[meteorite-list] Possible Mars meteorite!

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jan 13 14:04:42 2005
Message-ID: <AF564D2B9D91D411B9FE00508BF1C86904EE6303_at_US-Torrance.mail.saic.com>

What a coup if this find by Opportunity turns out to be a meteorite!
Even if it isn't a meteorite, the rock looks very interesting -- not
least for being all alone in the middle of nowhere.

If it does in fact turn out to be a meteorite, this would make for an
interesting entry in the Meteoritical Bulletin! One problem: no type
specimen submitted. ;-) About all that will be known with extreme
accuracy are the latitude and longitude (albeit Martian latitude and
longitude). Upper and lower bounds on the mass can be estimated from
the dimensions, and after grinding with the RAT and taking some
lose-ups, they should be able to differentiate between iron, chondrite,
achondrite, pallasite, mesosiderite, etc. If chondrules are visible,
they might even be able to make an educated guess between H/L/LL or
carbonaceous.

One question: what do we call a meteorite found on Mars? "Martian
meteorite" is ambiguous... --Rob
Received on Thu 13 Jan 2005 02:00:01 PM PST