[meteorite-list] Cali chondrite fell extremely cold!

From: Mr EMan <mstreman53_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 20:30:08 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <804289.41323.qm_at_web51012.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

If memory serves--One on the Martian stones was
analyzed for its magnetic orientation and the reset of
its magnetic field post fall and was found to never
have reached 140?F deeper than 3-5 mm, indicating very
little heat transfer to the interior and only a
shallow intrusion.

During the ablation phase, heat is carried off much
like evaporative cooling is carrying off heat from
swamp coolers. Stones have a very low thermal
transfer coefficient. Irons et.al. have have high
thermal transfer coefficent as well as an ample heat
storage capacity. Given both start from a deep freeze
(no pun) it is amazing they warm up at all.

Other creditable reports mention irons as "too hot to
comfortably hold". In my mind this supports that the
thermal transfer coefficent is the key factor and that
stones will be cold and irons will be warm immediately
after landing. I don't think the atmospheric chilling
plays as much a roll as does the meteoriod's ability
to store heat in during the ablation phase. Which is
again poor for stones and high for irons.

This comes close to settling the hot vs cold debate,
in my mind.

Elton
Received on Sat 28 Jul 2007 11:30:08 PM PDT