NWA 18448 Brecciated Eucrite HED Achondrite, 34.20g Full Slice

NWA 18448, a freshly classified brecciated eucrite from Algeria

This 34.20g full slice is cut from the 900g main mass of NWA 18448, a brecciated eucrite (HED achondrite) recovered from the Saharan region of Algeria and purchased in 2024. The specimen was scientifically classified by Jose Garcia at ADARA Petrography & Curation of Astromaterials in the Canary Islands and approved by the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee on 10 March 2026, with publication scheduled for Meteoritical Bulletin 115. Brian McDonald (IMCA #3323) holds the main mass and authored the working designation BMD 036 during the classification process.

Structure and features

The polished face of this 34.20g full slice exposes a well-developed brecciated fabric: a fine-grained clastic matrix carrying a diverse clast population that includes dark gray to nearly black pyroxene-rich clasts, cream to yellow-tan feldspathic clasts, and composite mottled fragments. Clast sizes range from sub-millimeter grains up to several millimeters across the cut surface. Sparse FeNi metal flecks are visible across the polished face under direct light, consistent with the accessory metal phase identified in ADARA's analysis. Hairline fractures with light-colored mineral infill cross portions of the slice, reflecting the low weathering grade noted in the official classification. A portion of the original exterior is preserved along one edge, retaining a reddish-brown weathering surface. The ADARA petrography confirmed the constituent minerals as Ca-rich pyroxene, low-Ca pyroxene, plagioclase, and a silica polymorph, with accessory chromite, troilite, and FeNi metal. Mineral chemistry: low-Ca pyroxene Fs60.8±0.6Wo1.7±0.2 (FeO/MnO 28 to 30), Ca-pyroxene Fs25.7±0.3Wo44.4±0.3 (FeO/MnO 27 to 31), and plagioclase An83.4±1.3. The specimen carries a moderate shock stage and a magnetic susceptibility of 3.78 (log χ).

Discovery and provenance

The 900g single stone was recovered from Algeria and entered the meteorite trade in 2024 through a dealer in Africa. Brian McDonald acquired the main mass and submitted the material to Jose Garcia at ADARA Petrography & Curation of Astromaterials (Calle Dr. Joaquín Artiles, 36, AP 3. Agüimes, 35260, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain) for petrographic and geochemical analysis. The 20.88g type specimen is deposited at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología (MUNA) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The Meteoritical Society approved the official name Northwest Africa 18448 on 10 March 2026, with the full writeup scheduled for Meteoritical Bulletin 115.

Scientific context

Eucrites are basaltic igneous rocks that crystallized in the upper crust of a differentiated asteroid parent body. Spectroscopic and isotopic evidence links the HED achondrite clan (howardites, eucrites, and diogenites) to asteroid 4 Vesta, the second-largest body in the main asteroid belt. Brecciated eucrites such as NWA 18448 preserve a record of impact processing on that parent body: an original basaltic lithology was fragmented by surface impacts, then lithified into a coherent rock by subsequent shock and burial. The mineral chemistry reported by ADARA falls within established compositional ranges for eucritic basalts, and the clastic matrix with mineral and lithic clasts is consistent with surface-derived regolith or fragmental breccia formation on the parent body. As of the Meteoritical Society's most recent count, NWA 18448 is 1 of 273 approved brecciated eucrites. For background on meteorite classification and parent bodies, see our Learn About Meteorites hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is a brecciated eucrite? A brecciated eucrite is a basaltic meteorite from a differentiated asteroid whose original igneous fabric was fragmented by impacts on the parent body and then re-cemented into a coherent rock. NWA 18448 displays this clast-in-matrix texture throughout the slice.

Where did NWA 18448 come from? The 900g single stone was found in Algeria and purchased in 2024 from a meteorite dealer in Africa. The HED parent body is widely accepted to be asteroid 4 Vesta in the main belt.

Who performed the classification? The petrographic and geochemical analysis was performed by Jose Garcia at ADARA Petrography & Curation of Astromaterials in the Canary Islands, Spain. The 20.88g type specimen is deposited at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología (MUNA) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Is this specimen officially recognized? Yes. NWA 18448 was approved by the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee on 10 March 2026 and is published in Meteoritical Bulletin 115. The full entry is searchable in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.

What does "full slice" mean? A full slice is a complete cross-sectional cut taken from one face of the parent stone through to the other, exposing the entire interior fabric in a single continuous plane. It differs from an end cut or a partial slice, both of which preserve less of the cross section.

Collector significance

HED achondrites occupy a central position in serious meteorite collections because they sample the crust of an identified asteroid parent body. A full slice of a recently classified brecciated eucrite gives the collector both a study-grade specimen and a documented entry in the published Meteoritical Bulletin record. The 34.20g weight places NWA 18448 in a display-friendly range suited to both private collections and educational reference. Every specimen ships with IMCA #3323 dealer documentation. The full classification entry for NWA 18448, including geochemistry, petrography, and type specimen deposition, is available at the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (code 86559). Browse related material in our Eucrites and HED Meteorites collections.