Allan Hills A81005

Coordinates: 76°49′49″S 158°15′32″E / 76.83028°S 158.25889°E / -76.83028; 158.25889
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Allan Hills A81005 (ALH A81005)
Observed fall
No
Found date17 January 1982[2]
TKW31.4 grams (1.11 oz)

Allan Hills A81005 or ALH A81005 (sometimes also named without the "A" in front of the number) was the first lunar meteorite found on Earth.[3] It was found in 1982 in the Allan Hills at the end of the Transantarctic Mountains, during a meteorite gathering expedition (ANSMET).[1]

Discovery and naming

ALH A81005 was found on 17 January 1982 by John Schutt and Ian Whillans.[2][4] It is named after the Allan Hills, a mountain chain in Antarctica where many meteorites are gathered by expeditions.[1] The large number of meteorites collected in Antarctica and the lack of geographic terms that could be used for names have led to the adaption of the "Antarctic rules" for meteorite naming. Every meteorite found in Antarctica receives the names of the collection area (Allan Hills) and a number. The number consists of the year the expedition started "81" and a three digit number that is given out consecutively (005). The "A" in front of the number stands for meteorites collected by ANSMET expeditions and can be considered optional.[5] The definition of the year is used because the year changes during the Austral summer season (December to March) and this avoids samples from one expedition having different years. This is the reason ALH A81005 has the year "81" in its name despite being found on 17 January 1982.[5]

Description

ALH A81005 measures 3 × 2.5 × 3 centimetres (1.18 × 0.98 × 1.18 in). It has a dark

clasts). This appearance is typical for breccias, including those originating on Earth. The size of the larger crystals ranges from sub-millimeter to 8 millimetres (0.31 in) in diameter.[1]

Thin section analysis revealed that the crystals are mostly

ferrosilite and wollastonite. The olivine is a solid solution of 11 to 40% fayalite with the rest being forsterite.[1] ALH A81005 is classified as a "lunar anorthosite breccia" and belongs to the group "lunar anorthosite" (abbreviated Lun-A).[1]

History

The determination that ALH A81005 was of lunar origin was made by

nuclear particle tracks, and thermoluminescence data.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Allan Hills A81005". Meteoritical Society. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b Kevin Righter; John Gruener. "Lunar Meteorite Compendium ALH A81005" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  3. doi:10.1029/GL010i009p00775
    .
  4. ^ Kevin Righter; John Gruener. "The Lunar Meteorite Compendium". NASA. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Antarctic Rules". Meteoritical Society. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. The Leader-Post
    . Regina, Saskatchewan. March 16, 1983. p. A5. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. Spokane Chronicle
    . Spokane, Washington. March 16, 1983. p. A9. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  8. ISBN 9780521258722
    .


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