[meteorite-list] Re-Post Nininger Moment #12

From: almitt <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:10:09 2004
Message-ID: <3EA0CA4E.4AB218B2_at_kconline.com>

Subject: A Nininger Moment #12
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 08:41:10 -0500
From: almitt <almitt_at_kconline.com>
To: Alan Mitterling <ALMitt_at_kconline.com>

A Classification of the Meteoritic Additions to the Earth
by H.H. Nininger

It is evident that the materials composing a meteorite are widely
distributive during the process of its fall to Earth. Some of the material
are reduced to the finest powder and probably a considerable portion is
transformed into gases. Certainly some of this disintegration begins in some
cases as high up as one hundred miles above sea level and apparently
continues within a few miles of the soil. The distribution of the surviving
fragments may be considered both from the standpoint of the area over
which they are scattered, and from a standpoint of the depths to which
they penetrate the ground. So far as is known to this writer, no attempt
has been made to deal systematically with the penetrative distribution
of meteorites. It is only fair to state that in this writers opinion, our
knowledge in this field is too meager for any attempt at final conclusion.

A study of 102 witnessed falls reveals the fact that from these falls 50
individuals were recovered from below plough depth. The average weight of
these 50 stones and irons were 84..7 lbs. (38.5 kilos) The average depth
buried was 22 inches (55 cm) Thirty two of the fifty had weights of less
than 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and an average weight for these were 20.3 lbs. (9.2
kg) The average depth of burial for these 32 were 20.3 inches (50.8 cm)

Six individuals weighed between 50 lbs and 100 lbs (22.7 and 45.4 kg) with
and average weight of 63 lbs. (28.6 kg) for these the average depth of
burial was 32 inches or (80 cm) Seven individuals weighed between 100 lbs
and 200 lbs. or (45.4 kg and 90.8 kg) with and average weight of 139 lbs
(63.2 kg) for these the average depth of burial was 43 inches or ( 107.5
cm) Two individuals weighed between 200 and 400 lbs. (90.8 and 181.6 kg)
and the average weight for these was 230 lbs. (104.5 kg) and the average
depth of burial was 48 inches (120 cm) Three individuals weighed more than
400 lbs (181.6 kg) each; and these were buried at an average depth of 122
inches (305 cm)

Generally speaking it may be said that the depth of burial increases with
the diameter of the meteorite, though of course there are several factors
which greatly modify this relationship. The shape and specific gravity, the
angle and velocity at which it falls, and the nature of the soil (soft/hard
etc.) As far as we know the majority of stony meteorites of less than 300
grams do not bury themselves completely in the soil. Many stones as massive
as one kilogram (2.2 lbs) have been found freshly fallen on the surface of
the soil and in some cases as heavy as five or six kilograms (11 to 13.2
lbs) have come to rest on ordinary soil without sinking into it even half
their own diameter. Irons have buried themselves usually about 50 percent
deeper than stones. In a few rare instances as in the Lumpkin stone weighing
12.5 Oz (354 g) buried itself rather deeply in hard ground at a depth of 10
inches (25 cm)


Source: The Published Papers Of H.H. Nininger
By the Center for Meteorite Studies Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Published originally in Popular Astronomy 1935

The Nininger Moments are articles or books written originally by Harvey
Nininger and put into a consolidated form by Al Mitterling. Some of the
items written in the moments might be old out dated material and the
reader is advised to keep this in mind.
Received on Sat 19 Apr 2003 12:02:22 AM PDT