[meteorite-list] Opinion - Purple in a Meteorite

From: Pete Pete <rsvp321_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Sep 30 00:01:35 2005
Message-ID: <BAY104-F36787A416B9CF2B642B5E5F88F0_at_phx.gbl>

Hello, all,

I've mentioned before that my interest in meteorites is new, and have just
started collecting.

I've enjoyed buying quantities of (very affordable) Unclassified NWA's from
some fellow list members, then cutting, polishing, and spending hours
looking at them through my recently acquired stereoscope microscope. A whole
new appreciation for chondrules when they're in 3-D!

Getting to the point; one stone I recently cut, and polished down to a 400
grit wet sand cloth, then examined through the microscope, revealed that one
metallic area (troilite?) has a cavity, and in the cavity is a very vibrant
purple to navy blue substance.

http://pskills.onfinite.com/album/185698/628054/

http://pskills.onfinite.com/album/185698/628055/

The only information I've turned up on the internet thus far indicates that
sodium chloride in meteorites is purple and blue, but it's been found just
in the matrix.

Is it more likely that this substance is some type of oxide that formed in a
manner similar to a geode?
I can't imagine salt forming or surviving inside a metallic area like this.

I have some more close-up pics in hi-res , if required.


Cheers,
Pete
Received on Fri 30 Sep 2005 12:01:31 AM PDT