Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) Search this
Weight:
0.12 g
Place:
Antarctica
Collection Date:
1977
Notes:
# NASA data for ALH 77294 Weathering: Ae Fracturing: A Fa: 17 mol % Fs: 15 mol % ²⁶Al: 63 ± 2 dpm/kg NTL: 4.8 ± 0.1 krad
Polygonally fractured, dull, brownish-black fusion crust, approximately 1 mm thick, covers all surfaces of the meteorite (~13.5 x 9.0 x 6.0 cm), with the exception of the edges, which appear to have been spalled. White material, presumably evaporates, fill the grooves of the polygonal fractures on the B surface. This surface is more severely weathered than the other surfaces as evidenced by rounded areas of oxidation staining. The matrix of the stone is whitish-gray with areas of orangish-brown oxidation stain. Chondrules and irregular inclusions (lithic fragments?), as much as 2 mm in diameter, that are both lighter and darker than the matrix are apparent throughout the sample. After sixty hours of drying in the nitrogen cabinet, a crystalline (salt?) deposit was noted on the corner of the W, B, and S surfaces. When the stone was cut in half no weathering rind was visible. Approximately 15% of the sawed surface appears to be metallic particles.
