[meteorite-list] Is Amgala Official? / New Bulletin

[Martin Altmann]

Yes but remeber such cases like with NWA 859.
Everybody has to look in the Bulletin first, if somehere is referred to that
number.
Well, if someone writes "Taza" instead, instantely everybody knows, which
metorite is meant.

So just two words more in the entry:  "synonyms: Amgala", no big deal.

The coordinates given to the Oum Dreyba - there must be a mistake.
I get out 40km offshore from the Moroccain coast in the Antlantic.
May someone correct it....

Martin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Prochaska" <fprochaska at verizon.net>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 11:21 PM
Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] Is Amgala Official? / New Bulletin


> I'm trying to figure out what the big deal is here.  Synonyms and
> meteorites "named" one thing only to be referred to something else later,
or
> found to be paired with or transported specimens of another name, are very
> common.  It certainly isn't limited to meteorites traded or sold "too
soon."
> The North Chile hexahedrites were then so named after various specimens of
> different names (I'm counting 16 now, about 8 of them rather large pieces)
> had been in museum collections and studied for decades (maybe even 100
> years).  I'm finding 35 synonyms for Canyon Diablo without looking very
> hard.  Despite the discussion in this case, collectors seem to vote
> regularly with their wallets to get new falls and finds in their
collections
> before the NomCom gives them the official blessing.  Certainly the
> scientific community doesn't seem harmed, and if anything continues to
> benefit (as do collectors) from the fervor of new finds and falls that
> drives hunters and dealers to recover more material and trade it to the
> scientific collections (not to mention the many outright donations).
> Now, if there were no such body like the NomCom to make officially
> recognized names and classifications that help the rest of us keep all
this
> straight, THAT would be a problem to complain about.  Thank you Jeff and
> colleagues!
>
> Frank Prochaska
>
>