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Allan Hills 85085 meteorite, Allan Hills, Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica i
Regional Level Types
Allan Hills 85085 meteorite Meteorite Fall Location
Allan Hills Group of Hills
Victoria Land Region
Eastern Antarctica Region
Antarctica Continent

Regional Level Types
Allan Hills 85085 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° 50' 53'' South , 156° 25' 13'' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

G#: p6r4z6jy0

Type:

Meteorite Fall Location

Meteorite Class:

CH3 chondrite meteorite

Meteoritical Society Class:

CH3

Metbull:

View entry in Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Köppen climate type:

EF : Ice cap climate

Mindat Locality ID:

204469

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:204469:2

GUID (UUID V4):

Other/historical names associated with this locality:

ALH 85085

Allan Hills 85085 (ALH 85085) is a single small stone (mass, 11.6 g) found in 1985 in Antarctica. Olivine (Fayalite 1-5 mol%) and Pyroxene (Ferrosilite 1-4 mol%) indicated a strongly reduced mineralogy. Its mineralogy, abundant metal, and unusual oxygen-&-nitrogen isotope ratios resulted in its designation as the prototype for the CH (“High metal”) Carbonaceous Chondrites. ALH85085 is one of the few meteorite prototypes not seen to fall. In late 2013 over 20 individual stones (~12-15 original falls??) were listed in Meteoritical Society’s “Meteoritical Bulletin Database. None of them represent observed falls. The CH chondrites have tiny chondrules, tiny inclusions, and abundant metal (~20 vol%). Sulfides are rare.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

29 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of 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

ⓘ CH3 chondrite meteorite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Alabandite

Formula: MnS

References:

Makoto Kimura & Ahmed El Goresy (1989). Discovery of E-Chondrite Assemblages and Silica-Bearing Objects in ALH85085:- Link Between E- and C-Chondrites (Abstract). Abstracts and Program for the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. LPI Contribution 712, p. 112.

ⓘ Anorthite

Formula: Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)

References:

A. J. Brearley (1990). Constraints on the Shock and Thermal Histories of some Components from the Unique Chondrite, Allan Hills 85085, and Their Implications. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 21, p. 123.

ⓘ Armalcolite

Formula: (Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅

References:

ⓘ Augite

Formula: (Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite

Formula: (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]

References:

Glenn J. MacPherson, Andrew M. Davis & Jeffrey N. Grossman (1989). Refractory Inclusions in the Unique Chondrite ALH85085. Abstracts and Program for the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. LPI Contribution 712, published by the Lunar and Planetary Institute, p. 143.

ⓘ Chromite

Formula: Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ Daubréelite

Formula: Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂S₄

References:

ⓘ Diopside

Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆

References:

Glenn J. MacPherson, Andrew M. Davis & Jeffrey N. Grossman (1989). Refractory inclusions in the unique chondrite ALH85085. Meteoritics 24, p. 297.

ⓘ Dolomite

Formula: CaMg(CO₃)₂

References:

Edward R. D. Scott (1988). A New Kind of Primitive Chondrite: Allan Hills 85085. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1049.

ⓘ Enstatite

Formula: Mg₂Si₂O₆

References:

Jeffrey N. Grossman, Alan E. Rubin & Glenn J. MacPherson (1988). Allan Hills 85085: an Out-of-the-Ordinary, Enstatite-rich Carbonaceous Chondrite. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 433.

ⓘ Esseneite

Formula: CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]

References:

Ciesielczuk, Justyna, Kruszewski, Łukasz, Majka, Jarosław (2015) Comparative mineralogical study of thermally-altered coal-dump waste, natural rocks and the products of laboratory heating experiments. International Journal of Coal Geology, 139. 114-141 doi:10.1016/j.coal.2014.08.013

ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'

References:

ⓘ Forsterite

Formula: Mg₂SiO₄

References:

Michael K. Weisberg, Marty Prinz & Cherukupalli E. Nehru (1988). ALH85085: A Unique Unequilibrated Chondrite. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1257.

ⓘ Gehlenite

Formula: Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]

References:

ⓘ Grossite

Formula: CaAl₄O₇

References:

American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1479–1482, 2009

ⓘ Heazlewoodite

Formula: Ni₃S₂

References:

ⓘ Hibonite

Formula: CaAl₁₂O₁₉

References:

ⓘ Kushiroite (TL)

Formula: CaAlAlSiO₆

Type Locality:

References:

Kimura, M., Mikouchi, T., Suzuki, A., Miyahara, M., Ohtani, E., Goresy, A. E. (2009) Kushiroite, CaAlAlSiO6: A new mineral of the pyroxene group from the ALH 85085 CH chondrite, and its genetic significance in refractory inclusions. American Mineralogist, 94 (10) 1479-1482 doi:10.2138/am.2009.3242

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

ⓘ 'Melilite Group'

Formula: Ca₂M(XSiO₇)

References:

ⓘ Native Iron

Formula: Fe

References:

ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

References:

ⓘ Osbornite

Formula: TiN

References:

Edward R. D. Scott (1988). A New Kind of Primitive Chondrite: Allan Hills 85085. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1049.

ⓘ Pentlandite

Formula: (Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈

References:

ⓘ Perovskite

Formula: CaTiO₃

References:

ⓘ Pigeonite

Formula: (Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆

References:

ⓘ 'Plessite'

References:

Edward R. D. Scott (1988). A New Kind of Primitive Chondrite: Allan Hills 85085. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1049.

ⓘ Pyrrhotite

Formula: Fe_1-xS

References:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

References:

Michael K. Weisberg, Marty Prinz & Cherukupalli E. Nehru (1988). ALH85085: A Unique Unequilibrated Chondrite. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1257.

ⓘ Schreibersite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)₃P

References:

Edward R. D. Scott (1988). A New Kind of Primitive Chondrite: Allan Hills 85085. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1049.

ⓘ 'Silica'

References:

Michael K. Weisberg, Marty Prinz & Cherukupalli E. Nehru (1988). ALH85085: A Unique Unequilibrated Chondrite. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1257.

ⓘ Spinel

Formula: MgAl₂O₄

References:

ⓘ Taenite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

References:

ⓘ Tetrataenite

Formula: FeNi

References:

ⓘ Troilite

Formula: FeS

References:

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)
ⓘ	Tetrataenite	1.AE.10	FeNi
ⓘ	Osbornite	1.BC.15	TiN
ⓘ	Schreibersite	1.BD.05	(Fe,Ni)₃P
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Heazlewoodite	2.BB.05	Ni₃S₂
ⓘ	Pentlandite	2.BB.15	(Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈
ⓘ	Pyrrhotite	2.CC.10	Fe_1-xS
ⓘ	Troilite	2.CC.10	FeS
ⓘ	Alabandite	2.CD.10	MnS
ⓘ	Daubréelite	2.DA.05	Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂S₄
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Chromite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Spinel	4.BB.05	MgAl₂O₄
ⓘ	Armalcolite	4.CB.15	(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅
ⓘ	Grossite	4.CC.15	CaAl₄O₇
ⓘ	Perovskite	4.CC.30	CaTiO₃
ⓘ	Hibonite	4.CC.45	CaAl₁₂O₁₉
ⓘ	Rutile	4.DB.05	TiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Dolomite	5.AB.10	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Forsterite	9.AC.05	Mg₂SiO₄
ⓘ	Gehlenite	9.BB.10	Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]
ⓘ	Enstatite	9.DA.05	Mg₂Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Pigeonite	9.DA.10	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Augite	9.DA.15	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Diopside	9.DA.15	CaMgSi₂O₆
ⓘ	Esseneite	9.DA.15	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
ⓘ	Augite var. Fassaite	9.DA.15	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
ⓘ	Kushiroite (TL)	9.DA.15	CaAlAlSiO₆
ⓘ	Anorthite	9.FA.35	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'	-
ⓘ	'Silica'	-
ⓘ	'Plessite'	-
ⓘ	'Melilite Group'	-	Ca₂M(XSiO₇)

List of minerals for each chemical element

C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
N	Nitrogen
N	ⓘ Osbornite	TiN
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
O	ⓘ Armalcolite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅
O	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
O	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Esseneite	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
O	ⓘ Forsterite	Mg₂SiO₄
O	ⓘ Gehlenite	Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]
O	ⓘ Grossite	CaAl₄O₇
O	ⓘ Hibonite	CaAl₁₂O₁₉
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Perovskite	CaTiO₃
O	ⓘ Pigeonite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Spinel	MgAl₂O₄
O	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
O	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
O	ⓘ Melilite Group	Ca₂M(XSiO₇)
O	ⓘ Kushiroite	CaAlAlSiO₆
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Armalcolite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅
Mg	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Mg	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Forsterite	Mg₂SiO₄
Mg	ⓘ Pigeonite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Spinel	MgAl₂O₄
Mg	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Mg	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Al	ⓘ Esseneite	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
Al	ⓘ Gehlenite	Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]
Al	ⓘ Grossite	CaAl₄O₇
Al	ⓘ Hibonite	CaAl₁₂O₁₉
Al	ⓘ Spinel	MgAl₂O₄
Al	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Al	ⓘ Kushiroite	CaAlAlSiO₆
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Si	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Esseneite	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
Si	ⓘ Forsterite	Mg₂SiO₄
Si	ⓘ Gehlenite	Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]
Si	ⓘ Pigeonite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Si	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Si	ⓘ Melilite Group	Ca₂M(XSiO₇)
Si	ⓘ Kushiroite	CaAlAlSiO₆
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Schreibersite	(Fe,Ni)₃P
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Alabandite	MnS
S	ⓘ Daubréelite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺S₄
S	ⓘ Heazlewoodite	Ni₃S₂
S	ⓘ Pentlandite	(Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈
S	ⓘ Pyrrhotite	Fe_1-xS
S	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Ca	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Diopside	CaMgSi₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Ca	ⓘ Esseneite	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
Ca	ⓘ Gehlenite	Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇]
Ca	ⓘ Grossite	CaAl₄O₇
Ca	ⓘ Hibonite	CaAl₁₂O₁₉
Ca	ⓘ Perovskite	CaTiO₃
Ca	ⓘ Pigeonite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Ca	ⓘ Melilite Group	Ca₂M(XSiO₇)
Ca	ⓘ Kushiroite	CaAlAlSiO₆
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Armalcolite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅
Ti	ⓘ Osbornite	TiN
Ti	ⓘ Perovskite	CaTiO₃
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Cr	Chromium
Cr	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Cr	ⓘ Daubréelite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺S₄
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Alabandite	MnS
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Armalcolite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅
Fe	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Daubréelite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺S₄
Fe	ⓘ Esseneite	CaFe³⁺[AlSiO₆]
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron	Fe
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Pentlandite	(Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈
Fe	ⓘ Pigeonite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Pyrrhotite	Fe_1-xS
Fe	ⓘ Schreibersite	(Fe,Ni)₃P
Fe	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Tetrataenite	FeNi
Fe	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Fe	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Fe	ⓘ Augite var. Fassaite	(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al,Fe³⁺,Ti)[(Si,Al)₂O₆]
Ni	Nickel
Ni	ⓘ Heazlewoodite	Ni₃S₂
Ni	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Pentlandite	(Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈
Ni	ⓘ Schreibersite	(Fe,Ni)₃P
Ni	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Tetrataenite	FeNi

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

Michael K. Weisberg, Martin Prinz & Cherukupalli E. Nehru (Dec 1990). The Bencubbin chondrite breccia and its relationship to CR chondrites and the ALH 85085 meteorite. Meteoritics 25, (#4), 269-279.

www.lpi.ursa.edu (n.d.) http://www.lpi.ursa.edu/meteor/metbull.php

Edward R. D. Scott (1988). A New Kind of Primitive Chondrite: Allan Hills 85085. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, vol. 19, p. 1049.

Monica M. Grady & C. T. Pillinger (1990). ALH 85085 - Nitrogen isotope analysis of a highly unusual primitive chondrite. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 97, #1-2, 29-40.

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