[meteorite-list] Rock testing...best place

From: Barry Hughes <bhughes_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:01:08 -0400
Message-ID: <AANLkTikjLYRtVZwUR5KjqRCx6aGnsF0T0ft8dSZW-5Ej_at_mail.gmail.com>

That is one hell of an offer, I'll take you up on that. I'll even
give you a piece if it isn't...:) I don't expect much, I believe you
guys.. but crazy isn't a choice....Barry

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 8:50 PM, <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi, I will have your stone tested for free. I have had several classified and have seen your posts qnd can appreciate your passion.
>
> While I want to let you know its my opinion that is it not a meteorite, I will offer to have it tested for you so you can have it done and know for sure what it is.
>
> If it does turn out to be a meteorite, all I would ask is a small sample of your choice to go into my collection and the college that will do the testing.
>
> Greg
>
> Sent on the Sprint? Now Network from my BlackBerry?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barry Hughes <bhughes at sneezy.com>
> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:28:08
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Rock testing...best place
>
> Hi, Jason,
> I kind of wish the curator at Ohio State had told me it was a creek
> rock sometimes. ?I guess I just can't throw it out back and forget it.
> ?How sure do I have to be to get it tested?..1%, I don't think I have
> to be sure at all? ?If the only guy that I had personally look at it
> with an eye scope thing, had not told me to get it checked, maybe I
> could live with not getting it checked... ? I'm not going to be
> disappointed if it isn't, I think it will be relief..:).The money will
> be well spent.
> Thanks,
> Barry
>
> ps. ?I'm kinda amazed how upset some people get with this..I'm sure
> there are people out there that would be eager to take my money and
> analyze a driveway stone...:)
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 5:40 PM, Jason Utas <meteoritekid at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hello Barry,
>>
>> The trouble with finding a lunar or martian meteorite is the
>> following: terrestrial rocks have undergone certain processes that
>> make them look a certain way; whether they're igneous, metamorphic, or
>> sedimentary rocks, they're pretty distinctive when compared to most
>> meteorites.
>>
>> But achondrites can confuse things because they oftentimes come from
>> larger planetismals where the rocks have undergone similar processes -
>> this is especially true with lunar and martian meteorites, because
>> both bodies had active volcanism that led to the formation of rocks
>> that closely resemble terrestrial rocks - especially basalts, since
>> those are common rocks on earth, as well as the moon and mars.
>> Your stone does look like a basalt, there's no doubt about it. ?But as
>> to whether or not it's a lunar - you're going to need to get it tested
>> at a lab.
>>
>> Just...don't get your hopes up. ?There are more terrestrial basalts
>> from earth on earth than there are pieces of lunar basalt on earth.
>> The odds that you've found a piece of the moon...one in a million.
>> Well, smaller.
>>
>> But I can't tell you it's not a lunar meteorite just by looking at it.
>> ?No one on earth would be able to distinguish a visible difference
>> between a typical lunar or terrestrial basalt unless it possessed
>> obvious impact features (your sample doesn't; "stress" cracks in
>> meteorites are actually extremely rare, and if what you do have is
>> indeed a meteorite, you're almost undoubtedly looking at a crack that
>> formed due to weathering, not impact or atmospheric entry stresses).
>>
>> So best of luck. ?That would be a pretty lunar, if it is one.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jason
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Barry Hughes <bhughes at sneezy.com> wrote:
>>> That doesn't read well...I do thank you for your post. ?I'm learning
>>>> the politics of meteorite hunting....
>>>> Barry
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 5:01 PM, Barry Hughes <bhughes at sneezy.com> wrote:
>>>> Thanks for your reply, Carl or Debbie..:)
>>>> There are black patches, it doesn't take pictures well...and there is
>>>> a large stress crack in the middle, hard to see in the picture, but to
>>>> tell the truth, I really didn't want to get into..is this a meteorite
>>>> or not...
>>>> I got my question answered and I thank you for your response..
>>>> Barry
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:07 PM, ?<cdtucson at cox.net> wrote:
>>>>> Barry,
>>>>> Sorry if this posted twice.
>>>>> You may have a Lunar but, without a really good visible black shiny fusion crust
>>>>> nobody will want to test it.
>>>>> briefly , let me explain why.
>>>>> First of all there is little reason to believe it is anything more than an
>>>>> igneous rock.
>>>>> They are found everywhere. Especially in the western USA. And your rock lacks
>>>>> the exact contents of the pictured rock you are showing it with. Yours lacks the larger crystals.
>>>>> Secondly, it has No fusion crust or even visible shock veins inside. Lacking both of
>>>>> those features gives no reason to believe it was ever in space.
>>>>> If you find someone with access to a scanning electron microprobe they could
>>>>> tell you exactly what it is. That said. Based on certain elemental ratios they
>>>>> could only rule out lunar origin but, they still could not confirm without more testing. Nearly 100 % of all
>>>>> Lunar's must have O-isotopes that match Earth. This is only ever tested for ?on rocks
>>>>> that they already know are Lunar's and largely just for confirmation because
>>>>> every Earth rock is also going to have Earth O-isotopes.
>>>>> So I agree with Phil. Even if it is Lunar, Until there becomes a lab that will
>>>>> check, you are SOL.
>>>>> Ted Bunch is our Lunar expert but, if he won't ?help you then keep looking
>>>>> for other stones that actually look like they have once been in space and forget about this one.
>>>>> Even Mike farmer has been fooled. And trust me. If anybody can tell a Lunar by
>>>>> sight it is Mike. Period. If mike says no. It is a NO.
>>>>> Try sending him a picture but don't mention me. ?He is the
>>>>> best at identifying all meteorites on sight alone.
>>>>> Cutting to the chase here. Lunar Meteorites tend to retain their crusts for a
>>>>> very long time. After all it is glassy and glass is very durable in terms of weathering.
>>>>> So, again . A lack of crust and shock veins means most likely an Earth rock. Sorry. Carl
>>>>> --
>>>>> Carl or Debbie Esparza
>>>>> Meteoritemax
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ---- Barry Hughes <bhughes at sneezy.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I've already taken to the geology dept at Dodd Hall, Ohio State. ?The
>>>>>> guy there said he couldn't tell me it wasn't and to have it checked
>>>>>> out.
>>>>>> I've heard it's not a meteorite several times from several people with
>>>>>> the uncanny ability to tell from a picture, or possibly the odds of it
>>>>>> not being makes it so reassuring to do so.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Barry
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 11:39 AM, JoshuaTreeMuseum
>>>>>> <joshuatreemuseum at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> > Barry,
>>>>>> > I hate to rain on your parade, but this is not a lunar and it's not a
>>>>>> > meteorite. ?You don't have to pay to have it identified, just take it to the
>>>>>> > closest university geology professor, and he'll tell you what it is. ?At
>>>>>> > least once ?a month, someone comes in the museum with their new lunar find.
>>>>>> > After I look at it and see it's not a meteorite, (it never is), I then tell
>>>>>> > them that the chances of them being the first person to ever find a lunar
>>>>>> > meteorite in all of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia is very
>>>>>> > close to zero. ?Whatever the smallest increment above zero is, that's your
>>>>>> > chance of being the first.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > If I'm wrong, you'll be the toast of the international meteorite community,
>>>>>> > as well as being featured on the cover of Nature, National Geographic, Time
>>>>>> > and Newsweek. ?You will also get to meet the President as you present your
>>>>>> > find to the Smithsonian.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Good luck, I could be wrong, but don't get your hopes up.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Phil Whitmer
>>>>>> >______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
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Received on Tue 15 Jun 2010 09:01:08 PM PDT