Sample Petrographic Description
Sample Number | ALH 77167 |
Newsletter | 2,1 |
Location | Allan Hills |
Field Number | 77123029 |
Dimensions (cm) | 12.5 x 8.0 x 6.0 |
Weight (g) | 611.20 |
Original Classification | L3 Chondrite |
Updated Classification | L3.4 Chondrite |
Pairing | ALH 77011; ALH 77015; ALH 77031; ALH 77033; ALH 77034; ALH 77036; ALH 77043; ALH 77047; ALH 77049; ALH 77050; ALH 77052; ALH 77115; ALH 77140; ALH 77160; ALH 77163; ALH 77164; ALH 77165; ALH 77166; ALH 77167; ALH 77170; ALH 77175; ALH 77178; ALH 77185; ALH 77211; ALH 77214; ALH 77241; ALH 77244; ALH 77249; ALH 77260; ALH 77303; ALH 78013; ALH 78015; ALH 78017; ALH 78037; ALH 78038; ALH 78041; ALH 78162; ALH 78170; ALH 78176; ALH 78180; ALH 78186; ALH 78188; ALH 78235; ALH 78236; ALH 78238; ALH 78239; ALH 78243; ALH 79001; ALH 79045; ALH 80133; ALH 81025; ALH 81030; ALH 81031; ALH 81032; ALH 81053; ALH 81060; ALH 81061; ALH 81065; ALH 81066; ALH 81069; ALH 81085; ALH 81087; ALH 81121; ALH 81145; ALH 81156; ALH 81162; ALH 81190; ALH 81191; ALH 81214; ALH 81229; ALH 81243; ALH 81259; ALH 81272; ALH 81280; ALH 81292; ALH 81299; ALH 83038; ALH 85155; |
Mineral Composition (%Fa & %Fs) | |
Fayalite (mol%): 2-41;Ferrosilite (mol%): 3-17 | |
Weathering | |
C | |
Fracturing | |
B/C | |
Macroscopic Description - | |
This is an angular specimen approximately 12.5 x 8.0 x 6.0 cm, and is weathered very dark reddish brown. It appears that the S surface has small remnants of fusion crust, while the other surfaces are broken surfaces. Fractures are present on the N, S and B surfaces. Snow was present in a prominent fracture when the sample was removed from cold storage. Some light colored angular clasts and chondrules, up to as much as 0.5 cm, are apparent through the weathering rind. Many small holes are randomly distributed over the exterior of the stone, presumably due to the weathering out of lithic clasts and chondrules. When the sample was cleaved it broke into many pieces, none of which exposed fresh, non-weathered material. | |
Thin Section Description - Brian Mason | |
The thin section shows a close-packed-aggregate of chondrules and chondrule fragments, with a minimal amount of dark fine-grained matrix. The chondrules range from 0.2-1.5 mm in diameter, and show a variety of types, the commonest being granular olivine, olivine-pyroxene, and fine-grained pyroxene (sometimes radiating). The pyroxene is polysynthetically-twinned clinopyroxene. The granular chondrules contain intergranular glass, usually turbid and partly devitrified, but occasionally transparent and pale violet in color. Minor amounts of nickel-iron and troilite are present, often concentrated on the surface of chondrules. The meteorite is extensively weathered with brown limonitic staining pervading the section and numerous veins and small patches of limonite throughout. Microprobe analyses show a wide range in the composition of olivine (Fa2-41) and pyroxene (Fs3-17); the pyroxene is low-calcium, CaO=0.2-0.5%. This range of composition, together with the presence of glass and twinned clinopyroxene, indicates type 3, and the small amount of nickel-iron suggests L group, the meteorite is therefore tentatively classed as an L3 chondrite. |
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Reclassification Notes (AMN OUTSIDE) | |
Classification updated in Meteoritical Bulletin 76. |
Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample ALH 77167 | ||||
Lab Photo(s) : | ||||
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Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample ALH 77167 | ||||
Thin Section Photo(s) : | ||||
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References for Sample ALH77167 | |
Przylibski, T.A., Długosz-Lisiecka, M., Łuszczek, K., and Blutstein, K., 2023, Results of statistical analysis of primary components concentrations in bulk chemical composition of ordinary chondrite groups. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 58, 1246-1259, doi: 10.1111/maps.14050. | |
Schultz, L., Franke, L., 2004, Helium, neon, and argon in meteorites: A data collection. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 39, 1889-1890, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2004.tb00083.x. | |
Benoit, P. H., Sears, D. W. G., Akridge, J. M. C., Bland, P. A., Berry, F. J., Pillinger, C. T., 2000, The non-trivial problem of meteorite pairing. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35, 393-417. | |
Ebihara, M., Ozaki, H., 1995, Re, Os and Ir in Antarctic unequilibrated ordinary chondrites and implications for the solar system abundance of Re. Geophysical Research Letters, 22, 2167-2170. | |
Bogard, D. D., 1995, Impact ages of meteorites: A synthesis. Meteoritics, 30, 244-268. | |
Sears, D. W. G., Hasan, F. A., Batchelor, J. D., Lu, J., 1991, Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites. XI-Metamorphism, pairing, and brecciation of ordinary chondrites. Proceedings Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 21, 493-512. | |
Jarosewich, E., 1990, Chemical analyses of meteorites: A compilation of stony and iron meteorite analyses. Meteoritics, 25, 323-337. | |
Schultz, L., Kruse, H., 1989, Helium, neon, and argon in meteorites—A data compilation. Meteoritics, 24, 155-172. | |
Stephan, T., Jessberger, E. K., 1988, 40Ar-39Ar Ages of Types 3 and 4, L and H Chondrites from Antarctica. Meteoritics, 23, 373-377. | |
Evans, J. C., Reeves, J. H., 1987, 26Al survey of Antarctic meteorites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 82 Issues 3-4, Apr-87, 223-230, ISSN 0012-821X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(87)90197-X. | |
Sears, D. W., Hasan, F. A., 1987, The type three ordinary chondrities: A review. Surveys in geophysics, 9(1), 43-97. | |
Sears, D. W. G., Weeks, K. S., 1986, Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites—VI: Siderophile elements in ordinary chondrites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 50 Issue 12, Dec-86, 2815-2832, ISSN 0016-7037, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(86)90229-2. | |
Guimon, R. K., Keck, B. D., Weeks, K. S., Dehart, J., Sears, D. W. G., 1985, Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites—IV: Annealing studies of a type 3.4 ordinary chondrite and the metamorphic history of meteorites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 49 Issue 7, Jul-85, 1515-1524, ISSN 0016-7037, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(85)90256-X. | |
Marvin, U. B., Mason, B., 1984, Field and laboratory investigations of meteorites from Victoria Land, Antarctica. Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Number, 26, 134. | |
Goswami, J. N., Nishiizumi, K., 1983, Cosmogenic records in Antarctic meteorites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 64 Issue 1, Jul-83, 1-8, ISSN 0012-821X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(83)90047-X. | |
Sears, D. W., Grossman, J. N., Melcher, C. L., 1982, Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites—I: Metamorphism related studies of Antarctic and other type 3 ordinary chondrites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 46 Issue 12, Dec-82, 2471-2481, ISSN 0016-7037, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(82)90370-2. | |
Takaoka, N., Saito, K., Ohba, Y., Nagao, K., 1981, Rare gas studies of twenty-four antarctic chondrites. Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research., Special issue 20, 264-275, http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110000009449/en/. | |
Marvin, U. B., Mason, B., 1980, Catalog of Antarctic Meteorites 1977-1978. Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences, Number 23, 50. |