[meteorite-list] Wilcox Playa (Arizona) Meteorite

From: Robert Verish <bolidechaser_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Nov 21 04:05:48 2004
Message-ID: <20041121090441.17252.qmail_at_web51707.mail.yahoo.com>

Hello Mark (and List),

Point well taken. Hopefully we all have learned a
lesson about putting into print assumed provisional
numbers before they are assigned by Dr. Rhian Jones.

But here are some "safe" assumptions that I would like
the List to know about.

You can safely assume that I would never speak for the
Nomenclature Committee (Nom Comm).

You can safely assume that, if I ever make statements
about policies or procedures of the Nom Comm, I will
make sure that they are current and factual. These
statements will be based upon what I've learned from
my numerous emails and phone conversations I've had
with various Nom Comm members.

But, in the case of these Wilcox Playa specimens, I
made no assumptions. Before I sent my message to the
List, I phoned Rhian and asked if she knew of any
other Wilcox Playa finds that were up for name/number
approval.
Presently, there are only these two finds in the queue
for a number approval.

But now we need to say a few things about "provisional
numbers".

Keep in mind that these provisional numbers are only
relevant to areas of dense accumulation/concentration
AND particularly for those from new localities. And
once the Nom Comm votes to approve these numbers,
there is no going back and changing them. But up
until that vote, (say there is a common desire to
maintain a chronological sequence to the numbers AND
everyone agrees to it) provisional numbers can be
changed.

Also keep in mind that, for localities with already
formally approved names-with-numbers, there is little
that can be done to maintain the chronological order
once meteorites (which were found "earlier") are
subsequently submitted for number approval. In this
case, it's back to the same old "whoever is first to
the counter, gets the next number".

And that is where we find ourselves, today, with these
two Wilcox Playa finds. I find my self at that
counter ready to get the next number. But there is
nothing to stop me from stepping aside and letting
that number go to the ~72gram stone, if it helps
maintain their chronological sequence.

Bob Verish

--- MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_msn.com> wrote:

> Hello Bob (and list),
>
>
> Bob noted: “..I made another WP find on 2004 March
> 07..”
>
> Congratulations on another find Bob.
>
> Bob asked, "When was this find made?"
>
> I was not sure last morning when I made that web
> page. Since then I have talked with the finder, his
> wife and his brother, who was in town at the
> time of the find, in order to try to get a good
> date. It was found in the fall of 2001.
> The brother thought October, but I was not able to
> confirm the month.
>
> Bob continued: "...If the ~72 gram stone was found
> prior to that date, it is WP 003, if found after
> that date, it will be WP 004 (again, assuming there
> are no other Wilcox Playa finds awaiting
> classification)."
>
> Would I be correct in thinking it is Dr. Jones who
> assigns the U.S. number names? As you know Bob
> (which means I am typing this for the rest of the
> group), In a normal United States find....or I guess
> I should say, in normal meteorite finds not from
> high collection areas, whoever owns the meteorite
> will usually submit it for a name, providing a
> couple appropriate names.
> These names are then voted on by the Met.Soc.Board.
>
> I remember you mentioned in an article a couple
> months ago (?) that any U.S. meteorite could get a
> provisional name whether classified or not, and you
> have implied that it is important for all meteorites
> to do such for chronological reasons.
>
> I wonder about such as I own a couple meteorites
> found by your team members without name/numbers,
> which would make personal cataloging easier.
>
> Clear Skies,
> Mark Bostick
> www.meteoritearticles.com
>
>
>
Received on Sun 21 Nov 2004 04:04:41 AM PST