Advances in Cosmochemistry Enabled by Antarctic Meteorites.
Meenakshi Wadhwa1, Timothy J McCoy2, Devin L Schrader1
1School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences
|December 31, 2020
Summary
Antarctic meteorites, including Martian and lunar samples, have revolutionized cosmochemistry and planetary science. These unique rocks offer profound insights into the Solar System's origin and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Cosmochemistry
- Planetary Science
- Meteoritics
Background:
- Antarctic meteorites constitute the majority of known meteorites globally.
- Systematic searches in Antarctica have yielded significant extraterrestrial samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight scientific advancements in cosmochemistry and planetary science enabled by Antarctic meteorites.
- To discuss the significance of specific Antarctic meteorites in understanding planetary origins.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gas composition in shock melt pockets.
- Identification and classification of diverse meteorite types.
- Comparative studies of extraterrestrial materials.
Main Results:
- Identification of the first Martian meteorite (Elephant Moraine A79001) based on gas composition.
- Discovery of the first lunar meteorite (Allan Hills 81005) in Antarctica.
- Recovery of numerous rare meteorite classes, including primitive chondrites and achondrites.
Conclusions:
- Antarctic meteorites are crucial for understanding the origin and evolution of the Solar System.
- These samples provide unique insights into Mars, the Moon, and early Solar System processes.
- Continued study of Antarctic meteorites promises further breakthroughs in planetary science.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
99.2K
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
99.2K
01:50Global Climate Change
28.0K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
28.0K
02:56The Fossil Record
26.6K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
26.6K