Friends of the RAS (only) Lecture: Martian meteorites

Martian meteoritesMs Jane MacArthur We currently have identified around 90 unique martian meteorites that landed on Earth. The initial group, known as "SNCs" after the Shergotty, Nakhla and Chassigny falls, have been expanded with the ancient ALH84001 orthopyroxenite and now 'Black Beauty' (NWA 7034 and pairs), the first basaltic regolith breccia from Mars. This breccia, formed in an impact event, provides our first opportunity to study an impact site on Mars with a meteorite. I have been examining this breccia with a range of techniques, including use of the Diamond synchrotron, to understand its thermal history and to look for evidence of water-rock interaction. I will also include a summary of work by our group at Leicester on alteration in the martian nakhlite meteorites. Jane MacArthur is a PhD student at the University of Leicester, using electron microscopy and x-ray spectroscopy to analyse planetary materials. She completed her MSc in Planetary Science at UCL and Mathematics BSc at the University of Nottingham. She was elected to RAS Council to serve 2014-2017 and is on the RAS200 Steering Group and a trustee of the RAS Pension scheme. The lecture will be followed by a wine reception in the RAS Library.
Website: www.ras.org.uk
Website: www.ras.org.uk
Website: www.ras.org.uk