[meteorite-list] Sweaty Fingers, Chlorides, and Chondrites

From: Stephen McMann <stephen_mcmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Dec 20 17:07:04 2004
Message-ID: <BAY17-DAV129DFEE98D51896445B9CAE3A20_at_phx.gbl>

Dear Jorn and List,

I couldn't agree more that a chemical treatment applied to any meteorite
(stony, iron, etc.) ensures that it is no longer pristine. Thinking about
chemical treatments brings up all sorts of philosophical issues about what
collectors can or should do as stewards of meteorites (including the cheap
abundant ones) for future generations. Everyone would probably agree that
plopping a fresh unstudied CM into an organic solvent is inappropriate. On
the other hand, the choice seems less clear when faced with a more common
type that seems to be determined to terrestrialize into iron-rich dirt.

Perhaps I can be a bit more specific about what is bothering me right now.
Little iron-oxide pillars are expanding out of some of my slices of SAU 001
like tree seedlings growing out of a sidewalk. I don't know whether this is
due to indigenous water, indigenous NaCl, mishandling during its many-step
trip from the field to me, or some other factor. However, regardless of the
cause I would like to try to stabilize these pieces and thus preserve some
of their extraterrestrial characteristics. I have some interest in all of
the methods that are available. However, what would be the most useful to
me personally is to know if reasonably effective procedures can be performed
without elaborate equipment.

Sincerely,
Stephen McMann
Received on Mon 20 Dec 2004 05:06:25 PM PST