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

[Michael L Blood]

on 5/10/05 10:47 AM, Adam Hupe at raremeteorites at comcast.net wrote:

> Another note: I still think most will still use the name Amgala. This is
> because most collectors know it under this name.
----------
Hi Adam and all,
        I respectfully disagree - eventually, it will be known by its true
name, though "formerly called Amgala" is likely to be around a while.
The name approved by the Nomenclature Committee is the name.
I can call Canyon Diablo "Meteor Crater" all I want, it will always be,
however, Canyon Diablo. In fact, many meteorite collectors could call
it "Meteor Crater" and it would still be Canyon Diablo and there would
always be those that refuse to use the wrong nomenclature and respectable
dealers would label it properly.
        I have seen this phenomenon in botany: Fucaria columnaris was
known for many years as "Idria columnaris, until, about two
decades ago it was reclassified as a species of Fucaria. While to this
day, one occasionally sees it advertised in exotic plant catalogs as
Idria columnaris, it is Fucaria columnaris because it belongs to the
genus Fucaria in the formal botanical Taxon.
        What has been called Amgala will be known as Oum Dreyga because
it is being officially entered in the formal meteorite Taxon as Oum Dreyga.
        Best wishes, Michael
 
--
"You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are."
     -Herb Cohen
--
If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.