[meteorite-list] Indiana Students Learn Meteor 'Rights' and Meteor 'Wrongs'

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:41:35 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200702282041.MAA15214_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://media.www.indianastatesman.com/media/storage/paper929/news/2007/02/28/Campus/Students.Learn.Meteor.rights.And.Meteor.wrongs-2747211.shtml

Students learn meteor 'rights' and meteor 'wrongs'
By Evan Miller
Indiana Stateman
February 28, 2007

Before the launch of Sputnik in 1957, scientists had to rely on "the
poor man's space probe" to gather information about conditions in outer
space.

Humans have observed these "space probes," better known as meteorites,
since ancient times.

Indiana is no exception. Meteorites have been recovered everywhere from
LaPorte to Harrison County.

"Until just a few years ago, we had no samples of anything outside the
earth other than meteorites," said Nelson R. Shaffer Ph.D.

Shaffer, of the Indiana Geological Survey, came to ISU Monday to explain
these meteorites and their effects on the planet. The event, which was
sponsored by the Department of Geology, Geography, and Anthropology,
examined meteorites in Indiana. People continued to gather around the
door to get a closer look at his display cases and slides of meteorites.
He presented pictures of several different meteorite types, as well as a
map of those recovered in Indiana. Shaffer explained what to look for to
identify a meteorite.

"Look for a thin dark coating. It can be glassy or dull," he said.
"They're usually heavy because they're made of metal."

Shaffer is the Section Head of Coal and Industrial Minerals with the
Indiana Geological Survey and is an expert in mineralogy and meteorites.
He stated that of the 1,000 or so documented meteorite falls, more than
90 percent are stones while 5-6 percent are iron.

"We get a lot of meteor-wrongs as well," he joked.

Many people bring in strange rocks that they think may be meteorites in
hopes of striking it rich. Meteorite burglary is a lucrative crime with
some meteorites selling for millions of dollars, Shaffer said.

Shaffer also explained several incidents of meteorites hitting cars,
houses and even people. He brought handouts describing all 11 of the
meteorite falls or finds in Indiana.

A person might witness a meteorite fall, but meteorite finds are found
by accident much later. Shaffer even displayed a tiny piece of Mars in
his collection of space debris.

"I just like meteorites" he said, with a smile.

Shaffer stayed long after the presentation was over to answer questions
from curious students and to display his collection.
For more informaion on meteorite activity, visit the Indiana Geological
Survey Website at http://igs.indiana.edu/.
Received on Wed 28 Feb 2007 03:41:35 PM PST