Hi Walter and List,
What is "official."
I'm not going to touch that "official" with a ten foot pole by myself.
The MetSoc/USGS online database only lists Brenham and states that in
addition to this being the correct spelling complete with punctuation and
diacritical marks, it trys to also provide any known synonym that may be
encountered.
http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/about.html
within 15 Km of Haviland, it returns as "official" names only the anomolous
pallasite called Brenham, and that Haviland for that is a synonym that might
be encountered but is not returned as an "official meteorite name", plus two
other different officially named H5's that were both found and are given the
distinct names Haviland (a) and (b).
Like Glorieta Mountain and Seymchan there are apparently siderite pieces and
pallasite pieces from the same fall which etch the same, etc., according to
posts we've seen on the lists, implying that these bodies had varying mix
regarding the olivine crystals.
The databas explains:
"The primary function of this database is to provide authoritative
information about meteorite names. The correct spelling, complete with
punctuation and diacritical marks, of all known meteorites recognized by the
Meteoritical Society may be found in this compilation. Official
abbreviations for many meteorites are documented here as well. The database
also contains status information for meteorites with provisional names, and
listings for specimens of doubtful origin and pseudometeorites.
In addition, this database is a clearinghouse for basic information about
each meteorite, including the classification, place and year of discovery,
whether if was observed to fall, references to catalogues in which the
meteorite is described, and known synonyms that may be encountered in the
literature."
Hope this helps,
Best Health and Cheers,
Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter Branch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "mexicodoug" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ...Mail or Algeria...
Hi Doug and Everyone,
but I think the Haviland/Greenburg/Brenham situation >illustrates this
fine given the community pride there.
This name has confused me for some time. I have seen references to all
three being used to refer to pallasites. I have also seen references to
all three being used to describe an iron (non-pallasite) meteorite.
What is "official."
-Walter Branch
________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: "mexicodoug" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ...Mail or Algeria...
Hello, Anne, Greg, List (old message that didn't post properly, sort of a
'synonym' superceded by my post to Martin),
Anne, I must disagree. A synonym in biology is "A scientific name of an
organism or of a taxonomic group that has been superseded by another name
at the same rank.". While you may be thinking about the non-scientific
"synonym", or the type of synonym used in botany which leaves room for
interpretation in classification, I expect the NomCom has a steadfast
policy.
I don't think it is a good idea to see the 35 synonyms of Campo del Cielo
including "El Taco" as "accepted" plastered all over collections, eBay,
as being implied with Oum Dreyga (still wondering, is Serpent-mother a
translation?). At issue is not whether the meteorite has been called
Amgala in the past - this obviously is the case or there would be nothing
to talk about.
Being "accepted" as a synonym to me means nothing more than a
confirmation that this synonym is scientifically obsolete the way I
interpret this, and the MetSoc/USGS database is trying to be helpful to
insure official nomenclature so old names can be properly classified, not
to perpetuate unofficial (but recognized before the modern science was
done) synonyms. But I could be wrong as my ... always tells me:-),
In the words of Zelimir referencing Captain Blood (May 11, 2005: Is
Amgala Official?: excerpted from met-list)
"...Oum Dreyga is just as fine as Juancheng. Hey Marcin, you'll get used
to it soon. You can talk about Amgala but you should sooner or later
re-write your labels with the new name, so as to fit the official
decisions, and remain the serious and reliable dealer you are now. After
all, be happy thet the Nom Com maintained "Bensour", another name that
was used everywhere, everytime, before the official classification....
"You are completely right Michael. This is true not only in Botany but
also in the recent meteorite history. A couple of years ago, I purchesed
"Turkmenbashi" and "Heze" (names that are still on the original labels).
Many of us probably still remember that these names now respectively
correspond to the well (best) known meteorites
"Kunya Urgensh" and "Juancheng". There should be many other such
examples, Canon Diablo included"
My thoughts (almost) exactly! Thanks Zelimir.
As to Greg's suggestion, the only bulletin that comes up after I looked,
as Anne mentioned lists the official name as Oum Dreyga in MB89 and
mentions in the description, "Fragments have been sold under the names
Amgala and Gor Lefcah." That is the reference as to why it is a
"synonym" on line. Simply because fragments of Oum Dreyga have been sold
as those two names.
Perhaps listing them for sale on eBay as Gor Lefcah (or Amgala) is
considered "adhering to the highest standards of meteorite identification
and proper labeling practices," but I amicably disagree. If my
assumptions are mistaken, and the MetSoc guidelines support this, I will
proceed to relabel all of my meteorites with the names I like better that
are synonyms and talk about them as such.
This gets to Greg's interesting comment on whether a meteorite is named
where it starts being recovered or where most falls when given these
options. I would think the main mass is the most logical, but these are
decisions for the NomCom as the competent governing body and probably
open to comment before publication by interested parties.
It is important to realize that a significant amount of pride comes to
many towns and villages when a meteorite is named after their population.
There are many meteorites published in previous bulletins that chose one
name over another for considerations like Greg's, and this does make some
people feeling left out, especially when not much else is is on the list
of attractions. I could mention a long list in less affluent countries,
but I think the Haviland/Greenburg/Brenham situation illustrates this
fine given the community pride there.
Best wishes and great health,
Doug
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