Name: Elephant Moraine 96031 This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name. Abbreviation: EET 96031 Observed fall: No Year found: 1996 Country: Antarctica [Collected by US Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET)] Mass: 414 g
Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride The exteriors of these chondrites are covered with thin, patchy black fusion crust. They all have iridescent oxidation haloes and a few fractures. The interior is fine grained with some dark gray matrix visible. Some rust colored grains and metal are present. These meteorites are hard and coherent.
Thin Section (EET96031,2; 96037,2; 96042,2; 96047,2) Description: Tim McCoy
EET96031
These four meteorites are likely paired and a common description is given. The sections show a close-packed aggregate of chondrules (usually less than 1 mm across), chondrule fragments and mineral grains in a dark matrix with abundant metal and troilite. The meteorite is moderately weathered and shocked. Polysynthetically twinned pyroxene is common. All four meteorites have olivine (Fa15-16) and pyroxene compositions (Fs13-14) which are below the range typical for H chondrites and similar to a small group of chondrites such as Willaroy (1993, GCA 57, 1867). The meteorites are unusual H4 chondrites.