[meteorite-list] Re: Question about Meteorites on the Moon - our thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

From: Mark Miconi <mam602_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:52:24 2004
Message-ID: <003801c24ec5$9db1e340$54b60344_at_ph.cox.net>

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Elton,
He understood your answers perfectly. He was thrilled by everyones =
answers and it has only fueled his desire to learn more!=20

A heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone that took time to answer his =
questions. It is hard these days to find wholesome things to interest a =
child, I am lucky that my son enjoys learning, the outdoors, meteorites =
and most of all ME!

Thanks again to everyone!

Mark and Christopher Miconi
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: EL Jones=20
  To: Mark Miconi=20
  Cc: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com=20
  Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 2:39 PM
  Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Question about Meteorites on the Moon


    Ok Mark and Christopher I'll take a stab I don't know how =
untechnical I can be.


    Q1:First he wanted to know if a meteor hits the moon is it =
technically a meteorite or are only meteors that hit the earth called a =
meteorite? My answer was that once a meteoroid hits a terrestrial body =
it is technically a meteorite.

    A1: Technically under the old distinction a "meteor" can't occur on =
the moon as a meteor is the flash of light in the atmosphere. IMHO it is =
a definition that needs updating. I believe when a meteoroid lands on =
the moon it is a meteorite. In mineral nomenclature the Body e.g. =
Meteor, Impact, Anthra, is the origin and the suffix -ite..means the =
physical rock/mineral object from the source. Hence Meteorite, =
Impactite, and so on. The term "regolyth" is the near equivalent to the =
term"soil" and is dervied from the pounding of the moon by =
meteorites/asteroids. The regolyth is also enriched by material from the =
solar wind and contains more than just meteorites and moon rock.


    Q2: Second he wanted to know what if any changes would occur to a =
meteorite once it is on the moon? He is very smart and understands that =
weathering and a general erosion begins once a meteorite hits the earth =
due to the actions of our atmosphere, wind and rain. He was wondering if =
it were common place to go to the moon easily and find meteorites if =
they would be pristine or would solar winds, and other impacts by space =
dust, micro meteorites and the such erode them? And if the swings in =
temperature extremes that can occur on the moon effect them in any way. =
My answer was that they would probably change a bit over time, but the =
amount of time that would be needed to cause any changes would be =
exponentially greater than that of earth.

    A2: Yes, Yes, and Yes. Chemical recycling and weathering on the =
moon is much different and would be limited to contact of finely =
pulverized powders and scant gasses liberated by past volcanos/heating/, =
gasses,(i.e. sulfites, ammonia, O2, CO , and etc) liberatedfrom =
meteorites etc. It just isn't a player in the alteration of a =
meteorite. Appearance-wise there is no fusion crust -- but there may =
mainly only be meteorite "powder". There is a strong possibility that =
only the very largest meteorites exist in that collision forces converts =
the bulk of the meteorites into dust and molten dropplets. Meteorite =
nodules /shards are likely below the surface unless reexcavated by a =
subsequent impact. The dust layer on the moon is the 99.99%result of =
impacts.See Bill Arnet's site on the Moon =
<http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html> and =
Nasa's Apollo Discovery Page =
<http://www.nasm.edu/apollo/apollotop10.htm>

    Moon Dust is composed of angular grains of various sizes and melted =
glass beads. The dust appears to contain grains of both moon rock and =
meteorites alike. There are several websites which have photos and =
descriptions of moon dust. Both the Americans and Russians brought back =
dust samples. Solar wind and Cosmic rays change the nature of the =
minerals on the surface. By in large lunar soil is well mixed, churned, =
and not unlike howardites.=20

    The heating cooling cycle on the moon is less destructive due to the =
lack of water/ice. There is virtually "no heat/cool cycle" transport =
down slope such as seen by freeze/ thaw on Earth. be it remembered also =
that lunar rotation is 28=B1 days so the heat/cool =
(expansion/retraction) cycle is far more gradual than on earth..

    Q3: The third question he asked was since there is virtually no =
weather on the moon to stir up dust and bury them meteorites would it be =
harder to find meteorites on the moon? My answer was that since there is =
no atmosphere to slow their descent that the impact speed would probably =
determine whether the meteorites would end up buried deeper in the =
surface and it would also depend on whether or not they would even =
survive the impact.

    A3: No weather but electrostatic forces induced by soalr winds may =
casue dust to migrate. Seems like I recall some astronauts talking =
aboutt particles hovering above the ground The dust cloud generated by =
an impact settles back over the impact hole so there tends to be a =
blanket of dust on everything. It is cumulative over time. When visiting =
one of the Surveyor Landers, Apollo Astronauts found very little dust =
accumulated after 6-8 years, suggesting that the blanket accumulates =
over eons instead of decades. Lunar gravity may be weaker but it still =
causes the dust to settle. Moon quakes and impact quakes apparently jar =
unstable slopes and reduce/flatten crater rims as loose powder creeps =
downhill . Apollo 16 coring experiments found that the =
dust/regolyth/soil level exceded 16ft( I think, the maximum length of a =
core drill with them) The top 2-6 inches were less compacted than =
further down. Talking to Charlie Duke Jr., Apollo 16 astronaut, and he =
said they found trails where rocks and or meteorites had rolled and =
bounced along the surface . I think he said they didn't see any at the =
end of their trails. I believe he also said that they didn't find any =
meteorites on that trip. So at least for the bulk of the ride around =
the rift, meteorites aren't obliviously lying around the surface.
    =20
    Q4: last but not least he asked since the moon is smaller than =
earth would the density/number of meteorites on the moon be less than =
that of the earth? My answer was I would ask the experts on this list. =
(I took the easy way out on that one!) I told him that without an =
atmosphere to burn up any potential meteors that might hit the moon =
though it was smaller more would make it to the surface than on earth, =
but that without that same atmosphere to slow them down, many more would =
probably not survive the impact and would end up pulverized to dust by =
the impact.

    A4: The fact that the Moon shields Earth from meteorites and that =
Meteoroids burn up 99% of the time,=20
    I would say there is more unaltered meteoritic material on the moon =
I agree with you answer Mark!=20
     A bright mind Chris has...you've mentored him well!

    Regards,
    Elton








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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Elton,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>He understood your answers perfectly. =
He was=20
thrilled by everyones answers and it has only fueled his desire to learn =
more!=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone =
that took=20
time to answer his questions. It is hard these days to find wholesome =
things to=20
interest a child, I am lucky that my son enjoys learning, the outdoors,=20
meteorites and most of all ME!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks again to everyone!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mark and Christopher =
Miconi</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A href=3D"mailto:jonee_at_epix.net" title=3Djonee@epix.net>EL Jones</A> =
</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:mam602_at_cox.net"=20
  title=3Dmam602_at_cox.net>Mark Miconi</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A=20
  href=3D"mailto:meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com"=20
  =
title=3Dmeteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>meteorite-list@meteoritecentr=
al.com</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, August 26, 2002 =
2:39=20
  PM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [meteorite-list] =
Question=20
  about Meteorites on the Moon</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE>Ok Mark and Christopher I'll take a stab I don't know how=20
    untechnical I can be.<BR><BR>
    <DIV>Q1:First he wanted to know if a meteor hits the moon is it =
technically=20
    a meteorite or are only meteors that hit the earth called a =
meteorite? My=20
    answer was that once a meteoroid hits a terrestrial body it is =
technically a=20
    meteorite.</DIV><BR>A1: Technically under the old distinction a =
"meteor"=20
    can't occur on the moon as a meteor is the flash of light in the =
atmosphere.=20
    IMHO it is a definition that needs updating. &nbsp;I believe when a=20
    meteoroid lands on the moon it is a meteorite. In mineral =
nomenclature the=20
    Body e.g. Meteor, Impact, Anthra, is the origin and the suffix =
-ite..means=20
    the physical rock/mineral object from the source. &nbsp;Hence =
Meteorite,=20
    Impactite, &nbsp;and so on. The term "regolyth" is the near =
equivalent to=20
    the term"soil" and is dervied from the pounding of the moon by=20
    meteorites/asteroids. The regolyth is also enriched by material from =
the=20
    solar wind and contains more than just meteorites and moon =
rock.<BR><BR>
    <DIV>Q2: Second he wanted to know what if any changes would occur to =
a=20
    meteorite once it is on the moon? He is very smart and understands =
that=20
    weathering and a general erosion begins once a meteorite hits the =
earth due=20
    to the actions of our atmosphere, wind and rain.&nbsp;He was =
wondering if it=20
    were common place to go to the moon easily and find meteorites if =
they=20
    would&nbsp;be pristine or would solar winds, and other impacts by =
space=20
    dust, micro meteorites and the such erode them? And if the swings in =

    temperature extremes that can occur on the moon effect them in any =
way. My=20
    answer was that they would probably change a bit over time, but the =
amount=20
    of time that would be needed to cause any changes would be =
exponentially=20
    greater than that of earth.<BR><BR>A2: Yes, Yes, and Yes.&nbsp; =
Chemical=20
    recycling and weathering on the moon is much different and would be =
limited=20
    to contact of finely pulverized powders and scant gasses liberated =
by past=20
    volcanos/heating/, gasses,(i.e. sulfites, ammonia, O2, CO , and etc) =

    liberatedfrom meteorites etc. &nbsp;It just isn't a player in the =
alteration=20
    of a meteorite. Appearance-wise there is no fusion crust -- but =
there may=20
    mainly only be meteorite "powder". &nbsp;There is a strong =
possibility that=20
    only the very largest meteorites exist in that collision forces =
converts the=20
    bulk of the meteorites into dust and molten dropplets. Meteorite =
nodules=20
    /shards are likely below the surface unless reexcavated by a =
subsequent=20
    impact. The dust layer on the moon is the 99.99%result of =
impacts.See Bill=20
    Arnet's site on the Moon <A class=3Dmoz-txt-link-rfc2396E=20
    =
href=3D"http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html">&l=
t;http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html&gt;</A>=20
    and Nasa's Apollo Discovery Page <A class=3Dmoz-txt-link-rfc2396E=20
    =
href=3D"http://www.nasm.edu/apollo/apollotop10.htm">&lt;http://www.nasm.e=
du/apollo/apollotop10.htm&gt;</A><BR><BR>Moon=20
    Dust is composed of angular grains of various sizes and melted glass =
beads.=20
    &nbsp;The dust appears to contain grains of both moon rock and =
meteorites=20
    alike. There are several websites which have photos and descriptions =
of moon=20
    dust. Both the Americans and Russians brought back dust samples. =
Solar wind=20
    and Cosmic rays change the nature of the minerals on the surface. By =
in=20
    large lunar soil is well mixed, churned, and not unlike howardites.=20
    <BR><BR>The heating cooling cycle on the moon is less destructive =
due to the=20
    lack of water/ice. &nbsp;There is virtually "no heat/cool cycle" =
transport=20
    down slope such as seen by freeze/ thaw on Earth. be it remembered =
also that=20
    lunar rotation is 28=B1 days so the heat/cool (expansion/retraction) =
cycle is=20
    far more gradual than on earth..<BR><BR>Q3: &nbsp;The third question =
he=20
    asked was since&nbsp;there is virtually no weather on the moon to =
stir up=20
    dust and bury them meteorites would it be harder to find meteorites =
on the=20
    moon? My answer was that since there is no atmosphere to slow their =
descent=20
    that the impact speed would probably determine whether the =
meteorites would=20
    end up buried deeper in the surface and it would also depend on =
whether or=20
    not they would even survive the impact.<BR><BR>A3: &nbsp;No weather =
but=20
    electrostatic forces induced by soalr winds&nbsp; may casue dust to =
migrate.=20
    Seems like I recall some astronauts talking aboutt particles =
hovering above=20
    the ground The dust cloud generated by an impact settles back over =
the=20
    impact hole so there tends to be a blanket of dust on everything. It =
is=20
    cumulative over time. When visiting one of the Surveyor Landers, =
Apollo=20
    Astronauts found very little dust accumulated after 6-8 years, =
suggesting=20
    that the blanket accumulates over eons instead of decades. Lunar =
gravity may=20
    be weaker &nbsp;but it still causes the dust to settle. Moon quakes =
and=20
    impact quakes apparently jar unstable slopes and reduce/flatten =
crater rims=20
    &nbsp;as loose powder creeps downhill . Apollo 16 coring experiments =
found=20
    that the dust/regolyth/soil level exceded 16ft( I think, the maximum =
length=20
    of a core drill with them) The top 2-6 inches were less compacted =
than=20
    further down. Talking to Charlie Duke Jr., Apollo 16 astronaut, and =
he said=20
    they found trails where rocks and or meteorites had rolled and =
bounced along=20
    the surface . &nbsp;I think he said they didn't see any at the end =
of their=20
    trails. &nbsp;I believe he also said that they didn't find any =
meteorites on=20
    that trip. &nbsp;So at least for the bulk of the ride around the =
rift,=20
    meteorites aren't obliviously lying around the=20
    surface.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Q4:&nbsp; last but not least he asked since =
the moon=20
    is smaller than earth would the density/number of meteorites on the =
moon be=20
    less than that of the earth?&nbsp; My answer was I would ask the =
experts on=20
    this list. (I took the easy way out on that one!) I told him that =
without an=20
    atmosphere to burn up any potential meteors that might hit the moon =
though=20
    it was smaller more would make it to the surface than on earth, but =
that=20
    without that same atmosphere to slow them down, many more would =
probably not=20
    survive the impact and would end up pulverized to dust by the=20
    impact.<BR><BR>A4: The fact that the Moon shields Earth from =
meteorites and=20
    that Meteoroids burn up 99% of the time, <BR>I would say there is =
more=20
    unaltered meteoritic material on the moon &nbsp;I agree with you =
answer=20
    Mark! <BR>&nbsp;A bright mind Chris has...you've mentored him=20
    =
well!<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Elton<BR></DIV><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>=
</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_0035_01C24E8A.F120B0A0--
Received on Wed 28 Aug 2002 03:03:37 PM PDT


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