[meteorite-list] Re: NWA's, 'Dealers', Science, & NomCom

From: Jeff Grossman <jgrossman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Nov 25 15:36:34 2004
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20041125153244.0212baa0_at_gsvaresm02.er.usgs.gov>

The NomCom struggled with this issue for months this year. We were not
able to find a satisfactory way to deal with pairings of desert
meteorites. Until we can, we will not do this.

jeff

At 02:29 PM 11/25/2004, Michel Franco wrote:
>Stan, List,
>
>I have not really all the details about that present case, ( who really
>kowns ?).
>
>So many NWA are thought to be paired. CV 3 series, CR series, IMB series,
>Howardite/eurcite, etc...,
>
>You know that a lot of collectors think now any new CK chondrite from the
>Sahara is now said to be possibly paired with the CK recent series, same
>with R series.
>
>What I personnaly think is that pairing is obvious for not brecciated
>meteorites, much more difficult for brecciated, xenolitic, etc... Look
>the majority of scinetific problems in NWA pairing come from brecciated ones.
>
>I had that case of addionnal mass and it worked for, Djermaia, fall chad
>1961, published this year. I have running a case with an important
>meteorite that might be paired with an existing NWA. It is analysed thses
>days. I'll will ask for an additonnal mass publication, if the lab says
>it is paired, not for an extra number or another name. I do not care about
>having the first declared mass. But some dealer care, as a new number make
>a new meteorite and a new openning on the market. This is a major problem,
>not the scientific pairing. Everybody knows that a new meteorite name (
>even a new NWA !) make more money that an addionnal mass of an already
>marketed meteorite. The smaller the TKW, the higher the $/g, that' the rule.
>
>I guess that if your lab say that NWA XXX is paired with your meteorite
>then there is no objection to declare an additonnal mass. It is not that
>much work for the Nom Com. Same as declaring a new number. The Nom Com has
>just to publish: Additionnal mass to NWA XXX, 2.543 kg and add the name of
>the main mass owner plus his location.
>In fact the repsonsabilitry of the pairing is given by the lab. The Nom
>Com only act here as a registration chamber, which is not at all
>prejorative in my words.
>I think that the problem comes with provisionnal number sgiven to NWA
>meteorites. I never asked for a provisionnal number for any of my finds. I
>send them to the lab with my proprietay hunter numbers. Then the Nom Com
>decides what name they have. But as, I said it take a year to have it
>published.
>
>Best regards
>
>Michel FRANCO
>Caillou Noir www.caillou-noir.com
>BP 16, 100 Chemin des Camp?nes
>74400 Les Praz de Chamonix FRANCE
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "stan ." <laser_maniac_at_hotmail.com>
>To: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
>Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2004 7:13 PM
>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Re: NWA's, 'Dealers', Science, & NomCom
>
>
>>
>>>You may go to the Met Soc web site and fill the form for declaration of
>>>a new meteorite.
>>>If the report of the lab says it is paired, the Nom Com will probably
>>>declare an additionnal mass to the already known NWA. And you will not
>>>steal a number to anyone. But you will wait for next July.
>>>It works for non NWA meteorites, I do not see why it could not work for
>>>a NWA meteorite. Are they so different ?
>>
>>
>>I thought the NomCom already adressed this issue when they said that all
>>new masses from nwa need to have a new number. If you could just 'add on'
>>weight as you propose above half of the discussion on the list that has
>>occured recently would be moot
>>
>>
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>
>
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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
Received on Thu 25 Nov 2004 03:36:24 PM PST