[meteorite-list] "Oregon meteorite generating interest" -The Columbian

[almitt2 at localnet.com]

Hi Rob and all,

I've seen the data for this and know there are differences. With less 
than 10 IIIF irons existing, the probability of two being found 100 
miles apart from one another are just astronomical and nearly 
impossible.

How many times have we seen big differences in the span of a single 
meteorite fall. Also there are variations in research which can lead to 
questions on pairing when most likely specimens are from the same fall. 
I'd say the same is true for this fall also.

While I would like to see an increase in Oregon finds or falls (I've 
done my best to try to increase them), I am pretty firmly convinced 
this one is related being a rare iron type. Odds of a stream dumping 
this close together are ultra rare, unless they came down at the same 
time. If this is the case then they are still probably related.

I'd like to see more research done to prove me wrong. Best to all.

--AL Mitterling

Quoting Rob Wesel <nakhladog at comcast.net>:

> FWIW
>
> This one has been published since June and includes a K Falls comparison in
> the write-up
>
> Geochemistry: (snip)These data suggest a designation of Group IIIF, an
> uncommon type (with <10 individuals known), although Ga is high compared to
> other IIIF irons by ~30%, probably owing to analytical error. This is the
> same group designation as for Klamath Falls, which was found ~78 km to the
> northwest, raising the possibility that both could have been in the same
> strewn field. However, the two meteorites are probably not paired, as
> Klamath Falls has a smaller kamacite bandwidth (0.5 mm), and concentrations
> for Ir, Pt, and Re that are ~0.002x, ~0.12x, and ~2.8x the values in the new
> iron.
>
> Rob Wesel