In a message dated 8/8/2003 12:25:16 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< You are right; it is hard to compare the statistics.> I had waited to reply hoping for additional statistics from Bernd (I don't envy you the updating task), but here goes. I have rearranged parts of Jeff's email to make it easier for me to answer. If I have taken anything out of context I apologize in advance. <But let's face it... you can't get even close to statements that were made indicating that 95% of new meteorites are commercially collected ones.> I agree completely. However this comment line was started in response to comments supporting a collecting ban by individuals who believe the collector/dealer/hunter's contributions are insignificant and completely irrelevant to scientific endevors. That isn't supported by the statistics either. <As for rare meteorites, which I will define as non-ordinary-chondrites, there are 1550 from Antarctica and 467 from commercial collections.> Let's refine the numbers a bit. Pretty much the start of hot desert collecting was in 1998. Of the numbers you quote above how many are since the start of 1998? Do the same pairing numbers Lindstrom estimated apply to the non-ordinary-chondrites? I don't have access to a database so Jeff if you could let us know I would appreciate it. <Meteorites that formed strewn fields get just as many numbers in the Sahara as in Antarctica (one per specimen).> I was under the impression that each specimen gets a separate designation in antarctica. If there was a witnessed fall in Antarctica such as bensour in Africa would it get a single name and entry in the catalog listing or would each stone found get a separate designation and entry? I can't make that estimate. That is one of the reasons that I asked about the total mass of Antarctic meteorites. Statistically it would be reasonable to assume the ratio of OCs to other meteorite types would be similar. Certainly differences in weathering will affect the numbers some, but in gross approximation they should be somewhat similar. If there is 10 or 100 times as much mass coming out of the hot desert there should be 10 or 100 times the rare stuff, or at least 2 to 20 times. High mass strewn fields certainly could affect the statistics however neither region has many iron meteorites which would be most likely to affect the approximation. Stony falls aren't big enough that one fall should affect the gross approximation that much. Eric Olson http://www.star-bits.com ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
