[meteorite-list] Steve's 150-gram Dragon piece

[mexicodoug]

Hi, Elton, Steve, Bernd, Darren, Bob, List,

I don't see where Steve claimed that this meteorite had a bulbous nosecone 
form that so many stony collectorys envy and hold synonymous with 
"orientation".

Come on, this attractive IRON (as sculpted irons go) does have some 
interesting morphology - this * is * quite a curiousity !  It is hard to 
tell from the photos, but it seems to me that the specimen in fact was 
probably a ring shape with some degree of orientation. The center of mass 
would appear near the thickest portion of the meteorite, smooth, and with 
trailing (though not particularly extended) regmaglypts.  What I find 
especially interesting out Steve's new meteorite is contemplating the 
explanation for its shape.  It shares too many characteristics with the 
regmaglypted (non-shrapnel) Sikhote-Alin specimens to be dismissed as simply 
shrapnel - clearly I think it is not.

One can contemplate, whether it looks like it was a relatively rare, ring 
shaped mass that separated in the early fragmentations, and then maintained 
some sense re: fatter side, where the inside trailing ring violently waffled 
back and forth and was burned or torn off at just the right time (i.e. still 
with high enough velocity when hitting the dense part of the atmosphere 
needed to give the duality), which left just the rudders.

Certainly not the best example of a bulbous single axis orientation in the 
line of flight, more like a boomerang and a backbone by the time it landed. 
Boomerang: "A boomerang is an aerodynamically shaped object designed to fly 
efficiently through the air when thrown by hand some designs which return to 
the thrower and others that don't." [and if it ends up on eBay :-) ]

As to what Steve paid for this (which included a stamp which I've seen for 
$20), whoever would toss the first stone, how else is the selection out 
there?  That special one that really inspired you in form and function?  It 
looks about the right size to be a natural bottle opener, it's Sikhote, and 
Steve hasn't bothered the list lately other than by pumping $500 into the 
economy.  Nice adquisition.  It looks nothing like a fantasy 'zoomorphic' 
dragon to me, not even a Seahorse (naturally regmaglypted).  Bullet-shaped 
orientation is more common than boomerang-shaped as far as I have seen, and 
with stones- forget it, and it is interesting that they are both used in 
warfare, and for those reasons I would be glad to have it, too.

Hope you hear from the numerous Sikhote fans.  Here is another beauty for 
the discriminating S.A. (Russia) enthusiast with nicer pictures.  Enjoy!
http://207.56.99.163/sa168.htm

Best wishes and good health,
Doug



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mr EMan" <mstreman53 at yahoo.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Steve's 150-gram Dragon piece


> Steve Arnold (Chicago) wrote:
>
>> "...one of the most beautiful and oriented meteorites that I have
>> ever seen.
>
> OK... I'll bite-- Steve?  how is this "oriented"?
>
> You've been collecting how many years?
>
> It may have flow features, the photos are fairly dark, but how do you
> justify calling this oriented?  Attractive , yes  but the best oriented
> meteorite you have ever seen?
>
> I am sure there are many meteorite owners such as yourself who could
> care less about meteorite terminology, however those of us who do, feel
> an obligation to speak up when we see terms misused.
>
> Looking forward to seeing the Dragon on Ebay in time for Christmas.
> Thanks for sharing.
>
> Elton
>
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