Alan Hills 84001

• Left Mars about 16 million y. ago
  • from condition of surface, exposed to the solar wind
• fell on Antarctica ~ 13,000 y. ago, picked up in 1984

• rock shows evidence for extensive surface water on early Mars
  • chemical analysis of rock shows
    • basalt, like lava on Earth
    • condensed from magma with 1.4% water
      • high amount indicates moist conditions
    • would give oceans 200 m deep
      • cf. 3 km for Earth
      • cf. present volume in ice caps ~ 50 m deep ocean
    • Good news for possible early life!
  • Controversial evidence for life
    • magnetite mineral
      • similar to those created by Earth organisms

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