[meteorite-list] Record Nevada Chondrite Find

From: Matthias Bärmann <majbaermann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 22:15:44 +0100
Message-ID: <8142BA8A44FB420EAC00FC49F9F31CCF_at_thinkcentre>

Egregio Signor Conte,

I surely wouldn't have commented it if you wouldn't have asked for
comments - but, well, I frankly must say, I was sad to read that the
destination of the pyramidal stone was the saw. Even by photo it isn't too
difficult to expect the stone to be a more or less simple chondrite and not
an extremely rare class of meteorite. On the other hand, this is - resp.
was - the biggest meteorite ever found in Nevada, what makes - resp. made -
it quite interesting under a historical point of view. So, in my opinion, it
should have been kept in original whole shape.

My impression, when reading your really wonderful and moving report, was,
that this stone was waiting for you. Some things can't be divided.

But perhaps I'm only what in Germany we call a bloody sentimental ol' sod.

In any case, we have the photos, we have your great text. You've been kind
enough to show your very personal way of approach, and that's most
important, without any doubt. What, at least, matters matter ...

My very best, respectfully -

Matthias


----- Original Message -----
From: <countdeiro at earthlink.net>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 8:46 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Record Nevada Chondrite Find


> Hello List,
> Several Listees overseas, and here in the States, have asked me for
> details on the handling of the record 12.7kg chondrite I stumbled over in
> the Nevada desert last Wednesday, Mar.3rd. while on a hunt with my friend
> and neighbor in Las Vegas, Sonny Clary and his dog, Brix.
> Sonny and I have already taken the specimen to Adam Hupe' in Laughlin,
> Nevada and had it cut in half. Adam is an expert meteoriticist and had the
> only diamond blade large enough to cut the rock.(24") It was barely large
> enough to slice the rock. Yes, this was a difficult decision to make. I
> had agreed to share with Sonny the other piece and kept the choice piece
> for myself. We have an agreement that what we find ..we share equally if
> possible. We took many photos before and during the cutting to document
> the find and it's provenance.
> The meteorite was badly fractured from it's descent and weathering in the
> desert and we spent several hours stabilizing the large cracks in it with
> Paleo Bond before we dared subject it to the saw. We had great difficulty
> blocking and securing the meteorite for cutting. At slow speed on the saw,
> it took almost an hour as we watched nervously. Adam did not want to
> stress the specimen. he did an excellent job. No saw marks. Precision
> equipment. We were lucky that only a few fragments fell out and we
> repaired those.
> Sonny and I are now polishing the respective cut faces. The meteorite
> appears to be a metal poor chondrite.
> After the cut and on cursory first inspection, I saw many good sized
> chondrules 1mm to 4mm and localized scatterings of small blebs of metal
> 1mm+. Adam mentioned that the interior looks remarkably fresh. I will have
> to wait till I finish polishing to see any remarkable clasts, or
> inclusions. Adam guesses that it will come back as an L4/5 chondrite. At
> 12.7kg, it is by far the largest intact chondrite recovered in Nevada...my
> home state. Gross measurements before the cut were 250mm high by 180mm
> wide by 120mm deep.
> My half mounts vertically, as it was found, with the oriented face having
> several nice thumb sized regs and protruberances. The other natural sides
> indicate that perhaps larger pieces broke off during descent
> (slickenslides?).
> As to preparation for display, I will make sure the cracks are completely
> sealed and then remove the excess Paleo Bond with acetone followed by a
> gentle brushing with a hand held stainless steel Dremel to remove only the
> terrestrial accumulations. There appears to be some small areas of primary
> and secondary fusion crust on this forward facing side. It is hard to tell
> the difference, except under magnification, from the desert patination.
> What is attractive about this half is that the peak of the rock is
> prominent and the line of demarcation from what was buried shows how
> little of the meteorite was protruding out of the regolith.... like a
> small shark fin, or iceberg.
>
> I welcome any comments as to my decision on how to handle this record
> find...my first meteorite. To see the find go to Nevada Meteorites.com.
> Click on Hunts...scroll down.
>
> Count Deiro
> IMCA 3536
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list

----- Original Message -----
From: <countdeiro at earthlink.net>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 8:46 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Record Nevada Chondrite Find


> Hello List,
> Several Listees overseas, and here in the States, have asked me for
> details on the handling of the record 12.7kg chondrite I stumbled over in
> the Nevada desert last Wednesday, Mar.3rd. while on a hunt with my friend
> and neighbor in Las Vegas, Sonny Clary and his dog, Brix.
> Sonny and I have already taken the specimen to Adam Hupe' in Laughlin,
> Nevada and had it cut in half. Adam is an expert meteoriticist and had the
> only diamond blade large enough to cut the rock.(24") It was barely large
> enough to slice the rock. Yes, this was a difficult decision to make. I
> had agreed to share with Sonny the other piece and kept the choice piece
> for myself. We have an agreement that what we find ..we share equally if
> possible. We took many photos before and during the cutting to document
> the find and it's provenance.
> The meteorite was badly fractured from it's descent and weathering in the
> desert and we spent several hours stabilizing the large cracks in it with
> Paleo Bond before we dared subject it to the saw. We had great difficulty
> blocking and securing the meteorite for cutting. At slow speed on the saw,
> it took almost an hour as we watched nervously. Adam did not want to
> stress the specimen. he did an excellent job. No saw marks. Precision
> equipment. We were lucky that only a few fragments fell out and we
> repaired those.
> Sonny and I are now polishing the respective cut faces. The meteorite
> appears to be a metal poor chondrite.
> After the cut and on cursory first inspection, I saw many good sized
> chondrules 1mm to 4mm and localized scatterings of small blebs of metal
> 1mm+. Adam mentioned that the interior looks remarkably fresh. I will have
> to wait till I finish polishing to see any remarkable clasts, or
> inclusions. Adam guesses that it will come back as an L4/5 chondrite. At
> 12.7kg, it is by far the largest intact chondrite recovered in Nevada...my
> home state. Gross measurements before the cut were 250mm high by 180mm
> wide by 120mm deep.
> My half mounts vertically, as it was found, with the oriented face having
> several nice thumb sized regs and protruberances. The other natural sides
> indicate that perhaps larger pieces broke off during descent
> (slickenslides?).
> As to preparation for display, I will make sure the cracks are completely
> sealed and then remove the excess Paleo Bond with acetone followed by a
> gentle brushing with a hand held stainless steel Dremel to remove only the
> terrestrial accumulations. There appears to be some small areas of primary
> and secondary fusion crust on this forward facing side. It is hard to tell
> the difference, except under magnification, from the desert patination.
> What is attractive about this half is that the peak of the rock is
> prominent and the line of demarcation from what was buried shows how
> little of the meteorite was protruding out of the regolith.... like a
> small shark fin, or iceberg.
>
> I welcome any comments as to my decision on how to handle this record
> find...my first meteorite. To see the find go to Nevada Meteorites.com.
> Click on Hunts...scroll down.
>
> Count Deiro
> IMCA 3536
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Received on Sun 07 Mar 2010 04:15:44 PM PST