This meteorite, called EETA 79001, was found on the ice in
Antarctica, and is quite likely from Mars. For scale, the cube
at the lower right is 1 centimeter on a side. The meteorite is
partly covered by a black glassy layer, the fusion crust. The
fusion crust forms when the meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere
at high speed. Friction heating melts the outer portion of the
meteorite. Inside, the meteorite is gray. It is a basalt, very
similar to basalts found on Earth. It formed in a volcanic eruption
about 180 million years ago. This meteorite is quite likely from
Mars because it contains a small amount of gas that is chemically
identical to the Martian atmosphere. (Courtesy LPI)
