[meteorite-list] Samples

[Göran Axelsson]

There is a difference between what we should do and what we are able do.

If I had 50 supposed martian meteorites up to 8 gram I would like to 
have a scientist look them over so nothing is lost for science. In this 
case I think there shouldn't be any problem to find a lab that wanted to 
take a look. Let the lab verify that all stones are martian or at least 
most probably martian if they match them visually and only test a few 
stones.

If I had (which I do) 50 meteorites under 8 grams that looks like 
ordinary NWA weathered stones then I don't think I could find any lab 
that wanted to classify them even if I donated the whole lot.

In a perfect world every meteorite should be classified, measured, 
positioned and registered but we can only do a limited amount of work 
and that should be done where we (science) get the most value. To 
classify more Mali, NWA 869 or Camel Donga is probably just a waste of 
money.
Best of all is if dealers and collectors keep an eye out for strange 
stones among the ordinary ones. I don't remember exactly but I think 
someone had a scientist going over hundreds of kilos of NWA 869 to 
cherry-pick some interesting stones. Haven't heard any result though.

Of course, the rules are only suggestions and no one is enforcing them. 
Some dealers classify their martian meteorites and some is selling them 
unclassified but still calls them martian.

/Göran

Timothy Heitz wrote:
> Doug,
>
> This is what I'm thinking.
>
> Lets say I bought 50 Mars stones and the biggest was only 8 grams, now 
> what?
>
> I'm thinking what do I do now Doug?
>
>
> Mike Farmer brings up a good point tens of thousands of Gao stones, 
> and why
> dont cut them or classify all of them! Same with Canyon Diablo.
>
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "mexicodoug" <mexicodoug at aol.com>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Samples
>
>
> Tim,
> I give up, what are you thinking - to sell them unclassified except 
> for a 2
> gram stone and then give a scientist 0.4 grams in exchange for 
> classifying
> the entire fall?  Naughty naughty
> Doug
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Timothy Heitz" 
> <midwest at meteorman.org>
> To: "Timothy Heitz" <midwest at meteorman.org>; "Andreas Gren"
> <info at meteoritenhaus.de>; "'Peter A Shugar'" <pshugar at clearwire.net>
> Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Samples
>
>
> What if you had 20 stones all around 2 to10 grams each all from the same
> fall?
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Timothy Heitz" 
> <midwest at meteorman.org>
> To: "Andreas Gren" <info at meteoritenhaus.de>; "'Peter A Shugar'"
> <pshugar at clearwire.net>
> Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Samples
>
>
>
> Andi,
>
> What about a stone that is 5 grams?
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andreas Gren" 
> <info at meteoritenhaus.de>
> To: "'Peter A Shugar'" <pshugar at clearwire.net>
> Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Samples
>
>
> Hi Pete
>
> 20% or 20g is the rule
>
> Andi
>
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von 
> Peter A
> Shugar
> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 27. Dezember 2007 18:24
> An: LIST
> Betreff: [meteorite-list] Samples
>
> Hello Listies,
> Maybe someone can answer this for me.
> Where did the 20% value come from to classify a meteorite? If a meteorite
> were found
> that, say , was 1.2 grams, unpaired with anything else, then the 
> sample must
> needs be
> .24 grams, if I've figured right. This is a very significant portion 
> of the
> meteorite.
> Then on the other hand should one be found that was 1 ton, the sample 
> would
> be 400
> pounds. If a classification can be done with .24 gram, why can't it be 
> done
> with a much
> smaller piece of the 1 ton meteorite?
> Just learning here, please bear with me.
> Thanks,
> Pete
>