[meteorite-list] Meteorite numbers

John Birdsell birdsell at email.arizona.edu
Sun Nov 21 11:32:55 EST 2004


Hi Matt and list. I'm not an expert on the topic, but I think that part 
of the problem may also be that meteorites such as those belonging to 
the HED group are quite heterogeneous. If one sample contains a slightly 
higher diogenite component it may come back as a howardite while a 
sample with a lower diogenite component may come back as a eucrite. I 
would imagine that two samples from the same stone could conceivably 
come back with a different classification. If anyone can comment on this 
and correct me if I'm wrong I would appreciate it!


Cheers


-John


Matt Morgan wrote:

>Just to add a note...
>There is a fundamental scientific problem of classifying meteorites.
>
>Try sending two pieces of the same meteorite to different labs.  Chances
>are you will get different results.
>For instance, I have "L5's" that came back as "L4's" and "L6's".
>"Regolith" this and "Primitive" that.
>I heard the same situation happening for NWA 1929, either howardite OR
>eucrite. I understand some of it is "interpretive".
>
>The system itself is flawed. 
>
>Ideally, we need an NWA consortium of labs to correct this and have type
>specimens on hand.
>
>This SEEMS to be an easy fix, but university politics plays a huge role.
>
>So all you scientists who study NWA's, how about a network for meteorite
>"data sharing"?  It will make ALL our lives easier...
>
>Matt Morgan
>Mile High Meteorites
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
>[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Rob
>Wesel
>Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 2:38 AM
>To: Michael Farmer; meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite numbers
>
>
>While I truly believe this practice is ultimately costly to the
>collector, 
>truer words have never been spoken. Thanks Mike:
>
>"Virtually every dealer including myself has been or is guilty of this,
>we are in the process of correcting the situation and to start people
>MUST immediately comply or this will just spiral downward as we see 
>tonight."
>
>So, for now, we make it right. We follow the rules and pay out to prove 
>pairings. We wait longer to get to market and costs go up because repeat
>lab 
>fees and repeat type specimens factor into prices per gram. I don't like
>it 
>one bit but that's what we do. I will be finishing off my "likely
>paired" 
>howardite as such but new specimens are already off to the lab,
>specimens I 
>know are paired.
>While I seriously doubt the law has any holding here, the NomCom asks
>this 
>of us. Bottom line, if two folks buy bread from the same baker...they're
>
>eating the same bread. The full weight of this ruling will soon be felt
>by 
>all as we bog down institutions who want to study meteorites with
>incessant 
>pairings, not much grant money in pairings, not much recognition. But
>this 
>is what we do...for now.
>
>Rob Wesel
>------------------
>We are the music makers...
>and we are the dreamers of the dreams.
>Willy Wonka, 1971
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Michael Farmer" <meteoritehunter at comcast.net>
>To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2004 7:56 PM
>Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorite numbers
>
>
>  
>
>>To clarify something that is obviously causing some problems in the
>>meteorite world right now, I want everyone to know that
>>NWA 788, 787, and NWA 482 are numbers that came from rather large or 
>>meteorites with hundreds of pieces bought during one of my
>>    
>>
>expeditions.
>  
>
>>The Hupes and many other people have the right to those numbers.
>>Now, there are other numbers being widely used without proper title
>>    
>>
>(as Dr 
>  
>
>>Grossman has stated publicly and with finality that people do not own 
>>numbers, but numbers are assigned to specific meteorite specimens and
>>    
>>
>must 
>  
>
>>not be used with other meteorites just because you heard or someone
>>    
>>
>told 
>  
>
>>you it is the same).
>>Let's all please stop this practice as it is really hurting our
>>    
>>
>business 
>  
>
>>and hobby. Virtually every dealer including myself has been or is
>>    
>>
>guilty 
>  
>
>>of this, we are in the process of correcting the situation and to
>>    
>>
>start 
>  
>
>>people MUST immediately comply or this will just spiral downward as we
>>    
>>
>see 
>  
>
>>tonight.
>>
>>I perused eBay today and it is still rampant with sellers using 
>>numbers
>>they seem to have drawn from a hat. So please ask you seller next time
>>    
>>
>you 
>  
>
>>buy something, how they got that number, who it was assigned to and if
>>    
>>
>not 
>  
>
>>them, just how they came to call it that.
>>Mike Farmer
>>
>>______________________________________________
>>Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
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>  
>




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