[meteorite-list] "How Do You Know It's A Meteorite"?

From: Mr EMan <mstreman53_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 21:40:27 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <156037.27696.qm_at_web51005.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

I agree Chris. It is when it leaves the common chondrite class that
gets more tricky to do a field examination to identify what should have
lab work.

I follow the philosophy that a field examination should not try to
identify a specimen as a meteorite, so much as try to exclude it. If I
can't exclude it, only then do I suggest submission to a lab.

So far I have a near perfect 99% exclusion rate...(sigh) But some of
those came very close!

Elton

--- Chris Peterson <clp at alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:

> > My answer is very simple - "we don't know until a reputable lab
> says so".
>
> I think that's a little extreme. There are certainly questionable
> meteorites that need expert analysis, but most meteorites can be
> identified as such with essentially 100% certainty by nearly anybody
> with some experience in meteoritics, by simple physical examination
> alone.
>
> Chris
Received on Tue 08 Apr 2008 12:40:27 AM PDT