[meteorite-list] Oriented Sikote Ailin

From: Mr EMan <mstreman53_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 23:24:16 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <235179.58761.qm_at_web51007.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

Hello E.P--It was more dynamic than a single disruption. If I recall,
there were 14-17(?) or more major explosive disruptions. Each should
have produced a separate swarm of fragments. Be it remembered that ALL
fragments born of these swarms were shrapnel-shaped if but for an
instant before ablation took over to smooth the fragments. Compression
heating and atmospheric drag have always been considered as the major
factors in shaping. In massive, dense, successive, swarms-- it is
very likely that there were nodes where air density dynamics of slowing
and melting broke down or deviated from conventional understanding.

I am not sure if it has ever been modeled but the tell-tale marks such
as impact pits on fresh surfaces offers good evidence that drag along
the swarm fronts didn't retain a homogenious wave front but
disintegrated to a moderate velocity fog of molten metal droplets
through which other swarms had to pass. Some fragments were flying
faster some were flying slower-- posing questions such as:
Did successive swarms act as windshields,or metal fog banks to prior
swarms?
Did the "sheer" SA meteoroid mass, locally overwhelm the atmosphere's
heat content--that is locally did the meteorite max out the conversion
of all the latent heat of the atmosphere within the entry track by the
formation of metallic vapor/fogs? This would affect melting behaviors
which likely biased them to form flow rather than evaporate.

Just what did each swarm look like over time and what did it
incorporate from other swarms?

Did the size of this entry produce molten metallic droplets which
became impact targets for successive swarms which in turn gave rise to
the micro hemispherical impact craters/pits on individual specimens? Or
was it vice versa--Were some specimens hit by molten droplets that
excavated these pits by flash melting?

Someone else fill in the math?

Elton

--- "E.P. Grondine" <epgrondine at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi all -
>
> The oriented Sikote Ailin offered for sale has got me
> to thinking - this impactor had to come in as a
> swarmm, with one main body later air bursting? I
> don't see how a fragment could have oriented after the
> air burst, but perhaps someone out there on the list
> would be generous enough to spend a few minutes to
> enlighten myself and others about this.
>
> good hunting all -
> E.P. Grondine
> Man and Impact in the Americas
>
> (PS - Ruben, I always enjoy viewing your pictures from
> you hunts.)
Received on Wed 05 Mar 2008 02:24:16 AM PST