[meteorite-list] New Meteorites Discovered in Australia

From: David Weir <dgweir_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jul 13 16:20:28 2006
Message-ID: <44B6A95A.8040807_at_earthlink.net>

Adam wrote:

Don't forget that NWA 3151 is definitely a Brachinite. All data was
submitted including the O-isotope results to the Meteoritical Society,
peer reviewed and then voted on making it official. I checked with Dr.
Irving again and he said that nowhere did he state that the NWA 3151
classification status has changed or is likely to change.

Take Care,
----------------------------------
Hello Adam,

You're correct that Drs. Irving and Rumble didn't say that NWA 3151 is
not a brachinite in their new abstract (#5288). What they did argue was
that NWA 3151 is isotopically and petrologically similar to NWA 595 and
NWA 4042, and that these three Saharan stones are not isotopically
identical to Brachina. That said, it means that if NWA 3151 is indeed a
true brachinite, then it follows that NWA 595 is the first true
brachinite from the Sahara, in contrast to your advertising slogan for
NWA 3151. Additionally, in their concluding statement, they suggested
that "if all these specimens (including Brachina) derive from the same
parent body, then it must be isotopically quite heterogeneous." (did you
read that "if"?) From their data and discussion I feel that they are
leaving the door open for a separate parent body for these Saharan
brachinites distinct from Brachina. Their own data reveal a disparity in
O-isotopes between Brachina and the rest of the Saharan brachinites,
which is consistent with a separate parent body, just as it is
consistent with a heterogeneous common parent body. I hope the former
wins the day so I can add another new group to my collection
(eventually). Thanks again Adam for the potential new group member
(although I already do have NWA 595 and 4042).

Adam, I would appreciate you telling me how I haven't understood this
abstract correctly, or you can pass this post on to your close friend
Dr. Irving and maybe he can tell me what I have misunderstood. I'm
always open for learning and I make corrections almost as often as I get
something right. However, I thought I was getting pretty good at it
after 12 years.

David (B.S. in Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture)
Received on Thu 13 Jul 2006 04:13:14 PM PDT