[meteorite-list] Point of Diminishing returns (Slice thickness)?

[al mitt]

Greetings,

Interesting discussion on meteorite thickness, weight, value and slices etc. 
and so on. My problem with cutting slices too thin are many. While you get a 
great looking slice with good surface area there are trade offs. Number one 
is there is more breakage when trying to cut ultra thin slices. Breakage 
should cause the price of the material to rise, if you have a truly limited 
amount of that material in the first place.

Two. Thin slices that are made without breakage are also prone to breaking 
later on. It could break during shipping to the buyer. Breaking a full slice 
can reduce the value of that slice, especially if there are only a couple of 
full slices in the world of that material. Even if you don't break it if you 
sell it later there is a chance it could break in shipping. You can always 
sell the two half slices and the multiple crumbs then.

Three. Another consideration is if the surface of the slice needs 
refinishing at some point (even if it is not in your lifetime) the odds 
again are higher that it will break while being worked on. A thicker slice 
can be resurfaced multiple times assuring it survives being studied, viewed 
and appreciated in the future.

Four. Cutting specimens ultra thin causes waste of material. First you get 
more slices but at the lost of more material. One commenter mentioned 60% 
which sound right to me when cutting ultra thin. Again if the material is 
truly very limited, scientifically valuable material could be lost. I can 
appreciate cutting material where there is lots of that material and to cut 
ultra thin as there will be multiple kilos of it for sometime.

For those who collect thin slices I am not picking on you but just posting 
my thoughts of these ultra thin cut slices and the pros and cons. Please 
don't take it personal. I do have some ultra thin slices in my collection.

I coined the phrase that I am the current caretaker of the meteorite 
specimens I currently posses which will be past on to future generations. It 
is my job with that collection to try to preserve it best I can.

--AL Mitterling

Mitterling Meteorites