhla and Lafayette, are identical in mineral composition, consisting of augite (Wo 39 En 38 Fs 23 ), olivine (Fo 32–35 ), plagioclase (An 27 ), K‐feldspar (Or 75 Ab 22 An 3 ), titaniferous magnetite with exsolved ilmenite, iddingsite (?), and minor amounts of fluor‐chlorapatite, FeS, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and K‐rich glass. The texture is suggestive of a cumulative origin.