[meteorite-list] E.T.'s annual Tucson bash date is confirmed!
Hello all. Busy days here in Tucson. Patrick and I have been here since the 22nd of January and are having a blast. The weather is warming now and they are saying that it will be really warm by Sunday. We have confirmed our Tucson party in the courtyard at the old Pueblo Inn for Wednesday night next week the 7th of February. If you are in Tucson you are invited to come. I will be busy making margueritas all night but I'll enjoy seeing you there. There will be plenty of food and drink and hundreds of fun people. Things will get rolling betgween 7pm and 8pm and go until the last meteorite collector drops. The Pueblo Inn is now called the Riverpark Inn at 350 South Freeway. Hope to see you there. Cheers, Edwin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Walter Branch
Dear Sabrina, I do not know Walter personnally but I'm used to read his posts on the list and want to wish him and your daughter a prompt recovery from this terrible accident. As many on this list, I also wish you a lot of courage to go through this very difficult period of time. We are all waiting for Walter to be back as fast as possible. Very sincerely, Frederic Lyon, France - Original Message - From: Walter Branch [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Meteorite List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 12:58 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Walter Branch Hello, I am Walter Branch's wife, Sabrina. On Friday, Walter and our daughter were in an accident. Walter is in critical condition in Trauma ICU. He has numerous internal injuries including 5 broken ribs, a punctured lung, a bruised lung, a ruptured diaphragm (repaired Friday night), his kidneys are not functioning as they should, his spleen was removed, and he had a compound fracture of the right femur. He is under heavy sedation due to agitation, but when they back off the sedation, he is alert and in a great deal of pain. He is on minimum life support at the moment. When I saw him yesterday, I asked him if I should let all of you know and he nodded yes. Please keep us in your prayers. Our daughter is home from the hospital with a concussion, whip lash, and a fractured pelvis. If Walter had an on-going transaction with you, please be patient. As soon as he is able to tell me what to do, I will try to do what I can. Sincerely, Sabrina Branch __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Sikhote-Alin Picture of the Day - Saturday, February 03, 2007
http://www.spacerocksinc.com/February_3.html __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Sikhote-Alin Picture of the Day - Saturday, February 03, 2007
Hmmm. No offense to the honorable M. Blood or his noteworthy specimen but does that hole look to you as if it received some acetylene assistance? I apologize if I am out of line, but the texture around the hole (and it's depth) looks odd to me. Yet the overall coloring looks natural and not reheated. Ken Newton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.spacerocksinc.com/February_3.html __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Fall of Sikhote-Alin
SIKHOTE-ALIN 1947 - 2007 60 year anniversary of the fall of Sikhote-Alin: http://www.spacerocksinc.com/SIKHOTE-ALIN.html Sincerely, Michael Johnson SPACE ROCKS, INC. 932 Hanging Rock Road Boiling Springs, South Carolina 29316-7401 USA http://www.spacerocksinc.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Wanted: Home-builders for the moon
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16871258/ Wanted: Home-builders for the moon NASAs post-2020 plan involves the usual (and unusual) space suspects By Alan Boyle Science editor Updated: 6:08 p.m. ET Feb 1, 2007 Imagine a world where microwave-beaming rovers cook dust into concrete landing pads ... where your living quarters are dropped onto the land from above, then inflated like an inner tube ... where the grit is so abrasive that even the robots have to wear protective coveralls. It may sound like science fiction, but these are actually some of the ideas being floated as part of NASA's plan to build a permanent moon base starting in 2010. To follow through on those sky-high ideas, the space agency is turning to some down-to-earth experts, ranging from polar researchers to miners and earth-movers. We will be looking outside the agency quite a bit as well as inside the agency, said Larry Toups, habitation systems lead for NASA's Constellation Program Office. We have a lot of folks here who are very innovative and understand the space environment quite a bit, but you do have a lot of expertise outside NASA as well, and we intend to involve those folks. Those folks include the twin giants of America's space industry, The Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin. But some less conventional players are involved as well: Illinois-based Caterpillar and allied companies have been advising NASA on the dynamics of dirt and the challenges of moving heavy equipment over the lunar surface. Canada-based Norcat and Electric Vehicle Controllers are working together to develop a drill suitable for mining on the moon. Norcat is traditionally better-known for its industrial safety training programs, but this June the company is sponsoring a planetary mining conference, with the moon in its sights. Delaware-based ILC Dover, which manufactures components for NASA's spacewalk suits as well as the airbags used by NASA's Mars rovers, is branching out to develop inflatable prototypes for lunar habitats. Nevada-based Bigelow Aerospace may offer its own inflatable modules for future moon outposts. The National Science Foundation is working with NASA and ILC Dover to build and deploy an inflatable test habitat in Antarctica later this year. NASA announced the broad outlines of its plan for an eventual lunar outpost less than two months ago. The general idea is to set up shop on the rim of a crater near one of the moon's poles. Such areas would be in sunlight, with a line-of-sight link to Earth all year round. The first crews would stay for just a week at a time, but by 2025, six-month tours of duty would be the norm. The polar outpost would serve as NASA's base for lunar research and a test bed for Mars exploration. Some have even grander plans, envisioning the moon as an eventual platform for luxury hotels, astronomical observatories and helium-3 mining operations. The idea of a permanent platform is what distinguishes the future effort from NASA's previous moon program, said Dallas Bienhoff, manager for in-space and surface systems at Boeing Space Exploration. Just getting there and getting home was a big deal for Apollo, he told MSNBC.com. We know we can do that, even though we haven't done it in 30-plus years. What we want to do is prepare the beachhead for people other than NASA. Basically, the intent is to lay down the foundation for a permanent presence on the moon by whoever wants to be there. NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries cautioned that, for now, the space agency is focusing on the spacecraft required for moon trips rather than on lunar habitats. Those don't do you a whole lot of good if you don't have a way to get to the moon, he told MSNBC.com. Nevertheless, NASA and its corporate partners are already building prototypes to test some of the more unorthodox ideas like those inflatable habitats, for example. Honey, I Shrunk the Space Station Why inflatable habitats? Bienhoff explained that the metal-hulled modules used on the international space station couldn't make it to the moon because they're too heavy. The typical space station module weighs 30,000 pounds but NASA's moonships, as currently planned, would have a maximum payload capacity of only 13,000 pounds. Inflatable modules could get around that limitation. Dave Cadogan, research director at ILC Dover, said the modules would be compressed to fit a smaller space on NASA's smaller spaceships, dropped off on the moon, and only then filled with air, equipment and all the comforts of a lunar home. Bigelow Aerospace already has lofted one inflatable test module into orbit and is gearing up to launch another one in April. Last year the company's billionaire founder, Robert Bigelow, told reporters that we definitely have lunar architecture in mind. ILC Dover, meanwhile, has built one inflatable prototype for NASA's Langley Research Center, and it's in the midst of designing another for the NASA-NSF test in Antarctica. NASA's Toups said the new prototype would be
Re: [meteorite-list] The Fall of Sikhote-Alin
On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 08:58:14 EST, you wrote: SIKHOTE-ALIN 1947 - 2007 RIP. :-( __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD-Killer Oriented Millbillillie MAKE OFFER
Need to raise some capital, so I am accepting any and all offers for my 756g oriented Millbillillie pictured here http://mhmeteorites.com/museum_gallery.html Thanks, Matt __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070202-013112-8664r Space station moves to avoid debris MOSCOW, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. and Russian officials changed the International Space Station's orbit to keep it clear of debris from a satellite destroyed by China, a report says. We are diverting the orbit of the ISS to prevent a possible collision with large fragments of space debris, a decision the Russian Mission Control took together with the Johnson Space Center in Houston, a Russian Mission Control spokesman told Novosti Friday. The spokesman said the debris did not threaten the space station, and that an anti- meteorite system protected it from smaller fragments. China set off an international protest when it announced in January it had used a ground- based missile to hit one its aging weather satellites, Novosti reported. The United States filed a diplomatic protest, Novosti said, because the weather satellite used approximately the same orbit as its spy satellites. Canada, Australia and Japan also objected. Russian and U.S. space agencies were both tracking fragments from the weather satellite. U.S. officials said they were following 525 large fragments and had recorded between 500 and 600 instances of debris passing within three miles of orbiting satellites. Does anyone know more about the 'anti-meteorite system' that protects the ISS from being struck? 'Shields Up Scotty!' Gary http://www.meteorite-dealers.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
Does anyone know more about the 'anti-meteorite system' that protects the ISS from being struck? 'Shields Up Scotty!' I believe it's as simple as a couple of layers of baking foil mounted over the main body of the station. The foil and impactor are vaporised by the impact and the vapour cannot penetrate do damage to the habitation modules. I believe the whole skin of the lunar module was a similar design. As were the shields for the spacecraft passing through the comas of comets. Several thin layers works much better than one big one. It's also lighter, ergo cheaper RMcC Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now. __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Meteowrong anecdotes?
Hi list, I was wondering, have any of you been approached with any really absurd meteowrongs? It could be fun to collect some here. Regards, Chris __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Patterns in Meteorwrong
Along the lines of the discussion on whether or not Widmanstatten patterns appear in non- meteoric materials I have put up some pictures of a meteorwrong with definite crystalized interior patterns. Anyone have any cogent comments on this? I'm quite interested... http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/slag-closeup.jpg Gary __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Patterns in Meteorwrong
I have a comment. There is no Widmanstatten pattern in meteorwrongs. End of discussion. So, lets not start another BS tread that will be harder to endure than a stick in the eye. Thanks From: Gary K. Foote [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Patterns in Meteorwrong Date: Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:10:37 -0500 Along the lines of the discussion on whether or not Widmanstatten patterns appear in non- meteoric materials I have put up some pictures of a meteorwrong with definite crystalized interior patterns. Anyone have any cogent comments on this? I'm quite interested... http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/slag-closeup.jpg Gary __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list _ Get in the mood for Valentine's Day. View photos, recipes and more on your Live.com page. http://www.live.com/?addTemplate=ValentinesDayocid=T001MSN30A0701 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 07:22:36 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Does anyone know more about the 'anti-meteorite system' that protects the ISS from being struck? 'Shields Up Scotty!' I believe it's as simple as a couple of layers of baking foil mounted over the main body of the station. The foil and impactor are vaporised by the impact and the vapour cannot penetrate do damage to the habitation modules. I believe the whole skin of the The term is Whipple shield or Whipple barrier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipple_shield __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Pictures of 3 kilo oriented iron
Hello List, I have some pictures that Keith Vazquez took of the oriented iron These pictures are awesome. http://www.meteorman.org/Oriented.htm In sunny warming up Tucson Best Regards, Tim Heitz __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Patterns in Meteorwrong
Not trying to start a BS thread - just trying to understand what I am seeing. Thanks for your input. Gary On 3 Feb 2007 at 9:23, Howard Steffic wrote: I have a comment. There is no Widmanstatten pattern in meteorwrongs. End of discussion. So, lets not start another BS tread that will be harder to endure than a stick in the eye. Thanks From: Gary K. Foote [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Patterns in Meteorwrong Date: Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:10:37 -0500 Along the lines of the discussion on whether or not Widmanstatten patterns appear in non- meteoric materials I have put up some pictures of a meteorwrong with definite crystalized interior patterns. Anyone have any cogent comments on this? I'm quite interested... http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/slag-closeup.jpg Gary __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list _ Get in the mood for Valentine's Day. View photos, recipes and more on your Live.com page. http://www.live.com/?addTemplate=ValentinesDayocid=T001MSN30A0701 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Hunting with a magnet; suspect stones; meteorwrongs; and ramblings.
I've been hunting meteorites with supermagnets for a little over four years now. As I am sure everyone knows, when you drag a magnet you pick up all sorts of stuff including a lot of magnetite, at least here where I hunt you do. If you're interested in this type of hunting, here is how I deal with all the metal junk, the magnetite and the small stones. I clean the magnet off into a gold pan. I then screen it all through a very fine screen to remove the magnetite particles. I dump the stuff left in the screen back into the pan and I add water with a drop of dish soap and wash. I use a swirl and dump motion to get rid of the dirt and trash only. I usually repeat this process with clean water at least a couple time until the water remains fairly clean. I pass a magnet (not a supermagnet) over the stones at about 1/2 to 3/4 above and pull out all the bits of metal and examine them somewhat closely before getting rid of those pieces. Don't want to inadvertently pick up a suspect stone and through it out with the scrap.Now to have a look at all the little stones left. I will leave just a small amount of water in the pan with the material so that I can still swirl the contents if I want. Then I take it outside in the sunlight and take my first look. If I don't see anything right away that gets my attention, I'll drain all the water off and let the contents of the pan dry completely. Usually I just leave it sit for a day or so. So when it is dry, I take the pan in and put it under my mscope and go through the contents with close scrutiny. Sometimes, I have even done this when the contents were still wet. Anyway, if I see something that sticks out as unusual and interesting, I pick it out and take a closer look. One quick way to separate the magnetic stones is to place a strong magnet on the underside of the pan then swirl the rocks for a bit over the area where the magnet is located. All the strongly magnetic rocks will collect in one spot. Then just take the magnet over them from above and lift them out. This lets you get down to taking a look at the magnetic rocks in a hurry if you so wish. I realize none of this is very scientific. It's a hobby for me and gives me something relaxing to do in my spare time and I get exercise from the walks. The thrill in it all comes when I actually have something of extraterrestrial origin to look at and hold in my hand. Then I also get a lot more enjoyment out of studying the suspect rock to find out what it could be. After you have been through about a five gallon bucket full of these pea-size rocks you have a real good feel for what is a suspect meteorite or is actually a terrestrial stone (I guess you could call some of these meteorwrongs). I have studied the many, many, many little meteorwrongs to a fairthywell. To have a good meteorwrong to study can be a good learning tool. I have a collection of small rocks that I keep and add to on occasion that are the best wrongs that I have found. I look at them every once in a while under magnification to refresh my memory on a particular feature or whatever.I like to refer to them as intrinsically incorrect compared to meteorites. Some are actually very interesting. How about a rock that looks like chrome when you grind off a small spot and polish it a little but it is totally not magnetic. You can't make it leave a streak, it never rusts and is very hard. I have not found but one piece of whatever it is and am glad to have that one to study even though it is not a meteorite. Believe me, I have researched this one and although I have my suspicions about it being Hematite, I still am not positive about it. My style of hunting takes a lot of patience but has proved that Dr. H. H. Nininger was correct in this respect. There are a lot more meteorites of the 3/4 or smaller than most people might suspect. I have even found multiple pieces of the same fall doing this type of hunting in road gravels. Twice actually. Four pieces from one fall, two from another. I have one hang-up however, I might talk myself into grinding a small window into an iron but I don't think I could force myself to cut or break a suspect stone - no matter the size. Especially improbable if I had solid evidence to support my thinking that it was actually a meteorite. To me the whole stone is far more of a beauty, a wonder and marvel than bits and pieces. I know that's weird and I probably should get over it. Again, none of this is scientific I know, but if anyone is thinking about hunting with a magnet, hopefully some of this information will help you figure out a good process for dealing with what you pick up. Good luck hunting and don't loose your patience. Don't let your supermagnet get too close to your vehicle. If you stick it to a painted part of the vehicle, you
Re: [meteorite-list] The Fall of Sikhote-Alin
Michael, Thank you for all your efforts to entertain and educate. They are most successful in my case. Jerry Flaherty - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 8:58 AM Subject: [meteorite-list] The Fall of Sikhote-Alin SIKHOTE-ALIN 1947 - 2007 60 year anniversary of the fall of Sikhote-Alin: http://www.spacerocksinc.com/SIKHOTE-ALIN.html Sincerely, Michael Johnson SPACE ROCKS, INC. 932 Hanging Rock Road Boiling Springs, South Carolina 29316-7401 USA http://www.spacerocksinc.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
I'm shocked that such a meager device can successfully protect against high velocity impacts from debris? Why does it vaporize and not continue through? The gel in the Stardust collector showed particles penetrating several millimeters into the material. I see that the gel and the foil are different materials, the former meant to collect but a centimeter sized particle traveling at those speeds?? Help. Jerry Flaherty - Original Message - From: Darren Garrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Rob McCafferty [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 12:36 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 07:22:36 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Does anyone know more about the 'anti-meteorite system' that protects the ISS from being struck? 'Shields Up Scotty!' I believe it's as simple as a couple of layers of baking foil mounted over the main body of the station. The foil and impactor are vaporised by the impact and the vapour cannot penetrate do damage to the habitation modules. I believe the whole skin of the The term is Whipple shield or Whipple barrier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipple_shield __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
On Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:38:42 -0500, you wrote: I'm shocked that such a meager device can successfully protect against high velocity impacts from debris? Why does it vaporize and not continue through? Particle hits first layer-- explodes into a bajillion pieces (as would you if you hit something while going at thousands of miles per hout). Much of the energy from first hit is converted from kinetic to various other things-- heat, for instance. What kinetic energy continues moving forward is spread out over many particles. Those many particles may or may not still have enough energy to punch through another layer. If not, the process stops there. If they do, they'll lose and spred out energy again in the same way, and be even less likely to pass through another layer. __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
Thanks Darren. Sounds easy but... Never mind, practicle application works sooo theory is well supported. Wicked keen. Jerry Flaherty - Original Message - From: Darren Garrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gerald Flaherty [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 3:44 PM Subject: Re: Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris On Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:38:42 -0500, you wrote: I'm shocked that such a meager device can successfully protect against high velocity impacts from debris? Why does it vaporize and not continue through? Particle hits first layer-- explodes into a bajillion pieces (as would you if you hit something while going at thousands of miles per hout). Much of the energy from first hit is converted from kinetic to various other things-- heat, for instance. What kinetic energy continues moving forward is spread out over many particles. Those many particles may or may not still have enough energy to punch through another layer. If not, the process stops there. If they do, they'll lose and spred out energy again in the same way, and be even less likely to pass through another layer. __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
see http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5610363-description.html From:"Gerald Flaherty" [EMAIL PROTECTED]To:[EMAIL PROTECTED], "Rob McCafferty" [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC:meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.comSubject:Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debrisDate:Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:38:42 -0500I'm "shocked" that such a "meager" device can successfully protect againsthigh velocity impacts from debris? Why does it vaporize and not continuethrough?The gel in the Stardust collector showed particles penetrating severalmillimeters into the material.I see that the gel and the foil are different materials, the former meant tocollect but a centimeter sized particle traveling at those speeds??Help.Jerry Flaherty- Original Message -From: "Darren Garrison" [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: "Rob McCafferty" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.comSent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 12:36 PMSubject: Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 07:22:36 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Does anyone know more about the 'anti-meteorite system' that protects the ISS from being struck?'Shields Up Scotty!' I believe it's as simple as a couple of layers of baking foil mounted over the main body of the station. The foil and impactor are vaporised by the impact and the vapour cannot penetrate do damage to the habitation modules. I believe the whole skin of the The term is "Whipple shield" or "Whipple barrier" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipple_shield __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list__Meteorite-list mailing listMeteorite-list@meteoritecentral.comhttp://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
--- Gerald Flaherty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: but a centimeter sized particle traveling at those speeds?? Help. Jerry Flaherty What Darren said is how I understand it too. As for 1cm particles, nah This shield is designed to protect against micrometeorids travelling at a relative speed of 20km/s. It'll not protect you from big stuff though I suppose the relative speeds of orbital debris is likely travelling much slower. Even so, wouldn't fancy their chances against a pea sized bit of weather sat even if it ONLY had a collision speed of 1000m/s Rob McC It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61)
Hi, This speculation that 2003 EL61 could become an inner system Giant Comet is a very, very strange one. I find it extremely puzzling. But, if 2003 EL61 did, it would just be the capper on this strangest of all strange worlds in the solar system! I posted some information about EL61 last year if you're looking for more: http://www.mail-archive.com/meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com/msg48060.html Its dimensions are 1960 km one way, 1518 km the other, and 996 km through the axis of rotation. Hmm, can you picture that? Neither can I. So, here's a picture of the shape of 2003 EL61: http://hepwww.physics.yale.edu/quest/sedna/2003_el61.html Now, if you spin something fast enough (and EL61 spins in under 4 hours per dizzy) and it's stretchy, you end up with a shape like a squashed ball, or an oblate spheroid (or ellipsoid). But 2003 EL61 is not a squashed ball, round and flattened. No, it's much longer one way across than the other way across. Whatever 2003 EL61 is made of, it has to be stiff enough to hold this shape as it whirls around every 3.9154 hours. That creates a huge amount of force. It has to be VERY stiff stuff. We can calculate just how stiff it has to be to hold on its elliptical midriff bulge while spinning, figure out its modulus of rigidity and then look to see what materials are that stiff. The answer is ROCK, rock of a high density. The estimates run from a density of 2.6 to 3.4 gm/cm^3. For comparison, our Moon has a density of about 3.3 gm/cm^3. The currently favored explanation for the rapid rotation is a giant impact. Likewise, the existence of two moons circling 2003 EL61 is attributed to a giant impact, like our Moon, like Pluto and Charon; it's the moon-maker of choice these days... 2003 EL61 is a very bright body, reflecting 70% of the light that falls on it, and it is indeed, as you would suspect from this brightness, covered with water ice. BUT, it's not old water ice, but new, freshly fallen crystalline ice, otherwise known on our planet as snow. Apparently, EL61 is like Enceledus, the moon of Saturn, with water geysers which must be driven by internal heat. Now, we come to the Giant Comet Notion. Obviously, 2003 EL61's ice is a surface feature, a thin layer of volatiles over what is essentially a rocky body. So, how much material is there to be warmed by the Sun if EL61 got shuttled into the inner solar system? Let's compare it to Comet Hale/Bopp, which more people saw as a naked eye object than any recent comet (McNaught has been sneaky). Hale/Bopp was 40 kilometers across and we don't know how much of it was volatiles or how much of its surface was volatilized by the Sun, but certainly not more than a small percentage of the comet's bulk. If ALL of Hale/Bopp had been volatilized, it would have been a hundred times (or more) brighter and a thousand times more spectacular! If the water ice on the surface of 2003 EL61 were a mile deep, it would have the volume of 136,460 Hale/Bopps! In fact, the top one foot of 2003 EL61's icy surface contains 2.6 times the volume of Comet Hale/Bopp! Since it seems likely that the freshness of the surface ice on EL61 is because it is supplied by deep water geysers, there would seem to be some depth of ice on EL61. If it were 5 miles deep, the ice volume would be equivalent to the total volume of 682,300 Hale/Bopps. And if the layer were 20 miles deep, the ice volume would be the equivalent to the total volume of 2,729,200 Hale/Bopps! Incidentally, my Ice Unit, 1.0 Hale/Bopp Unit, is exactly 268,082.57 cubic kilometers, or 2.6808257 x 10^14 cubic meters of ice, weighing 2.6808257 x 10^17 kilograms! This amount of ice, One Hale/Bopp Unit, is 7.5 times the mass of ALL the interplanetary dust presently in the solar system, that which causes the visible reflection which we can see with our naked eye, the Zodiacal Light. The crucial question would be how deeply into the solar system a perturbed 2003 EL61 would travel in its new, perturbed orbit? If its perihelion were in Saturn Country, it would simply become the Big Cheese of the Centaur Group (of which there a 100 or so) and the Super Comet might show traces of coma in a telescope. If its perihelion were near to Jupiter (what an unstable orbit that would be!), it would be both bright and visually comet-like. If its perihelion were any closer, there is another factor to consider: Danger. Brown treats this (at least as quoted in this press story) as an almost touristy event: When it becomes a comet, it will be the brightest we will ever see. But if its perihelion were INSIDE Jupiter's orbit, it would pass through (and thus perturb) the Asteroid Belt! Hey now! Wait a minute! Perturb the Asteroids? That doesn't sound so great. No, definitely not a Great Idea. Lively, but not prudent. Anybody have a lot of enthusiasm for a Rain of Ice and Iron like we haven't seem in Eons? No? I don't have much... That's not a good thing (to quote
Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61)
The Sun's light would be scattered, diffused and dispersed. The skies would be brighter at night and dimmer in the daytime. AH HA!! Finally a solution to global warming. Jerry Flaherty - Original Message - From: Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Meteorite List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Cc: Ron Baalke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 3:26 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61) __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61)
I believe it's called The End of The World. OOPS I stand [sit or lie] corrected Jerry Flaherty - Original Message - From: Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Meteorite List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Cc: Ron Baalke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 3:26 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61) __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61)
Apologies for taking selected bits. Hope it's not out of context. --- Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ''2003 EL61 is a very bright body, reflecting 70% of the light that falls on it, and it is indeed, as you would suspect from this brightness, covered with water ice. BUT, it's not old water ice, but new, freshly fallen crystalline ice, otherwise known on our planet as snow'' Curiously, Halley's comet has an abledo of less than 4%, less than that of coal or black velvet. While Halley is not necessarily typical of comets, it is agreed that comets are very dark objects. Nucleus[nuclei] sizes have been estimated by removing modelled coma brightnesses from Hubble images and for nearby comets radar measurements seem to confirm the low albedo. Cometary dust may begin as silicate grained materials mantled with organic matter. To this hundreds of 0.01micron ice particles may form from a protosolar nebula into .5micron grains. These cluster into loose agglomerates which end up being part of the coma of comets. The evidence for this theory is the particles swept up by high altitude research planes [18km up] believed to be cometary in nature. This being the case it explains the brightness of the coma and -might I suggest- the brightness of EL61. It need not be covered in ice, just covered in this cometary 'snow' ''Now, we come to the Giant Comet Notion. Obviously, 2003 EL61's ice is a surface feature, a thin layer of volatiles over what is essentially a rocky body.'' Comets are generally considered to be a thin layer of rocky material over a lot of volatites, the complete opposite. I could well be wrong on this. Virgin comets are unusually bright on their first perihelion passage. One theory is that the surface volatiles ar vapourised away leaving this outer layer of dark material. This would suggest that if EL61 is indeed, becoming a comet, this is it's first journey inward which seems most unlikely. Also, comets sublimating ices have a temperature of 230K. Virgin comets can achieve this much farther out than comets on subsequent passes. This is because the dark silicate layer protects the icy material, insulating it. Only when the comet gets much closer does the heat conduct in to cause the sublimation of the ices. However, I doubt anyone would suggest EL61 has a surface temperature of 200K. There has to be an alternative explanation. Sorry the reply so lengthy. I just don't think EL61 can be cometary in nature. One other think caught my attention in this post '' A mere 10% decrease would lower the planetary temperature by 7 degrees C'' I thought the difference between aphelion and perihelion in earth's orbit made a 7% difference in solar intensity. Does anyone have a guess as to how long a change need apply for to effect earth? I suspect not Rob McC Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] tucson show
Hi all from freezing chicago,2 above with 25 below wind chill.I see the tucson show is rapidly moving along towards it's end.I hope everyone is having a great time.I would still loved to have been there,but london beckons in 2 days,before my beloved bears win the superbowl.I just want to personally give a plug to my no#1 man in tucson BOB C. for bringing tucson to me.I will be getting a 62 gram TATAHOUINE and a very nice GAO thanks to him.It is all who you know and what kind of $$ you are willing to spend.Again thanks to bob and his kindness to someone who could not be there this year.But I will be back next year with a vengence.Again I hope all enjoy what is left of the show and good luck to all in mike bloods auction tonight.There are some great items up for auction.Have a great what is left of this weekend. steve arnold,chicago,usa!! Steve R.Arnold,chicago,Ill,Usa!! Collecting Meteorites since 06/19/1999!! www.chicagometeorites.net Ebay I.D. Illinoismeteorites Never Miss an Email Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! http://mobile.yahoo.com/services?promote=mail __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] CORRECTIONS TO Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet'
Hi, Just to clear up a few things: EL61 is a big rock with a thin layer of snow. But it's so big and there's so much snow on a surface that size, that it amounts to all those Hale/Bopps. Some of my arithmetic last night was wrong (note to self: put on glasses, use calculator, dummie!), but the correct figures don't change the picture for the better. EL61's surface area is hard to calculate, given its odd shape, but it's about 9-10 million km^2. How do you measure the surface of that tri-axial shape? It would be just under 8 million km^2 if it were an efficient sphere, or 13 million km^2 if it were a box. EL61's shape has more surface than a sphere of the same volume, but less than the box it would fit in. Theories of packing efficiencies say a long egg is about 83% efficient, which would make EL61 about 10 million km^2. A Hale/Bopp sized object is about 33,500 km^3, so every kilometer of depth of ice on EL61 is equal to 298.5 Hale/Bopp sized objects. Every ten feet of snow on EL61 is equal to one Hale/Bopp. And every 45 cm of depth is a layer of material equivalent to the entire mass of the interplanetary dust of the Zodaical Light. If the ice on EL61's surface was one kilometer deep, its total volume would be the equivalent volume of a 270-kilometer diameter comet, a pure iceball. If the ice is ten kilometers deep, it would be the equivalent volume of a 580-kilometer diameter iceball. As huge as that volume of ice is, it's nothing compared to the total volume of 2003 EL61, which is 1,760,000,000 km^3. Another critical factor is that those volatiles are all spread out on a vast surface with the maximum ability to intercept the sun's rays, a surface of a body that is spinning so fast that every point crosses the nightside in 2 hours, guaranteeing full exposure of most of the surface and an average exposure of 50% everywhere. This is less mass than I calculated (too quickly) last night, but still more than enough to produce the results I described. I hate when you're off by more than an order of magnitude too big, but when you discover and correct it, the results are just as lousy and discouraging as before. Really annoying, and just as dangerous. Could the ice on EL61 just be very shallow, so that there's no big deal? The only source of crystalline ice (snow) on such a world is water geysers which must be driven by internal heat and pressure, like Enceledus, the moon of Saturn. This argues for some good depth of ice to reach or generate that heat and pressure. With an albedo of 0.70, the surface of 2003 EL61 is a mixture of new-fallen crystalline snow (albedo 0.90) and older icy surfaces (albedo 0.67). This suggests about 20% of 2003 EL61's surface is new fallen snow. Crystalline ice (snow) has destinctive spectral characteristics that ice (old and solid) does not. EL61's got it; its moons do not. If 20% of EL61 is covered with new snow, that suggests a fair rate of geological activity. If we had an orbiter watching it, it would probably find an active geyser or two going at any one time... Brown is using the term become a comet to describe the appearance, not the character, of 2003 EL61 if it entered the inner solar system. It confuses the listener, because he doesn't mean it IS a comet. What a comet is, is in flux right now, with all the recent missions and recoveries going on. They do not appear to be the traditional dirty snowball, but much more asteroidal. Conversely, we keep finding asteroids that may be comets. Ultimately, I think all the Small Bodies are similar with a range of volatiles that is not as wide as we thought. Comets are rockier; asteroids are wetter, than believed. The difference may be between hot and cold asteroids, rather than asteroids and comets. Sterling K. Webb --- - Original Message - From: Rob McCafferty [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED]; meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 4:25 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet' (2003 EL61) Apologies for taking selected bits. Hope it's not out of context. --- Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ''2003 EL61 is a very bright body, reflecting 70% of the light that falls on it, and it is indeed, as you would suspect from this brightness, covered with water ice. BUT, it's not old water ice, but new, freshly fallen crystalline ice, otherwise known on our planet as snow'' Curiously, Halley's comet has an abledo of less than 4%, less than that of coal or black velvet. While Halley is not necessarily typical of comets, it is agreed that comets are very dark objects. Nucleus[nuclei] sizes have been estimated by removing modelled coma brightnesses from Hubble images and for nearby comets radar measurements seem to confirm the low albedo. Cometary dust may begin as silicate grained materials mantled with organic matter. To
[meteorite-list] QIG update - artikle on answer and king solomon meteorites hyperlinked from news page
Listoids QMIG update www.rawnet.com.au/~qwalkra1/ Artikle on Answer and King Solomon meteorites now as html hyperlinked from the news page And yes - I have sent a blizzard of email to my spies in the field to see if this one is gettable but probably not... the kleverer of thou will note the inference that these are in fact from the same fall - however - one of my correspondents heard a bolide (at night which shook the house) in the early 70s which may confirm two separate finds... wait out for further email to sort this I have decided that ocr programs are wow ! - html far smaller (and neater) than jpeg and allows me to put up some piccies of thin sections soon... Still some difficulties sorting out the technology for photographing thin sections but I hope to have this resolved soon - poster of complete thin section under cross polarised light should be awesome and a killer sales item - a spectacular and elite way to decorate your study or lounge Export approval for Tenhams has agreement in principle - awaiting formal letter - awaiting a decision on Series #2 and #3... Maybe just maybe Glenoriston will be in Series #4 - I have the urge to slice and etch it... as prev only subscribers to the whole series will have the opportunity to obtain the exotic issues... Hooroo __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris
Hi, Rob, Darren, List, One gram traveling at 1000 m/sec, when stopped abruptly, releases its kinetic energy, which is 1000 joules [kg x (m/s)^2]. The combustion energy of TNT is 4600 joules per gram, so that energy release is the equivalent is 217 milligrams of TNT. Doesn't sound like that much, does it? In the USA, the legal limit for fireworks is 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic material. [Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Volume 2, Section 1500.85]. This is the traditional M-50, or perhaps the cherry bomb. Since pyrotechnics are weaker than TNT, imagine four to eight cherry bombs concentrated on one tiny spot... Of course, today's cherry bombs are not as good as yesterday's (pre-regulation) cherry bombs, but as a child, I fractured the brass casing (3 x 12) of a shell for 37mm anti-aircraft cannon with ONE cherry bomb. No better fun for an nine-year-old than a bagful of small high explosives and a bunch of old cannon shells, is there? How thick are the walls of your space station? Your space suit? Your visor? That hose you're breathing through? Or any of the thousands of things you need to stay alive? If that gram is coming in from beyond the Earth's gravity, you could close on it at almost 20 km/sec, the equivalent is about 85 grams of TNT. Disastrous. If the orbit of a piece of rubble is not oriented with your orbit, but at an angle to it, you and the object are crossing at some vector product of your velocities. This is the most serious and likely hazard. If you were in an equatorial orbit and the rubble was in a polar orbit and you had a geometrically perfect collision, the impact velocity would be 1.414 times the orbital velocity, with each gram carrying the equivalent of 27.3 grams of TNT in kinetic energy. Known in the trade as the Chop Suey Special. Sterling K. Webb - - Original Message - From: Rob McCafferty [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Gerald Flaherty [EMAIL PROTECTED]; meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 2:16 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Space station moves to avoid debris --- Gerald Flaherty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: but a centimeter sized particle traveling at those speeds?? Help. Jerry Flaherty What Darren said is how I understand it too. As for 1cm particles, nah This shield is designed to protect against micrometeorids travelling at a relative speed of 20km/s. It'll not protect you from big stuff though I suppose the relative speeds of orbital debris is likely travelling much slower. Even so, wouldn't fancy their chances against a pea sized bit of weather sat even if it ONLY had a collision speed of 1000m/s Rob McC __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] CORRECTIONS TO Dwarf Planet 'Becoming A Comet'
Fascinating reading. I can't help but feel that the use of the word comet is typical of scientists attempts to engage the layman. In this case, I accept the term 'becoming a comet' in a context of trying to engage the common plebian [we call them 'the Sun' Readers in the UK] The average Sun reader thinks they know what a comet is. If they are paying taxes for scientists to explain stuff then they want it in terms they think they understand. If the scientist try to get all superior then it's not on. That'd suggest the scientist have one up on the guys who pay their salaries and that's a no-no. I accept that 2003 EL61 is a fascinating object but a comet it ain't. Again I refer to the non-typical Halley as an example. The density of this comet is .25g/cm^3. Much less than 2003EL61. With an essentially rocky core, this is surely a different class of object. Fascinating discussion. [I continue this until we can establish once and for all whether CI or CM are cometary] Rob McC --- Sterling K. Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, Just to clear up a few things: EL61 is a big rock with a thin layer of snow. But it's so big and there's so much snow on a surface that size, that it amounts to all those Hale/Bopps. Some of my arithmetic last night was wrong (note to self: put on glasses, use calculator, dummie!), but the correct figures don't change the picture for the better. EL61's surface area is hard to calculate, given its odd shape, but it's about 9-10 million km^2. How do you measure the surface of that tri-axial shape? It would be just under 8 million km^2 if it were an efficient sphere, or 13 million km^2 if it were a box. EL61's shape has more surface than a sphere of the same volume, but less than the box it would fit in. Theories of packing efficiencies say a long egg is about 83% efficient, which would make EL61 about 10 million km^2. A Hale/Bopp sized object is about 33,500 km^3, so every kilometer of depth of ice on EL61 is equal to 298.5 Hale/Bopp sized objects. Every ten feet of snow on EL61 is equal to one Hale/Bopp. And every 45 cm of depth is a layer of material equivalent to the entire mass of the interplanetary dust of the Zodaical Light. If the ice on EL61's surface was one kilometer deep, its total volume would be the equivalent volume of a 270-kilometer diameter comet, a pure iceball. If the ice is ten kilometers deep, it would be the equivalent volume of a 580-kilometer diameter iceball. As huge as that volume of ice is, it's nothing compared to the total volume of 2003 EL61, which is 1,760,000,000 km^3. Another critical factor is that those volatiles are all spread out on a vast surface with the maximum ability to intercept the sun's rays, a surface of a body that is spinning so fast that every point crosses the nightside in 2 hours, guaranteeing full exposure of most of the surface and an average exposure of 50% everywhere. This is less mass than I calculated (too quickly) last night, but still more than enough to produce the results I described. I hate when you're off by more than an order of magnitude too big, but when you discover and correct it, the results are just as lousy and discouraging as before. Really annoying, and just as dangerous. Could the ice on EL61 just be very shallow, so that there's no big deal? The only source of crystalline ice (snow) on such a world is water geysers which must be driven by internal heat and pressure, like Enceledus, the moon of Saturn. This argues for some good depth of ice to reach or generate that heat and pressure. With an albedo of 0.70, the surface of 2003 EL61 is a mixture of new-fallen crystalline snow (albedo 0.90) and older icy surfaces (albedo 0.67). This suggests about 20% of 2003 EL61's surface is new fallen snow. Crystalline ice (snow) has destinctive spectral characteristics that ice (old and solid) does not. EL61's got it; its moons do not. If 20% of EL61 is covered with new snow, that suggests a fair rate of geological activity. If we had an orbiter watching it, it would probably find an active geyser or two going at any one time... Brown is using the term become a comet to describe the appearance, not the character, of 2003 EL61 if it entered the inner solar system. It confuses the listener, because he doesn't mean it IS a comet. What a comet is, is in flux right now, with all the recent missions and recoveries going on. They do not appear to be the traditional dirty snowball, but much more asteroidal. Conversely, we keep finding asteroids that may be comets. Ultimately, I think all the Small Bodies are similar with a range of volatiles that is not as wide as we thought. Comets are rockier; asteroids are wetter, than believed. The difference may be between hot and cold asteroids, rather than asteroids and comets. Sterling K. Webb
Re: [meteorite-list] tucson show
Thank you Steve Have a good trip remember the Natural History Museum in London and their meteorite exhibit. We'll be looking forward to bidding on the Tatahounie when you return. Unfortunately, you'll still be here to endure the thrashing the Bears will receive from Peyton. But don't let that diminish your joy in London. Elton __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Hunting with a magnet; suspect stones; meteorwrongs; and ramblings.
Rockbiter list, I enjoyed your write-up. I've always viewed the magnet as a tool to test things seen by the eye rather than a collecting tool, but you've made your point well. Recently en route to Tucson, I spent a day in the Arizona desert. There are rainwater collection and dispensing systems out there for wildlife (guzzlers), and these include large concrete aprons to collect the rain. In one of these I noted a few gallons of particulates collected in a sediment trap at the bottom, so I ran a magnet through this material. In this magnetic fraction were dozens of tiny metallic to glassy spheres. It seemed to good to be true. While it WAS what I was hoping to see, it was just too easy. There had been some welding in the area building tanks and fences, so I'm concerned that some or all of these sphereoids might be particulates from the welding. Have you found such things away from civilization? Secondly, you said: How about a rock that looks like chrome when you grind off a small spot and polish it a little but it is totally not magnetic. You can't make it leave a streak, it never rusts and is very hard. I have not found but one piece of whatever it is and am glad to have that one to study even though it is not a meteorite. Believe me, I have researched this one and although I have my suspicions about it being Hematite, I still am not positive about it. For sure it is not hematite. Hematite has the most distinctive streak in the mineral kingdom (rusty vermillion red even when the hematite is bright and metallic as a silver mirror). I am confused how you collected it with a magnet if it is absolutely not attracted to a magnet. Whatever the case, there are lots of hard, silver minerals not attracted to a magnet, A good bet would be ilmenite. Cheers, Norm http://TektiteSource.com --- Michael Murray [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've been hunting meteorites with supermagnets for a little over four years now. As I am sure everyone knows, when you drag a magnet you pick up all sorts of stuff including a lot of magnetite, at least here where I hunt you do. If you're interested in this type of hunting, here is how I deal with all the metal junk, the magnetite and the small stones. I clean the magnet off into a gold pan. I then screen it all through a very fine screen to remove the magnetite particles. I dump the stuff left in the screen back into the pan and I add water with a drop of dish soap and wash. I use a swirl and dump motion to get rid of the dirt and trash only. I usually repeat this process with clean water at least a couple time until the water remains fairly clean. I pass a magnet (not a supermagnet) over the stones at about 1/2 to 3/4 above and pull out all the bits of metal and examine them somewhat closely before getting rid of those pieces. Don't want to inadvertently pick up a suspect stone and through it out with the scrap.Now to have a look at all the little stones left. I will leave just a small amount of water in the pan with the material so that I can still swirl the contents if I want. Then I take it outside in the sunlight and take my first look. If I don't see anything right away that gets my attention, I'll drain all the water off and let the contents of the pan dry completely. Usually I just leave it sit for a day or so. So when it is dry, I take the pan in and put it under my mscope and go through the contents with close scrutiny. Sometimes, I have even done this when the contents were still wet. Anyway, if I see something that sticks out as unusual and interesting, I pick it out and take a closer look. One quick way to separate the magnetic stones is to place a strong magnet on the underside of the pan then swirl the rocks for a bit over the area where the magnet is located. All the strongly magnetic rocks will collect in one spot. Then just take the magnet over them from above and lift them out. This lets you get down to taking a look at the magnetic rocks in a hurry if you so wish. I realize none of this is very scientific. It's a hobby for me and gives me something relaxing to do in my spare time and I get exercise from the walks. The thrill in it all comes when I actually have something of extraterrestrial origin to look at and hold in my hand. Then I also get a lot more enjoyment out of studying the suspect rock to find out what it could be. After you have been through about a five gallon bucket full of these pea-size rocks you have a real good feel for what is a suspect meteorite or is actually a terrestrial stone (I guess you could call some of these meteorwrongs). I have studied the many, many, many little meteorwrongs to a fairthywell. To have a good meteorwrong to study can be a good learning tool. I have a collection of small rocks that I keep
[meteorite-list] Hair of Steve Arnold, Brenham
Hi all from sunny Tucson! Finally it warmed up, here. The Yearly Birthday Bash was a BLAST! Pity to all those who missed it. It was so packed the building security had to limit admitance and locked the doors. About 15 people were stuck outside. But back to HAIR. Oh do I have a treat for you! I was able to get Steve Arnold, of Brenham fame into selling a lock of his oh-so-sexy WORLD FAMOUS METEORITE HUNTER's hair. And for a good cause... We're talking, PREMO uber rare Carbonaceous hair! With PROVINANCE! Comes with a signed and dated document to the removal of said Carbonaceous slice off of his swollen cranium. Imagine this glorious specimen for your collection! With Specimin card! Truely, a piece worthy as the centerpiece of any collection. This lock of hair will be put on eBay upon my return to Austin. The proceeds of this auction will be donated to the Walter Branch cause via Maria. Is this not a worthy cause? So to one and all... don't pass up this opportunity to get a piece of Steve Arnold, Brenham! -mt IMCA 2760 Sent via the WebMail system at blackbearddata.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
