[meteorite-list] Sedimentary Martian Meteorites

From: David Norton <renov8hotels_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:49:57 -0700
Message-ID: <000601cbe88f$a6bb6f20$f4324d60$_at_net>

I would think the answer to your question is simpler than the science trying
to explain why we do not have this material in our possession. The stones in
questions are more likely unrecognized, particularly if there is a lack of
fusion crust. Reference our own understanding (recognition) of meteorites 50
years ago and 100 years ago. Our knowledge base has expanded substantially
and continues to improve (evolve) as more material is studied. For those of
you who have seen hundreds or thousands of meteorites and compare those
observations to the "meteorite identification checklists" that can be found
commonly, you know that the atypical exists everywhere.

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Walter
Branch
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 7:57 PM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Sedimentary Martian Meteorites

Hello Steve, Carl and List,

Thanks very much for the comments.

I am at a distinct disadvantage, not having a background in geology so
please bear with me.

I understand exothermic processes but...

The oldest sedimentary rocks are found in various places such as Greenland,
Hudson Bay in northern Quebec, Western Australia, etc. These rocks are
billions of years old, yet they are still recognized as sedimentary rocks.
Why? Should they not have disappeared long ago? Would you say these rocks
were never exposed to heat, water or weathering?

I would think that traveling through space, where obviously no terrestrial
weathering occurs, potential Martian sedimentary rocks would not undergo
weathering until they landed on Earth which would be on the order of
millions of years ago. Much more recent than the oldest Earth sedimentary
rocks.

It may very well be that the reason we don't have any Martian sedimentary
rocks in our collections (scientific and otherwise) is because they have all

weathered away or at least to the point where we would not recognize them as

being Martian, or even meteoritic, in origin.

Yes, I have looked at Dr. Irving's site.

http://www.imca.cc/mars/martian-meteorites.htm

It's a great site and is on my favorites list but he doesn't speculate as to

why we have no Martian sedimentary rocks, which is what I am most interested

in.


-Walter



______________________________________________
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 Tue 22 Mar 2011 08:49:57 AM PDT