[meteorite-list] Just a thought about NWA classification numbers

From: STARSANDSCOPES at aol.com <STARSANDSCOPES_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:18:49 EST
Message-ID: <c12.109ce3c4.33075d99_at_aol.com>

Hi list, Naming meteorites after their fall/find location seems to be
working well. If a new find is made in the location under most circumstances, it
is accepted as being paired to the previously found material. It is quite
different with the numbers assigned to NWA finds.

The total NWA numbers have come to represent not the separate find locations
and thus the different material types but rather, some where between the
total finds and the number of stones collected. NWA 2965/2828/4295 and at least
ten more numbers is a good example. No one knows what is paired with what
any more and to make maters worse, some dealers look at the assigned NWA
number as their private property. If they get let's say 25 kilo out of a 250 kilo
find and have their pile classified, there is resistance to accepting the
other material of the find is even the same. "You go get your own number and
promote it your self" is the line all secondary persons are meet with. It is
my understanding that the assignment of NWA numbers was not developed to
protect individual dealers exclusionary ownership rights.

There is not an adequate system for correction of information on NWA finds.
If I were to have material, seemingly paired to an existing NWA number,
let's say it's distinctive in some way and wanted the weight included under the
already existing number. Labs refuse to retest what is likely just a pairing.

To pair a meteorite by the original classification lab is not as involved as
a new classification. If a lab performed the initial classification, it
should come with an obligation to acknowledge or discount pairing questions.
This would go a long way to help clean up the great NWA stone count.

Tom Phillips
Received on Fri 16 Feb 2007 02:18:49 PM PST