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The discovery and initial characterization of Allan Hills 81005: The first lunar meteorite
Author(s) -
Marvin Ursula B.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl010i009p00775
Subject(s) - meteorite , breccia , geology , geology of the moon , astrobiology , basalt , geochemistry , lithology , lunar mare , achondrite , lunar soil , mineralogy , chondrite , physics
Antarctic meteorite ALHA81005, discovered in the Allan Hills region of Victoria Land, is a polymict anorthositic breccia which differs from other meteorites in mineralogical and chemical composition but is strikingly similar to lunar highlands soil breccias. The petrologic character and several independent lines of evidence identify ALHA81005 as a meteorite from the Moon. Two small clasts of probable mare basalt occur among the highlands lithologies in Thin Section 81005,22. This lunar specimen, which shows relatively minor shock effects, has generated new ideas on the types of planetary samples we may find on the Earth, and has added fresh excitement to the Antarctic meteorite program.