[meteorite-list] Gao, Gao & Gao

[Zelimir Gabelica]

Hello Bernd, list,

Bernd, thanks much for your wise thoughts and advices. Gao is indeed a very 
popular meteorite, probably because it is as showy as abundant in weight 
and (different) shapes. I can understand Steve's falling in love for these.
I also second your suggestion, namely that Steve should do more to valorize 
his Gao collection.

This brings me to a question that is probably puzzling most of us since a 
while.
You might not ignore that besides "our old good friend Gao (H5)" (that 
actually carries the official name "Gao-Guenié"), there are 2 other Gaos 
(or Gao-Guéniés):

1) Gao(b) that is a CR (S1), found by Eric Twelker in a parcel full of 
"normal Gaos" sent to him from Burkina Faso. The 2 small stones he got 
weighed 344 g (Bernd, by the way, a slice of that stuff is just 
outstanding! I bet you also got one.... See Eric's site: there are 2 pieces 
left!)

2) The Gao-melt (H imb) described and put for sale by Eric Olson. This 
stuff is definitely far different from Gao (H5) in that, when cut, this 
almost black meteorite shows "melts and rivers" just as Portales or others.
Definitely a weird stuff. See pictures on Eric's site.
E. Olson is reporting a tkw of 570+ grams. However, I got a few years ago 3 
such Gao-melt individuals from a quite different source (directly from 
Burkina, not from Eric's source) that are exactly the same. They already 
showed a weird outline when complete (uncut). Once cut, not only they 
showed the strange metled parts but also huge vugs, some of which reaching 
20+ mm !!
E. Olson is anouncing on his site since a time that these are "under 
study". Did someone got more recent news ?

Note: my source confirmed thet Gao imb and Gao (H5) are (still being) found 
on the unique strewnfield. To my knowledge, nothing is known about the 
place where Gao(b) was found...

I suggest Steve starts inquiring about these other  2 Gaos and perhaps 
envisages to extend his collection to "Gao, Gao and Gao".

By the way, here are the tkw's I have in my archives:

Gao-Guénié (H5): 999+ at 99++ kg
Gao-Guénié (H imb): several at 570+ g (Olson's site)
Gao-Guénié (b) (CR)): 2@@344 g (Twelker's site)

Could someone (along with the two Erics) provide an update for these figures ?

Thanks and have a nice day all,

Zelimir


A 16:33 15/03/2007 +0000, bernd.pauli at paulinet.de a écrit :
>Knock, knock !
>
>"You seem to be building quite a collection of Gao! Go get 'em!"
>
>"The next step in his obsession -- head for the strewn field."
>
>
>Hello Steve and List,
>
>First off: I must also admit that this is becoming a very impressive,
>an awesome collection of Gao meteorites! Sincere congratulations!
>
>The next best step after displaying them for all of us to see, would or could
>now be to study them, to compare them, to look at their respective fusion
>crusts, to describe their individual characteristics, to do a little 
>research on
>their different degrees of weathering (and maybe even shock stage[s]), the
>thickness or thinness of their fusion crusts, and so much more and then share
>your observations with the List. This would give them a "life".
>
>Of course, you might also consider constructing a special Gao info page:
>
>dates of fall / find, classification, history, repositories, strewn field 
>parameters,
>scientific papers / articles, and, and, and, ...
>
>"The next step in his obsession -- head for the strewn field."
>
>.. Well, why not!? Gao instead of London if the risks involved are not too 
>high!
>He would surely come back with some personal finds or purchases.
>
>Such specimens have an even higher, personal value!
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>Bernd
>
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Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Université de Haute Alsace
ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
3, Rue A. Werner,
F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15