Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) Search this
Weight:
0.673 g
Place:
Antarctica
Collection Date:
1984
Notes:
# NASA data for ALH 84050 Weathering: Ae Fracturing: B Pairing: ALH 82100
Some of these specimens have pitted and fractured fusion crust while some have no fusion crust remaining. The interior of all of these is black with numerous clasts/chondrules that are <0.5 mm in longest dimension. Oxidation is present but minimal. Evaporite deposit has formed on ALH84050 and 054.
Thin sections of all these C2 chondrites are so similar that they can be described as a group, and the possibility of pairing should be considered. ALH84033 (Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter 8(2)) is also similar. Olivine-rich chondrules up to 2 mm diameter, chondrule fragments, and irregular olivine-rich inclusions up to 1.5 mm across are present in a black to translucent brown matrix with many small mineral grains. Most of the olivine is near forsterite in composition, but occasional iron-rich grains (up to Fa₄₀) were analysed. Pyroxene is not common, and is poly-synthetically-twinned clionoenstatite. Refractory inclusions up to 0.15-0.2 mm in size, and containing spinel + perovskite + hibonite, are common. Blue pleochroic hibonite is present in only a few inclusions in 036, 039, 046, and 054.
