Allan Hills 77005

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Allan Hills 77005
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Meteorite ALH-77005
Type Achondrite (unique) [1] [2]
Clan Martian meteorite
Composition~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques [3]
Shock stage S6 [4]
Weathering grade A [1]
Country Antarctica
Region Allan Hills
Coordinates 76°43′00″S159°40′00″E / 76.71667°S 159.66667°E / -76.71667; 159.66667 [1]
Observed fall No [1]
Found date29 December 1977 (Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission) [5] [6]
TKW 482.5 g [1]
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Allan Hills 77005 (also known as Allan Hills A77005, ALHA77005, ALH77005 and ALH-77005 [1] [5] ) is a Martian meteorite that was found in the Allan Hills of Antarctica in 1977 by a Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission team [7] and ANSMET. [8] Like other members of the group of SNCs (shergottite, nakhlite, chassignite), ALH-77005 is thought to be from Mars. [9]

Contents

Description

On discovery, the mass of ALH-77005 was 482.5 g (1.064 lb). Initial geological examination determined that the meteorite was composed of ~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques. [3]

In March 2019, researchers reported the possibility of biosignatures in this Martian meteorite based on its microtexture and morphology as detected with optical microscopy and FTIR-ATR microscopy, and on the detection of mineralized organic compounds, [5] [7] [10] suggesting that microbial life could have existed on the planet Mars. [7] More broadly, and as a result of their studies, the researchers suggest Solar System materials should be carefully studied to determine whether there may be signs of microbial forms within other space rocks as well. [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff (31 March 2019). "Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Allan Hills 77005". Meteoritical Bulletin Database . Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  2. ↑ McSween Jr, Harry Y.; et al. (1 November 1979). "Petrogenetic relationship between Allan Hills 77005 and other achondrites". Earth and Planetary Science Letters . 45 (2): 275–284. Bibcode:1979E&PSL..45..275M. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(79)90129-8.
  3. 1 2 Meyer, C - Martian Meteorite Compendium (2012). "ALH77005 - 482grams - Intermediate Lherzolitic Shergottite" (PDF). NASA . Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  4. ↑ Allan Hills A77005. The Meteoritical Society. Accessed on April 8, 2019. Quote: The meteorite has been severely shocked, as is shown by the presence of maskelynite, undulose extinction in the pyroxene, and occasional areas of apparent shock melting.
  5. 1 2 3 Gyollai, Ildikó; et al. (29 March 2019). "Mineralized biosignatures in ALH-77005 Shergottite - Clues to Martian Life?". Open Astronomy. 28 (1): 32–39. Bibcode:2019OAst...28...32G. doi: 10.1515/astro-2019-0002 . hdl: 10831/50855 .
  6. ↑ Baalke, Ron. "The ALHA 77005 Meteorite". NASA . Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 De Gruyter (4 April 2019). "Life on Mars? - A Martian meteorite discovered 40 years ago delivers fresh evidence that life once existed on Mars". EurekAlert! . Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Cassidy, William (2003). Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica: A personal account . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp.  28-29, 115, 335–337. ISBN   9780521258722.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Paul Scott (7 April 2019). "New evidence for life in a Martian meteorite? - The discovery of fossilized microbes in Martian meteorites has been claimed before. Now scientists in Hungary add a new study of the ALH-77005 meteorite, with some intriguing new evidence". Earth & Sky . Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  10. ↑ De Gruyter (4 April 2019). "Life on Mars?". Phys.org . Retrieved 5 April 2019.

Further reading

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