[meteorite-list] Claimed pairings

From: Richard Kowalski <damoclid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:46:12 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <265503.87101.qm_at_web113606.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>

Not being a professional meteoriticist, I would assume that any meteorite claimed to be paired with another needs to be studied by qualified scientists. From what I understand it is always preferable to have the scientist who did the original classification to study any meteorites submitted for possible pairing because they are 1, familiar with the material, 2, have material used for the original classification on hand for comparison and 3, are able to use the same instruments used for the original classification for any additional material being submitted.

After the material has been studied and found to be paired,I would imaging that there is some peer reviewed process to announce the pairing, is there not?

We've seen with Alamhata Sitta that you can have very different classifications from the same fall and because of this extensive studies needed to be made to confirm that the stone were from the same fall, even though they were all found in the same area.

It also seems to me that anyone claiming a pairing has the responsibility to provide samples for testing and is also responsible for all costs associated with this testing. The onerous of proof goes to the person claiming they have paired material. Until this scientific proof, that can and is peer reviewed for validity of the procedures used to determine the said pairing, any and all claims of a pairing should be rejected outright and in their entirety.

--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA #1081
      

Received on Thu 17 Jun 2010 06:46:12 PM PDT