[meteorite-list] New Iron (Ataxite) SHRAPNEL

From: Steve Schoner <schoner_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:57:13 GMT
Message-ID: <20100623.125713.6316.0_at_webmail11.dca.untd.com>

Right, I remember something about that. There was another where a guy dug up a live artillery round near Needles I think.

But in North Africa, and North West Africa... I for one would be very cautious about digging up something that is found by a metal detector. All of Nothern Africa was involved in major WWII conflict.

Here are some of the conflicts fought in North Africa:

* Battles of Fort Capuzzo, - June, 1940 - November, 1942
* Italian conquest of British Somaliland, - August, 1940
* Operation Compass, December, 1940 - February, 1941
* Battle of Keren, February, 1941 - April, 1941
* Siege of Tobruk, April - November, 1941
       * Operation Brevity, May, 1941
       * Operation Skorpion, May, 1941
       * Operation Battleaxe, June, 1941
* Battle of Gondar, November, 1941
       * Operation Crusader, November - December, 1941
* Battle of Gazala, May - June, 1942
* Battle of Bir Hakeim, May - June, 1942
* First Battle of El Alamein, July, 1942
* Second Battle of El Alamein, October - November, 1942
       * Operation Torch, November, 1942
       * Operation Terminal
* Tunisia Campaign, November, 1942 - May, 1943
       *Battle of the Kasserine Pass
       *Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
       *Battle of Medenine
       *Operation Pugilist
       * Battle of El Guettar
       *Operation Vulcan

Anywhere near these battlefields with a metal detector is asking for instant death.

And lastly I have seen the photos of this ataxite, and that it is, no doubt. The inclusions tell all. But if anyone searches with a metal detector in North Africa... Do so with caution. And if you carefully dig up something that is roundish, tubular, or with a fuze... Back off...

Steve
www.petroslides.com
IMCA #4470




Message: 11
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:30:41 -0700
From: John Gwilliam <jkg2 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] New Iron (Ataxite) SHRAPNEL
To: "Steve Schoner" <schoner at mybluelight.com>,
        meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Message-ID:
        <20100623142848.CTJX20564.fed1rmmtao105.cox.net at fed1rmimpo02.cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Hello List,
Good point Steve.
This post reminded me of something that happened here in Arizona
several years back. A new and enthusiastic meteorite hunter contacted
me about a handful of iron fragments he had found in Yavapai County
and thought (hoped) they might be meteorites. I sanded, polished and
etched, or attempted to etch, one of the larger piece. When the
etchant was applied, the polished surface turned blue. Odd. With
the finders permission, the specimen was taken to ASU for more
definitive testing. Components turned up that are not present in
meteorites but were strikingly similar to industrial steel. Further
research by the finder determined that a large steel boiler had
exploded in the area back when mining was active in the area.
The hunter learned some valuable lessons about researching areas you
might be hunting in and that scientific study is imperative.



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Received on Wed 23 Jun 2010 02:57:13 PM PDT