[meteorite-list] Meteorite Delivers Martian Secrets

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:36:40 -0400
Message-ID: <CAKBPJW_gp79xb3m1EmUkO3oGoU=wX+CEXsY68FTmu7OQtLB6Bw_at_mail.gmail.com>

Good articles, mostly. The title of the second article is misleading
and it implies that private collectors and dealers are robbing science
of material to study. The scientist in question could not get any
free Tissint. I say she just didn't ask or know the right people. I
had to post a comment reply to the story.

Now I can't wait to see what finally comes out about Katol.

My reply to the second article :

"There is plenty of Tissint to go around. Numerous large pieces have
been donated to museums and institutions by private dealers and
collectors. Some private collectors and dealers are extremely
generous and work closely with universities to acquire and study
material. ASU, NAU, and UNM are just three in the US who have
received large amounts of donated material for study.

Scientific analysis can be done on specimens as small as 1-2mg.
Several grams is enough to for any research and to have material left
over for the collection. Heck, a one-pound Martian would be enough to
supply every planetary-science, geochemistry, and related labs around
the world.

The title of this article is very misleading. If the Moroccan
scientist in question wanted more free material to study, she should
have simply asked the right people. I could have acquired some for
her, for free. This is where those scientists who work closely with
private hunters can benefit from a mutually-agreeable relationship.
Sharing of meteorite material from private collections into
institutions happens all the time, via trades, donations, and
purchases.

There is PLENTY of Tissint to go around and be studied widely. The
same can be said for many other Martian and Lunar meteorites.

I am a five-year collector and dealer of meteorites, and I have
working relationships with some veteran members of the community and I
can state with surety that this Moroccan researcher could have
acquired some study material for free (or via trade) if she had simply
asked the right people, or had cultivated relationships with the right
people.

Also, as an institutional researcher, she has access to the NASA
collection, that includes thousands of meteorites, including exotics
like Martians. She could get some of this material, for free, via
institutional exchange.

Don't blame private collectors or hunters for a lack of meteorites to
study - blame the bureaucratic system of red tape that is required to
work with NASA, Smithsonian, etc. Working with private hunters and
dealers can overcome these paperwork tangles. Private involvement in
meteorite study is beneficial to all. Those countries with tight laws
regarding meteorite ownership-trade, are also the same countries with
horrible recovery records. The most recoveries are made in areas
where private involvement is not discouraged - Morocco, the United
States, etc. Countries that crack down on meteorites see their
recovery rates plummet. Trying to control meteorite trade just
doesn't work and it hurts everyone involved."

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On 10/12/12, Paul H. <oxytropidoceras at cox.net> wrote:
> Meteorite Delivers Martian Secrets
> ScienceDaily, October 11, 2012)
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121011141439.htm
> http://www.livescience.com/23923-martian-meteorite-tissint-morocco.html
> http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/345727/description/Scientists_probe_fresh_Martian_meteorite%C2%A0_
>
> Mars meteorite may contain bubbles of 700000-year-old
> Martian air, The Guardian, October 11, 2012
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/oct/11/meteorite-mars-bubbles-martian-air
>
> The paper is:
>
> Aoudjehane, H. C., G. Avice, J.-A. Barrat, O. Boudouma, G. Chen,
> M. J .M. Duke, I. A. Franchi, J. Gattacecca, M. M. Grady, R. C.
> Greenwood, C. D. K. Herd, R. Hewins, A. Jambon, B. Marty, P.
> Rochette, C. L Smith, V. Sautter, A. Verchovsky, P. Weber, and
> B. Zanda. Tissint Martian Meteorite: A Fresh Look at the
> Interior, Surface, and Atmosphere of Mars. Science,
> Published Online October 11 2012
> http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2012/10/12/science.1224514.abstract
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Paul H.
> ______________________________________________
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Received on Fri 12 Oct 2012 03:36:40 PM PDT