[meteorite-list] ...Mail or Algeria...

From: Walter Branch <waltbranch_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:31:01 -0400
Message-ID: <02ec01c814fb$3a324920$6101a8c0_at_BranchFamily>

Hi Doug and Everyone,

>but I think the Haviland/Greenburg/Brenham situation >illustrates this fine
>given the community pride there.

This name has confused me for some time. I have seen references to all
three being used to refer to pallasites. I have also seen references to all
three being used to describe an iron (non-pallasite) meteorite.

What is "official."

-Walter Branch
________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: "mexicodoug" <mexicodoug at aol.com>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ...Mail or Algeria...


> Hello, Anne, Greg, List (old message that didn't post properly, sort of a
> 'synonym' superceded by my post to Martin),
>
> Anne, I must disagree. A synonym in biology is "A scientific name of an
> organism or of a taxonomic group that has been superseded by another name
> at the same rank.". While you may be thinking about the non-scientific
> "synonym", or the type of synonym used in botany which leaves room for
> interpretation in classification, I expect the NomCom has a steadfast
> policy.
>
> I don't think it is a good idea to see the 35 synonyms of Campo del Cielo
> including "El Taco" as "accepted" plastered all over collections, eBay, as
> being implied with Oum Dreyga (still wondering, is Serpent-mother a
> translation?). At issue is not whether the meteorite has been called
> Amgala in the past - this obviously is the case or there would be nothing
> to talk about.
>
> Being "accepted" as a synonym to me means nothing more than a confirmation
> that this synonym is scientifically obsolete the way I interpret this, and
> the MetSoc/USGS database is trying to be helpful to insure official
> nomenclature so old names can be properly classified, not to perpetuate
> unofficial (but recognized before the modern science was done) synonyms.
> But I could be wrong as my ... always tells me:-),
>
> In the words of Zelimir referencing Captain Blood (May 11, 2005: Is Amgala
> Official?: excerpted from met-list)
>
> "...Oum Dreyga is just as fine as Juancheng. Hey Marcin, you'll get used
> to it soon. You can talk about Amgala but you should sooner or later
> re-write your labels with the new name, so as to fit the official
> decisions, and remain the serious and reliable dealer you are now. After
> all, be happy thet the Nom Com maintained "Bensour", another name that was
> used everywhere, everytime, before the official classification....
>
> "You are completely right Michael. This is true not only in Botany but
> also in the recent meteorite history. A couple of years ago, I purchesed
> "Turkmenbashi" and "Heze" (names that are still on the original labels).
> Many of us probably still remember that these names now respectively
> correspond to the well (best) known meteorites
> "Kunya Urgensh" and "Juancheng". There should be many other such
> examples, Canon Diablo included"
>
> My thoughts (almost) exactly! Thanks Zelimir.
>
> As to Greg's suggestion, the only bulletin that comes up after I looked,
> as Anne mentioned lists the official name as Oum Dreyga in MB89 and
> mentions in the description, "Fragments have been sold under the names
> Amgala and Gor Lefcah." That is the reference as to why it is a "synonym"
> on line. Simply because fragments of Oum Dreyga have been sold as those
> two names.
>
> Perhaps listing them for sale on eBay as Gor Lefcah (or Amgala) is
> considered "adhering to the highest standards of meteorite identification
> and proper labeling practices," but I amicably disagree. If my
> assumptions are mistaken, and the MetSoc guidelines support this, I will
> proceed to relabel all of my meteorites with the names I like better that
> are synonyms and talk about them as such.
>
> This gets to Greg's interesting comment on whether a meteorite is named
> where it starts being recovered or where most falls when given these
> options. I would think the main mass is the most logical, but these are
> decisions for the NomCom as the competent governing body and probably open
> to comment before publication by interested parties.
>
> It is important to realize that a significant amount of pride comes to
> many towns and villages when a meteorite is named after their population.
> There are many meteorites published in previous bulletins that chose one
> name over another for considerations like Greg's, and this does make some
> people feeling left out, especially when not much else is is on the list
> of attractions. I could mention a long list in less affluent countries,
> but I think the Haviland/Greenburg/Brenham situation illustrates this fine
> given the community pride there.
>
> Best wishes and great health,
> Doug
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Received on Mon 22 Oct 2007 06:31:01 PM PDT