[meteorite-list] Need help naming new group

From: Adam Hupe <adamhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:22:40 2004
Message-ID: <021401c335ba$aae48cc0$b4dbe60c_at_attbi.com>

Dear List,

A lot of good suggestions for naming this new group are rolling in and we
are pleased with the turn-out. We thought the NomCom had something to do
with naming of meteorite groups because many submitted description titles
have been changed after NomCom voting when new meteorites were submitted.
One example is NWA 1459 which was submitted as an "Olivine Diogenite" and
was published as "Diogenite, olivine-rich". Only a few scientists ever
heard the term "Olivine Diogenite" before NWA 1459 was announced. It
finally answered the question for some researchers "Where are the pieces
from Vesta's mantle?" It is now widely accepted that these are what they
have been looking for. It is our belief that by incorporating the name
"Diogenite" in the title the true importance of these specimens was lost to
obscurity. The term is so obscure that despite the best efforts of the list
nobody was able to guess the "Mystery Main Mass Contest" even though several
good clues and coaching were given.

We agree that a consensus should be reached before an attempt is made at
naming this group. That is why we are seeking help of the list to come up
with a suitable name. What better time than now since very few papers are
published using the descriptor "Olivine Diogenite"? Before NWA 1459 was
announced you might get three hits when using a search engine. After the
List comes up with a suitable name we will ask researchers, again what they
think before trying to incorporate a new name. The subject has been
discussed with several scientists who feel that a new name would be in order
rather than trying to pigeonhole it into another group. We believe that by
adding another group it will make it clearer in this case rather than
clouding the waters.

All the best,

Adam and Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
IMCA 2185




----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Grossman" <jgrossman_at_usgs.gov>
To: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 5:23 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Need help naming new group


> New groups names are not a NomCom issue, although there are people who
> think it should be. Group names come into being through consensus. Many
> group names have died at birth, never being adopted by anybody other that
> the person who wrote the initial publication (e.g., F chondrites, CA
> chondrites). Others have caught on and become widely accepted (recently,
> R, CH, CK, CR chondrites). Still others remain on the fence (e.g., CB
> chondrites versus bencubbinites or just bencubbin-like meteorites). It
> takes time.
>
> My personal opinion is that "olivine diogenite" is a perfectly fine
> term. Although it preserves the antiquated, nondescriptive, trivial term
> "diogenite," everybody in meteoritics now knows what a diogenite is, and
> that it comes from the HED parent body, most likely Vesta. What we don't
> need now, in this age where we actually know where meteorites come from,
is
> more trivial terms. I strongly doubt that any publication that proposes
> calling them something else would ever catch on.
>
> jeff
>
>
> At 10:55 PM 6/17/2003, Adam Hupe wrote:
> >Dear List Members,
> >
> >It is our pleasure to announce NWA 1877, (provisional) the second
so-called
> >"Olivine Diogenite" in private hands. This makes number five including
the
> >three Antarctic finds. The significance of it being number five is that
it
> >now qualifies to be promoted to main group status if approved by the
> >Nomenclature Committee. Scientists who are working on it agree that this
> >ultra-rare class is suited in every way for a new full-blown group and
are
> >willing to propose this new group. Since O-Isotopes place this from the
> >same parent body as the HED group, naming this new group would be a
> >history-making event. A main group has never been added to the HED
> >assemblage, only subgroups.
> >
> >This is not paired with NWA 1459, which was found in Iriqui and only
weighed
> >49 grams. Weighing in at 312 grams, NWA 1877, (provisional) is the most
> >olivine-rich yet found with ~50% of this mineral. The scientists who are
> >working on it suggested coming up with a new name for this group since
> >Diogenite, by definition, does not accurately describe this type of
> >meteorite. The name "Olivine Diogenite" was coined by scientists working
on
> >the Antarctic finds for lack of a better term at the time. If these
five
> >were from Earth they would be called "Harzburgitic Peridotites" but you
> >cannot use terrestrial terms to name meteorite types. This is where the
> >List may be able to help. Scientists suggested that the meteoritic
> >community, meaning the List, come up with a name for this group.
> >
> >We do not know what to call this proposed new group since none of them
are
> >from witnessed falls. It was suggested that it be named in honor of
some
> >famous pioneer in the field of meteoritics or some closely related
> >discipline. We are open to suggestions and know that List members can be
> >very creative. Who knows? you may be able to become a part of history by
> >coming up with a suitable name.
> >
> >In case you have not guessed this will be the weekly rare material
> >announcement but with some added flare because it is something anyone
could
> >get involved in if they wished. If you come up with a suitable name we
> >will send you a 1-gram plus specimen free of charge.
> >
> >Wishing everybody the very best,
> >
> >Adam and Greg Hupe
> >The Hupe Collection
> >IMCA 2185
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >______________________________________________
> >Meteorite-list mailing list
> >Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman
> Chair, Meteorite Nomenclature Committee (Meteoritical Society)
> US Geological Survey
> 954 National Center
> Reston, VA 20192, USA
> Phone: (703) 648-6184 fax: (703) 648-6383
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________
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> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Received on Wed 18 Jun 2003 12:57:13 PM PDT