Name: NWA 11472 (pairing)
Observed fall: No
Provenance: Northwest Africa (Sahara Desert)
Classification: Lunar meteorite – Anorthositic breccia
Mass: 944 grams
Form: End cut
Structure: Lunar breccia with visible lithic clasts
Link to publication Meteoritical Bulletin: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.cfm?code=66172
This substantial 944 g end cut of the lunar meteorite NWA 11472 offers a rare opportunity to examine both the external and internal characteristics of an anorthositic lunar breccia within a single specimen.
Unlike complete individuals, an end cut (talon) preserves a natural transition between the meteorite’s outer surface and its internal structure. In this specimen, the exposed section reveals a complex brecciated fabric, composed of angular and sub-angular lithic fragments embedded within a fine-grained matrix — a direct record of repeated impact processes affecting the lunar highlands.
The interior exposure allows clear observation of the anorthositic nature of the breccia, dominated by feldspathic components typical of the Moon’s ancient crust. The diversity of clasts visible across the cut surface reflects the prolonged regolith mixing and lithification that occurred on the lunar surface prior to ejection.
With a mass approaching one kilogram, this talon is exceptionally large for a lunar meteorite end cut. Specimens of this size are rarely available, as lunar material is most often encountered as small fragments or thin slices. The preserved external areas further enhance the educational and scientific value of this piece, offering context for how lunar material responds to atmospheric entry and terrestrial weathering.
NWA 11472 stands as a highly representative example of lunar anorthositic brecciation, making this specimen particularly suitable for advanced private collections, institutional reference collections, or comparative planetary studies.
