[meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was Meteorites &Competition)

From: Martin Altmann <altmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:46:37 +0100
Message-ID: <002801ca666f$6720db50$07b22959_at_name86d88d87e2>

Well,

maybe we should compile a list of already existing books, which are a good read for newbies and oldbies first, before we write a new one?

(uuuh such a comprehensive "handbook" of meteorites&collecting&peparation, Mark suggested, I fear, will be in the end such a thick volume, that most newbies wouldn't be able to afford it....)

Martin



PS: Still wondering which "groups" and which horrible incidents you & other were alluding to.. I mean, it's somewhat difficult to discuss a problem, if we don't know, whether such a problem does exist at all...

-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Meteorites USA
Gesendet: Montag, 16. November 2009 04:05
An: Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Cc: Mark Bowling; meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was Meteorites &Competition)

All this talk about a guide to meteorites for newbies makes it sound
like the perfect venue would be the Meteorite Wiki. www.meteoritewiki.com

Seems pretty simple to me. Everyone that would like to know anything
about meteorites could learn it there.

A book, is so, well... Old school... ;) (just kidding)

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA

P.S. I know I'll probably get some brash emails on that one... ;)





Galactic Stone & Ironworks wrote:
> Hi Mark and List,
>
> Such a book sounds like a great idea. A bunch of that info is located
> in the online Meteorite Times archives. There are several old
> articles by Jim Tobin that cover some of these lapidary type topics.
>
> But having all of those, and more like them, in one book would be nice.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MikeG
>
> On 11/15/09, Mark Bowling <minador at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Dennis and List,
>>
>> I would like to check out that new book (published by the "gals"?). I'm
>> sure I'll get the chance at this years show.
>>
>> The other books I am familiar with (except maybe the one Anne mentioned).
>> But none of these focus on the lapidary side of meteorites, the practical
>> steps involved.
>>
>> I hope I wasn't clear about that when I mentioned possible "filler" material
>> for the book (like cataloging, classifications, etc.). Such material is
>> probably not appropriate for an illustrated guidebook for cutting,
>> polishing, protecting (etc., etc.) the various types of meteorites. But I
>> was just trying to throw out additional ideas.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Mark
>>
>> --- On Sun, 11/15/09, Dennis Miller <astroroks at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> From: Dennis Miller <astroroks at hotmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was Meteorites &
>>> Competition)
>>> To: impactika at aol.com, meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>> Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 12:40 PM
>>>
>>> Como esta? Anne and List Richard's book
>>> will always be a standard.
>>> I recently bought Caroline Smith, Sara Russell and Gretchen
>>> Benedix's
>>> new book "Meteorites". These gals "Drs" put together a
>>> great book for
>>> those with the slightest interest in meteorites. It's basic
>>> and
>>> very easy to read. Loads of great pictures too. I also like
>>> Kevin Kichinka's
>>> "The Art of Collecting Meteorites". Now, if you
>>> aren't a "Newbie" you
>>> will love McSween's "Meteorites and Their Parent Planets".
>>> I use my copy
>>> to fill up the shelf! But, what a Great Hobby, no matter
>>> what some say.
>>> Have A Great Day! Sorry Anne but, Think
>>> Snow!!!
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------
>>>
>>>> From: Impactika at aol.com
>>>> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:45:39 -0500
>>>> To: minador at yahoo.com;
>>>>
>>> meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>
>>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was
>>>>
>>> Meteorites & Competition)
>>>
>>>> Hello Mark and List,
>>>>
>>>> There is already a book that answers a lot of your
>>>>
>>> questions, not all of
>>>
>>>> them, but quite a few. It is the Handbook of
>>>>
>>> Meteorites by O. Richard Norton.
>>>
>>>> I certainly would recommend getting it.
>>>>
>>>> Also I would like to add one thing to the discussion
>>>>
>>> about helping new
>>>
>>>> meteorite enthusiasts; It is not because you did not
>>>>
>>> see a response on the List
>>>
>>>> that no help of response was sent. It is often a whole
>>>>
>>> lot better to email
>>>
>>>> that person privately to ask for additional details to
>>>>
>>> narrow down the
>>>
>>>> problem, or simply to protect that person from some
>>>>
>>> public embarassement. I know I
>>>
>>>> probably write 50 private emails for every one posted
>>>>
>>> here.
>>>
>>>> And then we are not all always glued to our computer
>>>>
>>> (believe it or not!!),
>>>
>>>> personally I have a book (about meteorites of course)
>>>>
>>> to translate as
>>>
>>>> quickly as possible so it will be available in
>>>>
>>> Tucson.
>>>
>>>> And Norbert Classen and I have the dubious honor of
>>>>
>>> having to answer every
>>>
>>>> question that comes in on the IMCA questions email
>>>>
>>> address. Also time
>>>
>>>> consuming.
>>>>
>>>> And right now I have a whole lot of snow to shovel!!!
>>>> Have a nice day.
>>>>
>>>> Anne M. Black
>>>> _http://www.impactika.com/_ (http://www.impactika.com/)
>>>> _IMPACTIKA at aol.com_
>>>>
>>> (mailto:IMPACTIKA at aol.com)
>>>
>>>> Vice-President, I.M.C.A. Inc.
>>>> _http://www.imca.cc/_ (http://www.imca.cc/)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In a message dated 11/15/2009 8:30:51 AM Mountain
>>>>
>>> Standard Time,
>>>
>>>> minador at yahoo.com
>>>>
>>> writes:
>>>
>>>> Dear List,
>>>>
>>>> I think Adam has some great points. I think people
>>>>
>>> forget how rare these
>>>
>>>> things are. Prices often don't reflect that.
>>>>
>>>> I think people are more likely to give advice when a
>>>>
>>> "newbie" asks
>>>
>>>> something like, I've ruined several slices trying to
>>>>
>>> do such & such, I've tried A
>>>
>>>> and B, what else should I do. it shows that they're
>>>>
>>> paying their dues, but
>>>
>>>> need a little advice which they can probably absorb
>>>>
>>> quickly, saving an
>>>
>>>> "expert's" time. The sad thing is that a few
>>>>
>>> slices/specimens have been ruined
>>>
>>>> (maybe from "cheap, common NWA" material, but very
>>>>
>>> rare, finite material
>>>
>>>> nonetheless).
>>>>
>>>> How do you balance the protection of trade secrets and
>>>>
>>> your business vs.
>>>
>>>> the ideal of preserving this wonderful material? I
>>>>
>>> suppose there are
>>>
>>>> techniques which are common in parallel fields like
>>>>
>>> lapidary, which one can assume
>>>
>>>> they'll figure it out the hard way (both hard on their
>>>>
>>> time/wallet but also
>>>
>>>> hard on meteorites). I would say one should be
>>>>
>>> somewhat eager to help in
>>>
>>>> that case, since keeping quiet won't deter them but
>>>>
>>> only make possible the
>>>
>>>> damage of more specimens. However, offering help takes
>>>>
>>> precious time, busy
>>>
>>>> people lack.
>>>>
>>>> What about the possibility of a guidebook highlighting
>>>>
>>> some of these
>>>
>>>> "common" things? The first person(s) with the ability
>>>>
>>> to write said tome could
>>>
>>>> profit from the book sales, and many novices would
>>>>
>>> benefit from the tips.
>>>
>>>> Sensitive trade secrets could be mentioned by name and
>>>>
>>> the disclaimer given
>>>
>>>> that you will have to experiment at the peril of your
>>>>
>>> collection and finances -
>>>
>>>> or maybe find a willing mentor.
>>>>
>>>> The book would have to be relatively comprehensive -
>>>>
>>> covering the common
>>>
>>>> things which can be found in a lapidary book, but from
>>>>
>>> a meteorite point of
>>>
>>>> view (there might be possibility of tips like "it's
>>>>
>>> wise to practice this
>>>
>>>> technique using sandstone(?) because it approximates
>>>>
>>> XYZ meteorites very well,
>>>
>>>> and you can rest assured that your learning curve
>>>>
>>> isn't busting the bank").
>>>
>>>> And it would also cover the meteorites specific topics
>>>>
>>> like chemicals/oils
>>>
>>>> to avoid, etc. Maybe some explanations of the
>>>>
>>> different textures you will
>>>
>>>> encounter in meteorites. Maybe a section on thin
>>>>
>>> sections, epoxy plugs, and ?
>>>
>>>> There might be room for general things like an
>>>>
>>> explanation meteorite
>>>
>>>> classifications, collecting strategies, strategies for
>>>>
>>> documenting a collection of
>>>
>>>> specimens, a list of common vendors, etc. There are
>>>>
>>> lots of interesting,
>>>
>>>> useful things that could be added that I can't
>>>>
>>> imagine. Of course, you would
>>>
>>>> have to have environmental, health and safety concerns
>>>>
>>> highlighted and
>>>
>>>> repeated throughout the book!
>>>>
>>>> I know this may sound a little out in left field, but
>>>>
>>> it would help with
>>>
>>>> the overall conservation of specimens and/or reduce
>>>>
>>> poor, albeit, harmless
>>>
>>>> results (as well as be an opportunity to make some
>>>>
>>> money). Could it result in
>>>
>>>> increased completion? Probably so, but those rushing
>>>>
>>> head long into the
>>>
>>>> wilderness probably can't be stopped anyway. And those
>>>>
>>> who are inspired by the
>>>
>>>> book may take a stab at it, but realize it's
>>>>
>>> expensive, hard work and go
>>>
>>>> back to only buying/trading/collecting. This book may
>>>>
>>> exist, but I don't
>>>
>>>> think so. I can think of a few books which explain
>>>>
>>> etching and nickel testing,
>>>
>>>> but I can't think of anything which comprehensively
>>>>
>>> covers the preservation
>>>
>>>> and preparation of meteorite specimens.
>>>>
>>>> Personally, I will always choose to buy from a handful
>>>>
>>> of dealers held in
>>>
>>>> high regard, who have invaluable reputations to
>>>>
>>> protect (or middlemen I trust
>>>
>>>> as friends I can trust). And some field hunters I
>>>>
>>> know. I've decided to
>>>
>>>> avoid attractive specimens of questionable pedigree,
>>>>
>>> unless I'm willing to
>>>
>>>> make the often expensive choice to advertise them as
>>>>
>>> "believed to be XYZ
>>>
>>>> specimen". So this book would not cause the big
>>>>
>>> dealers to lose my (rare)
>>>
>>>> business. When a "newbie" asks a question, you can
>>>>
>>> point them to the "Bible".
>>>
>>>> So what do you guys think? Crazy? Brilliant? (Someone
>>>>
>>> with too much time
>>>
>>>> on his hands tonight?) Is this an issue that's already
>>>>
>>> on the IMCA "to-do"
>>>
>>>> list? Is this not commercially viable?
>>>>
>>>> (Cricket chirping????) ;-)
>>>>
>>>> Clear skies,
>>>> Mark
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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Received on Sun 15 Nov 2009 10:46:37 PM PST