[meteorite-list] FW: High Noon!

[Michael Gilmer]

Hi Gang,

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I think one simple fact is being
overlooked by almost everyone involved here, and this simple criteria
is the ultimate litmus test that definitively confirm or deny a
terrestrial origin for a given sample...


Drumroll please....

Cosmic ray exposure data.  Elemental analysis is fine and dandy, and
it can answer many questions, but it cannot definitively confirm or
deny the terrestrial (or meteoritic) origin for a sample.  It simply
states what elements are present in the sample and in what
concentrations (within a margin of error) these elements are present.
As we all know, some lunar and martian meteorites are very similar in
elemental composition to their terrestrial analogs.  But, terrestrial
rocks have never been exposed to cosmic rays.  By contrast, all
meteorites have been exposed to cosmic rays during their journey from
the parent body to Earth.  This exposure leaves tell-tale markers in
the material.

Of course, I am over-simplifying to some degree, and the cosmic ray
exposure clock can be reset by certain events, but those events also
leave their own signatures.

Simple XRF analysis, and/or visual comparisons will not cut it to make
a truly definitive and authoritative judgement on the origins of a
rock.

Run cosmic ray exposure studies on the material in question - if it
was exposed to cosmic rays, then that material has spent time outside
of Earth's protective shield.  Once that has been established, then
the samples can be subjected to SEM (scanning electron microprobe) to
determine the composition of the material to a more accurate and
specific degree than the XRF will reveal.

Best regards,

MikeG

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On 9/6/11, Marc Fries <fries at psi.edu> wrote:
> Oh come on, Adam!  Clearly the good Sheriff is an expert at identifying
> Martian meteorites.
>
> The only non-awesome part of that email was how I was somehow left off the
> Thinks Steve Curry is a Moron list.  I feel cheated.
>
> Cheers,
> Marc Fries
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 6, 2011, at 1:16 PM, Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi List,
>>
>> I would suggest deleting Steve C.s emails from now on.
>>
>>
>> Steve got exactly what he was after now that this garbage has been posted
>> to the List.  His San Juan breccia has already been studied and denounced
>> by the most qualified laboratories. He refuses to follow the same channels
>> the rest of us have to in order to make meteorites official.  For some
>> reason, possibly watching too much television, he thinks that he is better
>> than everybody else, can set his own rules and become an instant
>> millionaire.  Sorry, Steve, despite what the voices in your head might be
>> telling you, your gaggle of "Moon Rocks" is not better than the NASA
>> Apollo returned collection!
>>
>> He now wants more attention with this fake showdown which will accomplish
>> nothing because the results would not be what he wants to hear or believe.
>> He has the nerve to question the integrity of the best planetary
>> scientists in the world in his latest ramblings.  He now thinks by
>> comparing his terrestrial rocks to best lunar meteorite in the world that
>> he can gain even more notoriety. He does not deserve any more attention.
>> I will certainly not degrade a piece of real NWA 5K by engaging in this
>> ridiculous "High Noon" challenge.
>>
>>
>> My challenge to Stevy is how many "Denver Death Cookies" can he drink at
>> Denver show at Teddy's Bar?
>>
>> Enough of this crap already,
>>
>> Adam
>>
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