[meteorite-list] Nickel and Iron Meteorites

From: abudka at nycap.rr.com <abudka_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:17:57 -0500
Message-ID: <20100210151757.19P3Y.505600.root_at_cdptpa-web07-z01>

In ?Meteorite Men? episode 3, ?Tucson Ring Mystery, Southern Arizona,? Steve and Geoff have 5 small potential nickel-iron meteorites analyzed. Nickel is not found in 4 specimens and they are tagged ?meteor wrongs.? The presence of nickel is found in the 5th specimen. Therefore, it is a ?meteor right.?

Which got me to thinking: Are nickel-less iron meteorites possible?

Many texts cite 5 weight percent nickel as the lower limit in iron meteorites. Among other properties, nickel contributes corrosion resistance to terrestrial iron materials ? and to iron meteorites. Perhaps iron meteorites HAVE arrived with less nickel, but due to terrestrial oxidation, are now piles of rust (hematite, magnetite). How would we know?

Timely and thorough analysis of at least two fresh nickel-iron falls would help to answer this question.

And, yes, Steve and Geoff, I held my breath as the result of each analysis was announced.

Phyllis Budka
meteormetals.com
Received on Wed 10 Feb 2010 10:17:57 AM PST