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Allan Hills A77257 meteorite, Allan Hills, Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica i
Regional Level Types
Allan Hills A77257 meteorite Meteorite Fall Location
Allan Hills Group of Hills
Victoria Land Region
Eastern Antarctica Region
Antarctica Continent

Regional Level Types
Allan Hills A77257 meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
Allan Hills	Group of Hills
Victoria Land	Region
Eastern Antarctica	Region
Antarctica	Continent

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

76° 43' South , 159° 40' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

-76.71667,159.66667

GRN:

S52E29

Type:

Meteorite Fall Location

Meteorite Class:

Ureilite meteorite

Meteoritical Society Class:

Ureilite

Metbull:

View entry in Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Köppen climate type:

EF : Ice cap climate

Mindat Locality ID:

257986

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:257986:6

GUID (UUID V4):

Other/historical names associated with this locality:

ALHA77257; ALH 77257

Ureilite
Find 1997; 1996 g

The Ureilites are ultramafic achondrites that contain interstitial carbon as graphite or diamond. The ALHA77257 Ureilite contains small amounts of both graphite and diamond as well as several other interesting interstitial phases. ALHA77257's dominant lithology, however, is that of a fairly coarse-grained stone compositionally dominated by olivine (~80%) and accompanying pyroxene (~15%) grains. Undulose extinction in olivine, polysynthetic twinning in pyroxene, and microtextures in metal all provide clues for deciphering the impact history of this and other ureilites. Perhaps most significant is evidence from distorted graphite grains that the diamonds in this and other ureilites have indeed been produced primarily by shock impact.

Significant amounts of terrestrial weathering products (limonite, hydromagnesite, …) — usually concentrated in the interstitial phases — are noted by several observers.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

7 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Ureilite meteorite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'

Description: Low Ca-Clinopyroxene

References:

Mori, H. & Takeda, H. (1983) Deformation of Olivine in the Antarctic Ureilites, Allan Hills 77257 and 78262 (abstract): Lunar and Planetary Science XIV, 519-520. (March 1983)

ⓘ Cohenite

Formula: Fe₃C

References:

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

ⓘ Diamond

Formula: C

References:

Nakamuta, Y. & Aoki, Y. (2000). Mineralogical evidence for the origin of diamond in ureilites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 35 (13): 487-493. (May 2000)

ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'

Description: variable compositions (Fa9-23, average Fa13); undulose extinction; many olivine grains with reduction at the rims

References:

Score, R., Schwarz, C. M., King, T. V. V., Mason, H., Bogard, D. D. & Gabel, E. M. (1981) Antarctic Meteorite Descriptions: 1976-1977-1978-1979. Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter 4 (1), JSC, Houston. (Feb 1981)

Nakamuta, Y. & Aoki, Y. (2000). Mineralogical evidence for the origin of diamond in ureilites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 35 (13): 487-493. (May 2000)

ⓘ Graphite

Formula: C

References:

Nakamuta, Y. & Aoki, Y. (2000). Mineralogical evidence for the origin of diamond in ureilites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 35 (13): 487-493. (May 2000)

ⓘ Hydromagnesite

Formula: Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O

Description: Obvious and quite visible weatehring product

References:

Marvin, U. B. & Motylewski, K. (1980) Mg-Carbonates and Sulfates on Antarctic Meteorites (abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XI: 669-670. (March 1980)

ⓘ 'Limonite'

Description: a weathering product

References:

ⓘ Native Iron

Formula: Fe

References:

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

References:

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

ⓘ 'Nickel-iron'

Description: Traces, partially or largely altered to limonite

References:

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

Description: Fs. (mol%) 12, coarse polysynthetic twinning

References:

ⓘ Taenite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

References:

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

ⓘ Troilite

Formula: FeS

Description: Present only in traces

References:

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Iron	1.AE.05	Fe
ⓘ	var. Kamacite	1.AE.05	(Fe,Ni)
ⓘ	Taenite	1.AE.10	(Fe,Ni)
ⓘ	Cohenite	1.BA.05	Fe₃C
ⓘ	Graphite	1.CB.05a	C
ⓘ	Diamond	1.CB.10a	C
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Troilite	2.CC.10	FeS
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Hydromagnesite	5.DA.05	Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-
ⓘ	'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'	-
ⓘ	'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'	-
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆
ⓘ	'Nickel-iron'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Hydromagnesite	Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Cohenite	Fe₃C
C	ⓘ Diamond	C
C	ⓘ Graphite	C
C	ⓘ Hydromagnesite	Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Hydromagnesite	Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O
O	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Hydromagnesite	Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂ · 4H₂O
Mg	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Cohenite	Fe₃C
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron	Fe
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Fe	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Ni	Nickel
Ni	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Antarctic MeteoritesGroup of Meteorite Fall Locations

Antarctic PlateTectonic Plate

Ross Orogen
- South Victoria LandOrogenic Belt

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

curator.jsc.nasa.gov (n.d.) http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/antmet/amn/previous_newsletters/ANTARTIC_METERORITE_NEWSLETTER_VOL_4_NUMBER_1.pdf

Marvin, U. B. & Motylewski, K. (1980) Mg-Carbonates and Sulfates on Antarctic Meteorites (abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XI: 669-670. (March 1980)

Mori, H. & Takeda, H. (1983) Deformation of Olivine in the Antarctic Ureilites, Allan Hills 77257 and 78262 (abstract): Lunar and Planetary Science XIV, 519-520. (March 1983)

Berkley, J. L. & Goodrich, C. A. (1985) Cohenite-Bearing Metallic Spherules in Ureilites: Petrology and Implications (Abstract). Lunar and Planetary Science XVI, 49-50. (March 1985)

Nakamuta, Y. & Aoki, Y. (2000). Mineralogical evidence for the origin of diamond in ureilites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 35 (13): 487-493. (May 2000)

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Allan Hills A77257 meteorite, Allan Hills, Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, AntarcticaiRegional Level TypesAllan Hills A77257 meteoriteMeteorite Fall Location Allan HillsGroup of Hills Victoria LandRegion Eastern AntarcticaRegion AntarcticaContinent

Select Mineral List Type

Mineral List

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Allan Hills A77257 meteorite, Allan Hills, Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica i
Regional Level Types
Allan Hills A77257 meteorite Meteorite Fall Location
Allan Hills Group of Hills
Victoria Land Region
Eastern Antarctica Region
Antarctica Continent