Interesting post Randy. When you compare Adam's image with the one on your
Calcalong page there are definitely similarities.
http://themeteoritesite.com/Lunar-b.jpg
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/lm_calcr_1356l_rlk.jpg
I've seen some unusual Millbillillie pieces with crust a different to normal
(black/brown smooth matte crust) but this does look quite promising. I'd
certainly be interested to see how this one pans out!
Might have to head out to the strewn field with a magnifying glass! ;-) It
would be cooler out there right now compared to the baking 45 degree heat
we've had all week here in Melbourne! That's 113F for the folks in the US!
Cheers,
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Korotev" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 6:03 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Question Calcalong Creek Crust?
Adam:
I like it! When you cut it, send me 100-200 mg!
Several of those lunar meteorites that are regolith breccias have
vesicular fusion crusts.
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/alha81005.htm
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/que93069.htm
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/que94281.htm
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/yamato791197.htm
http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/stones/calcalong.htm
I'm not aware of examples among the NWA and Dhofar meteorites, but the
fusion crusts on many of these have been destroyed, and a vesicular crust
is particularly vulnerable to destruction by wind ablation.
The lunar regolith is loaded with solar-wing implanted gases (which
penetrate only to a depth of few microns right at the moon-space
interface) because the fine grained stuff has lots of surface area, it's
gardened by micrometeorite impacts on the Moon so new stuff is constantly
exposed to the surface, the Moon is close to the sun (compared to most
asteroids), and the lunar regolith is thicker because the Moon has more
gravity than an asteroid. These gases are released when the meteoroid is
heated as it comes through the Earth's atmosphere.
Some eucrites and howardites, I believe, are regolith breccias. I don't
know enough about these guys to know if any have vesicular fusion crusts,
but if they do, they're not likely to be as highly vesicular as the those
of lunar meteorites.
Randy Korotev
At 17:46 28-01-09 Wednesday, you wrote:
Dear list Members,
I was wondering if anybody had any close-up images of Calcalong Creek? A
strange meteorite? with a brownish crust loaded with vesicles was found in
some small Millbillillie Eucrites and sent to me some time ago. I know
this is how Bob Haag found his lunar rock. I decided to take a chance on
it and gave the finder a nominal fee. I came across it again while going
through one of my safes and decided it was worth investigating some more.
It only weighs 1.89 grams so I do not want to cut it just yet. I saw the
images on Randy Korotev's site and they look similar. I try not to judge
too much on a single image.
Here is an image of the crust on this object:
http://themeteoritesite.com/Lunar-b.jpg
Best Regards,
Adam
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