[meteorite-list] Alma College

From: cdtucson at cox.net <*cdtucson_at_meteoritecentral.com*> Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:52:33 -0400 Message-ID: <20100628155233.7O8A3.673180.imail_at_fed1rmwml4201> · cdtucson_at_meteoritecentral.com

--
Carl or Debbie Esparza
Meteoritemax
---- mhutson at pdx.edu wrote: 
> 
> Thank you for the link.  This LPSC abstract reports specifically on  
> the results of experiments on 2 samples of pumice (terrestrial) and an  
> anhydrous basalt.  It states elsewhere that earlier work was done on  
> other material including CM2 meteorites--the only one specified is  
> Murchison.  One of the references refers to experiments on Allende  
> (CV3).  Both of these meteorites were huge falls and there is  
> sufficient material in repositories for this sort of experimentation.  
> Discussion in this abstract regarding other carbonaceous chrondrites  
> refers to non-destructive measurements of porosity.  In fact, the  
> abstract states "But the scarcity of the CI1 and Tagish Lake  
> meteorites has, thus far, precluded impact disruption experiments on  
> these very porous asteroid fragments", which is why they used  
> terrestrial pumice instead.  I will also say that in my experience,  
> experiments on terrestrial analogs do not always give the same results  
> as the same experiments on lunar, martian, or asteroidal material.  
> This is an important area of research.  Should someone spy an incoming  
> asteroid, there is going to be a rush to find out what to do about it.  
>   It is important to have sufficient data to make the correct  
> decision.  Melinda
> 
> 
> Quoting cdtucson at cox.net:
> 
> > Melinda,
> > You might be right except that this article specifically states that  
> > they amazingly are referring to Carbonaceous chondrites
> > when they say Pumice.
> > Ed Majden sent me this link earlier;
> >
> >  www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/1078.pdf
> >
> > It seems to me that there are plenty of Earth rocks that can be used  
> > to simulate these same results. Pumice just to name one that has  
> > even less value than those ugly NWA's. And these tests have and are  
> > being done using Earth rocks as well as man made materials. I saw a  
> > TV show on the Science channel where they were shooting into all  
> > sorts of different things for this exact same reason..
> > Carl
> > --
> > Carl or Debbie Esparza
> > Meteoritemax
> >
> >
> > ---- mhutson at pdx.edu wrote:
> >> Regarding Mr. Madjen's comment:
> >>
> >> "A quote from this article:
> >>
> >> "There are plenty of meteorites available that have little or no
> >> value-------"
> >>
> >> If this is true, why do collectors pay big bucks for them?  I wonder
> >> what they do with the fragments!  Just asking folks!"
> >>
> >> I have been interviewed by the press and seen comments in print that I
> >> swear I never made.  I suspect Dr. Strait was asked some sort of
> >> question about how she could stand to break apart meteorites and she
> >> said something along the lines of there are plenty of meteorites
> >> available that have little or no scientific value and that would be a
> >> true statement.  I've seen thin sections of some heavily weathered
> >> northwest African H5s and L6s that would add little to our scientific
> >> knowledge of chondrites.  Collectors do not pay big bucks for these
> >> meteorites as far as I know.  And as at least one sample was referred
> >> to a pumice-like, it tells me that Dr. Strait was struggling to
> >> explain what she was doing to a reporter that lacked the background
> >> knowledge to actually understand what Dr. Strait was saying.  That
> >> sounds like a rough analogy that one uses to help someone understand
> >> what you are talking about.
> >>
> >> As to what they do with the fragments, I don't know, but I suspect
> >> that at least some are analyzed carefully to see how and why they
> >> spalled off.  That is the point of the experiment -- to understand how
> >> to deal with an asteroid that is approaching Earth--what might work
> >> for a large chunk of metal might be completely useless if the asteroid
> >> is a C3 chondrite.  It  might even make a difference is you look at an
> >> L3 vs. and L6 or a complicated breccia vs. a meteorite that appears
> >> relatively uniform.  Sooner or later we will spot an asteroid heading
> >> straight towards the Earth with sufficient time to act upon that
> >> information.  It would be extremely useful to know what would be the
> >> best way to prevent a catastrophe.
> >>
> >> Melinda Hutson
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> 
> 
>