Allan Hills A78238 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Allan Hills A78238
- Year Discovered: 1978
- Approximate Recovery Location: Antarctica
- Precise Recovery Location: (-76.71667, 159.66667)
- Mass: 9.8 grams
- Classification: L3.5
- Discovery Type: find
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Allan Hills A78238 Meteorite
The Allan Hills A78238 meteorite was discovered in 1978. It was recovered in Antarctica (-76.71667, 159.66667). It has a mass of 9.8 grams.
Allan Hills A78238 is considered a “Valid” meteorite. “Valid” meteorites are typical meteorites with average weathering, while “relict” meteorites are those that have been extremely altered, either due to weathering over time or human intervention.
Allan Hills A78238’s official classification is L3.5. An ordinary chondrite classified as “L3.5” is a type 3 meteorite from the L group. This means it is characterized by an abundance of chondrules, low levels of aqueous alteration, and mineral features such as monoclinic low-Ca pyroxene grains with twinning, all falling within the type 3 category.
The Allan Hills A78238 meteorite is a “find” meteorite. Meteorites are classified as “falls” if they were observed falling and recovered, while “finds” are those discovered later, often weathered by longer exposure to Earth’s environment and without a record of being seen as they fell.
Do you have information about the Allan Hills A78238 meteorite? Share it with us.
Learn More About Meteorites
Discover more meteorites with our interactive meteorite map.
And get more meteorite facts, updates, news, and more by checking out our meteorite blog and signing up for our email newsletter:
Last Updated: 12/29/23