[meteorite-list] Franconia AREA (was, Re: ...terminology...)

[Michael Mulgrew]

List,

One more question regarding the latest Franconia paper, M. Hutson et
al., 2013, regarding the sample sized used in that study vs. their
concluded number of falls for the area: They only looked at 14 rocks,
concluding that 7 were separate falls.  If they looked at 50 rocks,
would they have found 25 falls?  Why did they select only 14 rocks,
was it a matter of how much research they could fund?  I'd hope the
samples were not selected specifically for their appearance, as they
stated in the paper that visual pairing based on the exterior of the
stones was completely misleading.

They incorrectly reported that the 14 stones in their study make up
3.7% of the total finds for the area, 380.  We all know this number is
much higher, by a factor of 20 or more probably.  For example, I know of
one hunter who made more than 600 finds in a single year.   A similar
disconnect exists with their statement regarding the % representation of
total mass of all finds.  I'm not sure how they can come to such a
definitive fall count with such a miniscule sampling of finds from the
area.

Ok, two questions: Does anyone know why the irons (H-metal) from the
area were ignored in this study?  Surely they are directly related to
these chondritic falls, and as Yucca 015
(http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=57175) shows us,
there are multiple unique H-metals out there as well.

Back to winning the lottery to get all this sorted out!
Michael in so. Cal.