Bechar 003

Lunar, feldspathic breccia
Found in Bechar, Algeria, 2022 March 24

The Bechar 003 lunar meteorite is a remarkable extraterrestrial specimen discovered in Algeria. Its composition consists predominantly of silicate minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. Olivine is a magnesium-iron silicate mineral that can have a greenish or yellowish color, while pyroxene is a group of silicate minerals that are typically dark in color. Additionally, the Bechar 003 meteorite contains other minerals such as feldspar, troilite (a form of iron sulfide), and small metallic grains of nickel-iron alloy. It also contains anorthite, a calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar mineral that is commonly found in lunar rocks and samples brought back from the Moon by the Apollo missions. The lunar crust is predominantly composed of plagioclase feldspar, with anorthite being a significant component.