description EETA79001 Overview
Elephant Moraine A79001, commonly abbreviated EETA79001, is a Martian shergottite discovered in Antarctica in 1979. Glassy impact-melt inclusions within it contain gases whose elemental and isotopic composition closely matches measurements of the Martian atmosphere made by the Viking landers. That correspondence became crucial evidence that the SNC meteorites originated on Mars, rather than on an unidentified asteroid.
insights Ranking position
EETA79001 ranks #17 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, behind Aguas Zarcas, ahead of Krasnojarsk.
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How did gas trapped in EETA79001 prove that it came from Mars?
Shock-produced glass in EETA79001 contains trapped gases whose elemental and isotopic composition closely matches measurements of the Martian atmosphere. Those spacecraft comparisons provided compelling evidence that this meteorite was blasted off Mars.
Where was EETA79001 found?
It was collected in Antarctica's Elephant Moraine region during the 1979 field season. Its designation combines the collection area, year, and identifying number used for Antarctic meteorites.
How could a rock travel from Mars to Antarctica?
A large impact on Mars ejected the rock at sufficient speed to escape the planet's gravity. After traveling through space, it entered Earth's atmosphere and eventually landed on the Antarctic ice.
What type of Martian meteorite is EETA79001?
EETA79001 is a shergottite, part of the largest recognized family of Martian meteorites. It contains basaltic igneous material as well as shock-altered regions produced by impacts.
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