From: Dennis Miller <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was Meteorites &
Competition)
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 12:40 PM
Como esta? Anne and List Richard's book
will always be a standard.
I recently bought Caroline Smith, Sara Russell and Gretchen
Benedix's
new book "Meteorites". These gals "Drs" put together a
great book for
those with the slightest interest in meteorites. It's basic
and
very easy to read. Loads of great pictures too. I also like
Kevin Kichinka's
"The Art of Collecting Meteorites". Now, if you
aren't a "Newbie" you
will love McSween's "Meteorites and Their Parent Planets".
I use my copy
to fill up the shelf! But, what a Great Hobby, no matter
what some say.
Have A Great Day! Sorry Anne but, Think
Snow!!!
Dennis
----------------------------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:45:39 -0500
To: [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Guide to "Newbies" (was
Meteorites & Competition)
Hello Mark and List,
There is already a book that answers a lot of your
questions, not all of
them, but quite a few. It is the Handbook of
Meteorites by O. Richard Norton.
I certainly would recommend getting it.
Also I would like to add one thing to the discussion
about helping new
meteorite enthusiasts; It is not because you did not
see a response on the List
that no help of response was sent. It is often a whole
lot better to email
that person privately to ask for additional details to
narrow down the
problem, or simply to protect that person from some
public embarassement. I know I
probably write 50 private emails for every one posted
here.
And then we are not all always glued to our computer
(believe it or not!!),
personally I have a book (about meteorites of course)
to translate as
quickly as possible so it will be available in
Tucson.
And Norbert Classen and I have the dubious honor of
having to answer every
question that comes in on the IMCA questions email
address. Also time
consuming.
And right now I have a whole lot of snow to shovel!!!
Have a nice day.
Anne M. Black
_http://www.impactika.com/_ (http://www.impactika.com/)
[email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected])
Vice-President, I.M.C.A. Inc.
_http://www.imca.cc/_ (http://www.imca.cc/)
In a message dated 11/15/2009 8:30:51 AM Mountain
Standard Time,
[email protected]
writes:
Dear List,
I think Adam has some great points. I think people
forget how rare these
things are. Prices often don't reflect that.
I think people are more likely to give advice when a
"newbie" asks
something like, I've ruined several slices trying to
do such & such, I've tried A
and B, what else should I do. it shows that they're
paying their dues, but
need a little advice which they can probably absorb
quickly, saving an
"expert's" time. The sad thing is that a few
slices/specimens have been ruined
(maybe from "cheap, common NWA" material, but very
rare, finite material
nonetheless).
How do you balance the protection of trade secrets and
your business vs.
the ideal of preserving this wonderful material? I
suppose there are
techniques which are common in parallel fields like
lapidary, which one can assume
they'll figure it out the hard way (both hard on their
time/wallet but also
hard on meteorites). I would say one should be
somewhat eager to help in
that case, since keeping quiet won't deter them but
only make possible the
damage of more specimens. However, offering help takes
precious time, busy
people lack.
What about the possibility of a guidebook highlighting
some of these
"common" things? The first person(s) with the ability
to write said tome could
profit from the book sales, and many novices would
benefit from the tips.
Sensitive trade secrets could be mentioned by name and
the disclaimer given
that you will have to experiment at the peril of your
collection and finances -
or maybe find a willing mentor.
The book would have to be relatively comprehensive -
covering the common
things which can be found in a lapidary book, but from
a meteorite point of
view (there might be possibility of tips like "it's
wise to practice this
technique using sandstone(?) because it approximates
XYZ meteorites very well,
and you can rest assured that your learning curve
isn't busting the bank").
And it would also cover the meteorites specific topics
like chemicals/oils
to avoid, etc. Maybe some explanations of the
different textures you will
encounter in meteorites. Maybe a section on thin
sections, epoxy plugs, and ?
There might be room for general things like an
explanation meteorite
classifications, collecting strategies, strategies for
documenting a collection of
specimens, a list of common vendors, etc. There are
lots of interesting,
useful things that could be added that I can't
imagine. Of course, you would
have to have environmental, health and safety concerns
highlighted and
repeated throughout the book!
I know this may sound a little out in left field, but
it would help with
the overall conservation of specimens and/or reduce
poor, albeit, harmless
results (as well as be an opportunity to make some
money). Could it result in
increased completion? Probably so, but those rushing
head long into the
wilderness probably can't be stopped anyway. And those
who are inspired by the
book may take a stab at it, but realize it's
expensive, hard work and go
back to only buying/trading/collecting. This book may
exist, but I don't
think so. I can think of a few books which explain
etching and nickel testing,
but I can't think of anything which comprehensively
covers the preservation
and preparation of meteorite specimens.
Personally, I will always choose to buy from a handful
of dealers held in
high regard, who have invaluable reputations to
protect (or middlemen I trust
as friends I can trust). And some field hunters I
know. I've decided to
avoid attractive specimens of questionable pedigree,
unless I'm willing to
make the often expensive choice to advertise them as
"believed to be XYZ
specimen". So this book would not cause the big
dealers to lose my (rare)
business. When a "newbie" asks a question, you can
point them to the "Bible".
So what do you guys think? Crazy? Brilliant? (Someone
with too much time
on his hands tonight?) Is this an issue that's already
on the IMCA "to-do"
list? Is this not commercially viable?
(Cricket chirping‎?) ;-)
Clear skies,
Mark
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