[meteorite-list] NWA meteorites blessing or omen ?

From: meteorites_at_space.com <meteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:54:06 2004
Message-ID: <20020218173741.19568.c000-h010.c000.wm_at_mail.space.com.criticalpath.net>

On Tue, 12 February 2002, "Graham Christensen" wrote

>
> This is true. I myself have many tiny chips and
pieces of meteorite but I
> have an NWA that I got from Dean Bessey that is 285
grams. I am glad that I
> had the opportunity to obtain a meteorite of its
size. It has given me a
> better idea of what a meteorite would probably look
like in an environment
> where it might be weathered and I have been able to
show it to many people
> in my school, many of whom have shown great interest.
Besides, I don't think
> that the information about the strewnfields is all
that important to
> science, the physics of meteorite falls and the
formation of strewnfields is
> already well known. What needs to be studied is the
meteorites themselves
> and the best way to do this is to have nomads out
there searching to make a
> profit, finding the maximum amount of material. Am I
right on this? This is
> just my opinion.
>
> My 2 bits (of NWA meteorite) worth :)
>


Graham,

I think that you are absolutely right on this on all
counts.

Strewn field information, I think is important with
regards to very large falls, such a Gibeon, Campo del
Cielo, and other such events. Most important though
are witnessed falls.

Strewnfield data with regards to these is important.
The visual observation of the fireball event coupled
with the data derived from the fall scatter pattern can
provide insight into the process of retardation of
hypersonic bodies with irreguar shapes and motions in
our atmosphere.

(In this regard, some bolides, such as Pasamonte were
observed to have a "corkscrew" motion).

But with regards to the tons of NWA's I think it stupid
and shortsighted to discount these as being
"scientifically important" simply because they do not
have strewnfield data.

These should, instead, be considered potential bonaza
to science. Cut them, make spheres of them, reduce
them to dust, pop out chondurles for analysis-- the
huge supply should make for some amazing discoveries.

Steve Schoner, American Meteorite Survey.

************************************************************
> Graham Christensen
> majorvoltage_at_hotmail.com
> http://www.geocities.com/aerolitehunter
>
> >From: "Simon de Boer" <sbdeboer_at_wightman.ca>
> >To: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
> >Subject: [meteorite-list] NWA meteorites
blessing or omen ?
> >Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 20:54:01 -0500
> >
> > Edward and List : I am a junior and
amateur collector. I've
> >been interested in meteorites for as long as I
can remember searching
> > fields , rock piles wondering how I might
wish a star to fall on
> > my property. Having finally accumulated
numerous specimens I sent
> >pieces to Robt Haag who called me on the phone
 with the
> >discouraging news that none of what I had a ton
 of beside my gas
> >barrel was meteorite.
> > At that point I did as Robt said and got
 Richard Nortons book
> > and educated myself somewhat. I met a few
helpful dealers ,
> >collectors, and got to look at the real thing.
It was like a
> >starved soul to be able to purchase pieces of
meteorite at such
> >reasonable prices and study them for myself.
No it wasn t the
> >dollars for me that I could make on them ,
I was just glad to
> >buy them for what I could get them If I had
to pay what some
> >have paid to have a few grams of rare
individuals I wouldn t have
> >any today . I have shared pieces with many
people who would
> >otherwise been like me ignorant about what a
meteorite looks and
> >feels like. I can now bring and even give
 some to farmers and
> >friends who otherwise would never even see the
real thing much less
> >care, but they marvel when they get to touch
what we now take for
> >granted.
> > I spend hours looking over and over at
 all the variety of
> >specimens I have from NWA and anyone who is
 interested can
> >actually come and enjoy them also. I ve been
asked if I can show
> >what I have at the local fall fair I think its
an excellent idea to
> >bring them into schools and let childrens hold a
 star first hand and
> >not look at it in a museum for 5 seconds and
never experience
> >them. the beauty of nature ought not be locked
up and hoarded by
> >those who can afford high priced ones alone
 ..There is lots to
> >go around I m so thankful the price was in
range where I didn t
> >hesitate to get some rather than just keep
looking and hoping
> >someday to find one . Blessing UNWA for me
perhaps someday I
> >ll get some pieces classified and donate my
20 grams to the
> >cause also without regret.
> > I agree that perhaps alot more pairing
could have been done
> >I t could have been picked up more
scientifically but it didn t
> >happen and we won t turn back time to undo
what has been done
> >Make the best of the opportunity , I believe
I'm doing that and
> >there is nothing stopping anyone else either If
I don t avail myself
> >of it someone else will
> > Simon
>
>
>
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Received on Mon 18 Feb 2002 08:37:32 PM PST