[meteorite-list] Identifying meteorites

From: Walter Sullivan <wsulliva_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:52:14 2004
Message-ID: <3D5ADBB9.9080006_at_ix.netcom.com>

To List:

I have been collecting for a couple of years, but I still do not
understand how you identify a meteorite with reasonable confidence.
There are a lot of NWAs for sale that are not particularly valuable, I
suppose, so they are not sent to the lab for definitive identification.
How can you tell this is a meteorite? Assume it is slightly magnetic,
dark, but without classic fusion crust. I am trying to educate myself
about rocks, but photos of the inside of olivine basalts look very much
like meteorites that I have seen. How would I tell the difference?
Basically, for the experts and dealers, how do you know? When is the
evidence enough to send for analysis? A tougher question is when do you
suspect a lunar or martian sample? I have researched the books (except
the new Norton which I do not have yet); I have searched the internet,
but I just can't find a satisfying answer. Aren't terrestrial rocks
sometimes slightly magnetic, also?
I really would appreciate any help anybody can give me on the subject.

Walter Sullivan
Las Vegas
Received on Wed 14 Aug 2002 06:37:45 PM PDT