[meteorite-list] Rosetta Stone Analogy

From: Norbert Classen <trifid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 23:41:22 +0200
Message-ID: <000701c7a627$ef387b20$2002a8c0_at_lunatic>

Hi Peter, Adam, and All,

Adam is correct: I used this term to describe the 81g main mass of lunar
meteorite Dhofar 908 since March 2003 for its three distinct lithologies
which linked the various finds Dhofar 302, 303, 305, 306, 307, 309, 310,
311, 730, 731, and 489 together - most of them representing just one of
three lithologies, making it difficult to establish clear pairing
relationships among the distinct finds. That's what the original "Rosetta
stone" was all about, linking different languages to each other and allowing
scientists to arrive at a deeper understanding and a broader view...

Baker, Bizzaro et. al. used this term for angrite SAH99555, but not prior to
August 2005 to the best of my knowledge (SAH99555 was found in 1999, but the
paper in question wasn't published that "many years" ago - it was published
in late 2005). So I did beat them to the analogy for at least two years, but
I don't mind. An analogy is just another way to describe a certain property
of a given object, and at least in my eyes the "Rosetta stone" analogy fits
as well for Dhofar 908 and its distinct lithologies linking previous finds
to each other as for SAH99555 and its distinct "isotopic clocks" (both
analogous to the distinct writing systems that have been found on the
original Stone of Rosette).

In any case, I have been plagiarizing noone when using that term to describe
Dhofar 908, and its properties/lithologies... And neither did Adam.

Hope this sheds some light on this issue.

Lunatic Regards,
Norbert

PS: To me Dhofar 908 isn't just "a bit special meteorite" because it is a
rather unique lunar, and because it has three telling lithologies - it was
my very first meteorite find. So don't throw beer cans at it unless you want
to get me upset ,-) Who's that SAH99555, anyway ;-??

-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----

Hi Peter and List,

I am going with what Norbert Classen had to say about
this being the "Rosetta Stone". I believe he is the
one who coined the term for this single stone. As far
as I know, it is the only stone in the Dhofar series
that has two lithologies possible tying two pairing
sets together. I think the term Rosetta is fitting in
this regards.

All the best,

Adam
 
--- Peter Marmet <p.marmet at mysunrise.ch> wrote:

> Dhofar 908...Rosetta stone?
>
> For many years that expression was used for NWA
> 99555:
>
> A very important new paper on our angrite SAH99555
> (Sahara 99555, a
> 2710g single stone with black fusion crust found by
> our team in May
> 1999) was published in the last issue of the
> scientific journal
> Nature. In the words of co-authors Joel Baker,
> Director of Geology
> School of Earth Sciences, University of Wellington,
> NEW ZEALAND, and
> Martin Bizarro, Leader, MC-ICP-MS Laboratory,
> University of
> Copenhagen, DENMARK : ?Your angrite meteorite find
> SAH9955 is now the
> oldest absolutely dated igneous rock in the Solar
> System, has clear
> evidence for the former presence of short-lived 26Al
> in it (which
> caused planetesimal melting), and very likely will
> become the
> "Rosetta Stone" for early Solar System
> chronology?...
>
> Will every a bit special meteorite be nicknamed
> "Rosetta Stone" now?
>
> To my knowledge Dhofar 908 is paired with Dhofar
> 302, 303, 305, 306,
> 307, 309, 310, 311, 730, 731, 489, 908, 909, 911,
> 950, and 1085...
> It seems that Dho 908 has something that all those
> others do not
> have. This is very interesting and I'd be very
> pleased to know more
> about that phenomenon.
> Thank you!
>
> Peter
Received on Sun 03 Jun 2007 05:41:22 PM PDT