[meteorite-list] FW: Additional report on the Tamdakht meteoritefall - correction

From: Dave Gheesling <dave_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:35:27 -0500
Message-ID: <536E64A7E7C34A07B642FEF1C4A8D2EB_at_meteorroom>

Super, Svend. Vielen Dank!
Dave
www.fallingrocks.com

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of
Meteorite-Recon.com
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:37 AM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] FW: Additional report on the Tamdakht
meteoritefall - correction

sorry, wrong link, it should have read like this:

http://www.meteorite-recon.com/en/meteorite%20tamdaght%201.htm

Svend



----------------

Good Morning everybody,
 
After reading through the various posts on the subject, private
correspondence, media reports, field photos, coordinates and information
streaming in from Morocco, I personally have arrived at the conclusion that
Tamdakht is a meteorite fall, which is much better documented than similar
events of the past. I appreciate the work the Morrocan enthusiasts, hunters
and dealers have accomplished. Particularly as they were able to locate the
fall site before the heavy rains in mid January.
 
Philippe Thomas was already so kind to share information on his website and
I think he did a great job in giving an accurate picture. I too had the
fortune to receive 1st hand reports from the field from our Moroccan friends
and I have compiled these in the report published here:
 
http://www.meteorite-recon.com/en/meteorite%20tamdaght%202.htm
 
The report also contains the English translation of the article in "Al
Masah"
from December 28. Note that the article speaks of a similar fireball
sighting in Tunesia from December 18. The Tunesian fireball also produced
seismic shock waves. This may become interesting should fresh finds from
Tunesia become public in the near future.
 
I may add a few personal thoughts on issues discussed here on the list,
regarding the Tamdakht fall and its recovery:
 
"the impact was heard"
 
Several witnesses, including those interviewd by the newspaper "Al Masah"
stated that a "seismic shock wave was heard and the ground was shaking at
the "collision of the celestial body with a mountain." At that time the
location of the potential touchdown was still unknown. It is most probable
that eye witnesses, unfamiliar with meteoritic phenomena, presumed that such
sounds could only be caused by an explosion due to an impact. Anybody who
has ever done an interview with an eyewitness of a meteorite fall will
recognize this assumption as it is quite common.
 
"the crater vs. impact pit issue"
 
There has been some confusion regarding field images from the Tamdakht area.
It is very common to hear "pit" or "hole" translated as "crater". We had
that with the Hosur fall and the Bassikounou fall, where eye witnesses and
official sources reported "craters" that were in fact an impact pits, or
impact holes.
This is particularly an issue when reports in Arab or French are translated
into English, but there are probably a number of other languages that do not
provide capability to distinguish between both terms precisely.
 
"chondrules vs no chondrules"
 
Anyone who had the chance to study material of the Tamdakht fall will agree
that the material differs enough from the known Mahgreb falls to distinguish
it from other material circulating. Most fractured surfaces show chondrules,
although they are usually small (1-2mm) and are quite fading with the
surrounding matrix. Some fractured surfaces show slickensides on which there
are no chondrules to see, which explains the comment of a honored list
member, who did not find chondrules on the fractured surfaces of his
specimen. Any larger polished cut surface will show well defined chondrules
in good contrast.

 
We will continue the report on our website with additional informatio and I
am looking forward to hear impressions on the new material from Tucson.
 
Thanks for your interest
 
Svend
 
 
 
www.meteorite-recon.com
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Received on Sun 01 Feb 2009 10:35:27 PM PST