Name: Elephant Moraine 96003 This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name. Abbreviation: EET 96003 Observed fall: No Year found: 1996 Country: Antarctica [Collected by US Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET)] Mass: 15.6 g
Macroscopic Description: Kathleen McBride These achondrites are covered with a black patchy fusion crust with a shiny luster and some glassy appearing areas. Fusion crust covers 50% of the exterior surfaces. The interior is a dull, powdery gray matrix with numerous tan and white angular to sub-angular inclusions, mm size in diameter.
Thin Section (EET96003,4; 96004,4)Description: Brian Mason The sections are so similar that a single description will suffice; the meteorites are probably paired. The sections show a groundmass of comminuted pyroxene and plagioclase (average grain size 0.1 mm), with a few larger clasts (up to 2 mm) of these minerals. Section 96003,4 has a coarse-grained gabbroic clast 6 mm across. Microprobe analyses show that most of the pyroxene is hypersthene (Wo1-5, Fs31-45); one grain of augite, Wo38Fs21, was analyzed, and a few grains of intermediate composition. Plagioclase composition is An82-95. The meteorites are howardites.
15.6 g
