[meteorite-list] SUTTER’S MILL: USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TO CURATE SCIENTIFICALLY IMPORTANT METEORITES

[Shawn Alan]

Hello Listers

The amount of news coverage Sutter Mill got when it first fell, one has to wondered what are some of the scientific implications from that fall? I came across this article that covers some cool topics on the fall and other falls. I wonder what's in store for Sutter's Mill and will it prove to be a diamond in the rough?

 
Shawn Alan
IMCA 1633 
ebay store
http://www.ebay.com/sch/imca1633nyc/m.html
http://meteoritefalls.com/

SUTTER’S MILL: USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TO CURATE SCIENTIFICALLY IMPORTANT METEORITES. S. W. Wallace1,3 D. S. Ebel1,4, and M. G. Hill2,5 1Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 2Microscopy and Imaging Facility, American Museum of Natural His-tory, 3swallace at amnh.org 4debel at amnh.org 5mhill at amnh.org 

Introduction: Meteorites in scientific collections are an important resource to the research community. Getting the most science return out of a collection re-quires both maximizing research return from each sample and effectively communicating the nature of available samples to prospective researchers. Previous studies have discussed X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) as a screening or curation tool for extraterrestrial samples [1-4]. Flynn et al. [2] suggested the use of synchrotron CT to screen returned mission samples prior to targeting specific areas for laboratory study, but did not discuss curation. Tsuchiyama et al. [3] used a commercial CT system to inform sectioning of the Kobe (CK4) meteorite fall of 1999 for dissemination. Both these systems have drawbacks in the context of curation of museum collections. Synchrotron CT re-quires abundant and rapidly available beam time, and is most appropriate for small samples [4]. Older com-mercial CT systems
 lack sufficient power and resolu-tion for high-quality imaging. Current advances in X-ray Computed Tomography have allowed institutions such as museums to acquire smaller footprint, higher powered CT machines that do not require extensive staffing or intensive maintenance. This advancement allows for museums to nondestructively analyze speci-mens before destructive analysis, to guide destructive sampling (e.g., sectioning) using 3D images, and to make data available for public outreach, both to peer researchers and to the public at large. 

source: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/2297.pdf