Amgala has been the provisional name of this spectacular, new meteorite. The official name is now 'Oum Dreyga'. Oum Dreyga 28°18'N, 13°6'W Gour Lafkah, Western Sahara Fell 200316 October, 02:00 UT Ordinary chondrite (H3-5) On 16 October 2003, Moroccan soldiers stationed in Western Sahara saw a meteorite falling on Gour Lafkah Mountains, south of Zbayra, about 21 km from Oum Dreyga. The meteorite fell near a 670 km long wall built in 1985, protected by antipersonnel mines, and guarded by soldiers. About 17kg were recovered. Stones from this fall were later brought to Moroccan dealers. Most of them have been collected after a rainfall and are thus slightly oxidized. However, some fragments have been picked up soon after the fall; these are very fresh. Fragments have been sold under the names 'Amgala' and 'Gor Lefcah'. Classification and mineralogy (M. Bourot-Denise, MNHNP): very fresh, with a black fusion crust; H3-5 breccia (Fa16.7± 6.0; 19.5 ± 0.8; Fs14.4 ± 4.4; 17.4 ± 1.3), S4, W0. Specimens: type specimen 20 g and two polished mounts, MNHNP; one 1 kg complete stone and 30 fragments totalling 862 g with Philippe Thomas. Below are some spectacular whole slices from the New, witnessed Saharan meteorite fall Amgala. These slices are chock full of multicolored chondrules with lots of shiny metal flecks and spectacular fresh, black fusion crust! They have been expertly prepared and are highly polished on one side. It doesn't get much better than this-an extremly fresh, witnessed fall that is beautiful and priced to sell!
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