[meteorite-list] 1848: light produced when "meteorite" sawn - possible or impossible?

[Piper R.W. Hollier]

Hello Chris and list,

At 02:02 AM 9/13/05, Chris quoted the Literary Gazette:

>In sawing the mass,
>globules were inflamed by the friction of the
>teeth of the saw, and a bright light produced.

The word "globules" in connection with an iron meteorite makes me 
think of troilite inclusions. While troilite and other FeS minerals 
will oxidize, the reaction is not sufficiently exothermic that these 
minerals will combust -- EXCEPT when finely divided. Hmmmm.

See for example this discussion:

http://www.groupsrv.com/science/about106186-45.html&sid=8fd51b573984fae5b3eeabd7ab0eef65

Iron sulfide is a pyrophoric material that oxidizes exothermically
when exposed to air. It makes no difference whether these pyrophoric
sulfides exist as pyrite, troilite, marcasite, or pyrrhotite.
If the iron sulfide paricles are fine and mixed well with an oxygen
so much heat can be generated so that individual particles of iron sulfide
become incandescent.

pyrophoric: emitting sparks when scratched or struck

Best wishes to all,

Piper