[meteorite-list] Quick Question about Sahara xxxxx finds

[Michael Gilmer]

Hi Listees,

I have a quick question for the group and maybe someone here can shed
some light on this subject....

Meteorites that do not have find coordinates or have falsified find
coordinates are typically given the "Nova" designation by NonCom or if
they are from Northwest Africa, they are given the "NWA" designation.
In a handful of cases, a named meteorite was later changed to a "Nova"
because it was discovered that the find coordinates were incorrect or
dubious.

So, why after all of these years does the Sahara xxxxx finds (mostly
Labenne finds) are not referred to as "NWA" or "Nova"?  It is
well-known that the find coordinates on the many of these Labenne
Sahara finds are falsified, which has hurt science and the provenance
of the specimens.  To this day, over a decade later, the true find
coordinates of these specimens have not been revealed and probably
will never be revealed.

Can someone explain the double-standard at work here?  Is it because
of the pioneering work and otherwise-respectable work that the
Labennes have done - despite the falsification of the find locations?
Why do these Sahara finds get special treatment, while other finds
with dubious locations are lumped under "NWA" or "Nova" ?

I realize the NWA designation did not exist when the Sahara finds were
accepted by NonCom, but shouldn't they now receive the Nova
designation?  In fact, the NWA designation was created, in part, due
to the confusion created by the Sahara finds.  So why do they still
get a special place in nomenclature after all of this time?

Best regards,

MikeG

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Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites

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