[meteorite-list] New Zealand fall

[Nicholas Gessler]

Yes, diamond core bits are available for taking scientific samples for 
analysis.  I have used them with a standard power drill and water on 
meteorites.
Bore in, break off the core.  Cut off the fusion crusted end.  Fill the 
hole and cover it with the fusion crusted end.
You can then easily texture the filler and paint it to make the sampling 
less obvious.

I have done this in conserving totem poles to hide the bolt holes.  It's 
quite effective.

Conservators usually don't want such repairs to be invisible.  They want 
them to be obvious to a careful eye but not so obvious as to detract from 
the aesthetics of the piece.

Cheers,
Nick

At 04:33 PM 6/14/2004, Matson, Robert wrote:
>Hi Mike and List,
>
> > I have spoken to the owner and made a large offer on the stone. I 
> sincerely hope that
> > whoever acquires that stone DOES NOT cut it up or damage it in any way. 
> It appears
> > to be an ordinary chondrite with a extraordinary shape. Oriented pieces 
> like this,
> > especially a fresh pristine fall that went through a house should NOT 
> be cut up.
> > If I get the stone I will not cut one microgram from it, that would be 
> a tragedy to
> > desecrate such a piece.
>
>It should be possible to take at least a core sample of the stone, leaving 
>a fusion
>crusted "plug" to cover the hole.  In this way, the stone can be studied by
>scientists without detracting from its aesthetics.  Even if it's just an 
>ordinary
>chondrite, the fact that it is a documented fresh fall is rare, and therefore
>scientifically important.  Short-lived isotopes may provide information about
>cosmic lifetime, for example.
>
> > We as collectors, don't really all need to have a tiny piece do we?
>
>With the exception of providing a sample (as unobtrusively as possible) to
>scientists, I quite agree that the stone deserves to stay intact.  --Rob
>
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