Re: [meteorite-list] Clouds Jamboree Gem and Mineral Show
Most of the show is outdoors at the palm tree laden Avi Hotel on the river and it runs the entire month of January. There are over 22,000 clean hotel rooms here in town and most are bargain priced this time of year, some as low as $29.95 /night. Not bad considering most have a wonderful view of the Colorado River, water taxis and all of the free alcohol you can consume 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you gamble a little bit. For those who like to gamble, you can freely give over your money to the many casinos or better yet, take a gamble on odd looking rocks. The Grand Canyon is only a couple of hours away or a few minutes away from a major petroglyphs site. The weather is usually perfect for meteorite hunting and there is nothing but desert, mountains, the river and lake Mojave as far as the eye can see. I've stayed at this hotel 6 years ago when we started a 4 day canoe trip down the Colorado River. A very nice hotel that served a good early breakfast before shoving off. From this point, it wasn't long before we were traveling thru some very nice desert scenery. I only wished I took the time to photograph what I saw as we went along. GeoZay __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Visit to the Meteorite Collection of the famous Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria
Outstanding! The Krasnojarsk is orgasmic. Great video work - thank you. Paul Swartz on November 11, 2010, a group of Austrian and German private meteorite collectors met at the renowned Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria, for a joint visit of the famous meteorite collection there on display in hall V. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Best Type of Light
List: What is the best type of light source to use when looking at meteorites and taking photos to achieve the most 'true' colors within the specimen? Thanks in Advance, Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Pits, Flows, Other Scenes in New Set of Mars Images (MRO)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-403 Pits, Flows, Other Scenes in New Set of Mars Images Jet Propulsion Laboratory December 01, 2010 Newly released images from 340 recent observations of Mars by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show details of a wide assortment of Martian environments. Strewn boulders and rippled sand lie on the floors of two shadowy, steep-walled pits. Mounds in another region appear to be mud volcanoes, which may have brought fine-grained material to the surface from deep underground. In the Tharsis volcanic region, the intersection of a lava flow with a trough caused by ground collapse allows seeing whether the flow happened before or after the collapse. These and thousands of other images from HiRISE observations between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1, 2010, are now available on NASA's Planetary Data System (http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/) and the camera team's website (http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu). The camera is one of six instruments on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which reached Mars in 2006. It has made more than 17,000 observations. Each observation covers an area of several square miles on Mars and reveals details as small as desks. For more information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, see http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/. Guy Webster (818) 354-6278 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. guy.webs...@jpl.nasa.gov 2010-403 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] MRO HiRISE Images - December 1, 2010
MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER HIRISE IMAGES December 1, 2010 o Proposed Future Mars Landing Site: Acidalia Planitia Mud Volcanoes http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_019612_2250 o Graben Cutting Lava Flow in Tharsis http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_019747_1975 o Bright Crater Gully Deposits in Terra Cimmeria http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_019935_1380 o Dark Rimless Pits in the Tharsis Region http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_019997_1975 o Layering in Exhumed Crater at Meridiani Planum http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_001374_1805 o Blocks in the Olympus Mons http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_003450_1975 All of the HiRISE images are archived here: http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ Information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is online at http://www.nasa.gov/mro. The mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, of Denver, is the prime contractor and built the spacecraft. HiRISE is operated by the University of Arizona. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., of Boulder, Colo., built the HiRISE instrument. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Evidence of Ancient Impact Preserved in Modern Sand
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/evidence-of-ancient-impact-preserved-in-modern-sand/ Evidence of Ancient Impact Preserved in Modern Sand NASA Astrobiology Daniella Scalice November 22, 2010 Through NAI's Minority Institution Research Support Program, scientists at the University of Puerto Rico and their collaborators have identified a unique record of an ancient meteorite impact event that is preserved in microstructures in detrital grains of quartz, zircon, and monazite in the Vaal River, South Africa. The sand samples were collected from the channel of the Vaal River near the two billion-year old Vredefort Dome impact structure, where impact-shocked minerals are known to occur in rocks. This is the first report that impact shock-deformed minerals survive the process of uplift, erosion, and sedimentary transport. The unique mineral shock-deformation was documented by scanning electron microscopy at the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Wisconsin. The team's results are published in the current issue of the GSA Bulletin http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/122/11-12/1968.abstract. This result demonstrates that a record of an ancient impact event can be preserved in sedimentary rocks billions of years after the impact crater is eroded. This recognition provides a new method to search for evidence of missing impacts in sedimentary rocks throughout the geologic time scale. This new insight may lead to the identification of missing impact events that have been hypothesized to cause biological mass extinctions, and also impact events on the early Earth that may have influenced the rise of life. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
Supposedly the cat is out of the bag Here is the link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/ Best Regards, Adam __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
I saw a show on one of the educational channels over a year ago which discussed the bacteria living in poisonous Mono Lake. They nearly touched on this very issue when discussing extremaphiles. Look at how small (~1 micron) the bacteria is. I remember this being one of the reasons for discounting the fossils in ALH 84001 which were said to be too small to support DNA. I am waiting patiently for them to announce the too numerous to count organized elements in NWA 998 which is the subject of intense study right now. I thought this would be announced this year as they predicted at the begging of the year. Best Regards, Adam - Original Message From: Adam Hupe raremeteori...@yahoo.com To: Adam meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thu, December 2, 2010 10:03:00 AM Subject: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form Supposedly the cat is out of the bag Here is the link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/ Best Regards, Adam __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
Another big change to the Drake Equation! Very exciting! Little boundries for life! Cheers, Pete Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 10:03:00 -0800 From: raremeteori...@yahoo.com To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form Supposedly the cat is out of the bag Here is the link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/ Best Regards, Adam __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 10:03:00 -0800 (PST), you wrote: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/ Jesus, is Jesus there heavy on the hyperbole! Here's an article written by someone who ISN'T a complete idiot. http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/12/bacteria-can-integrate-arsenic-into-its-dna-and-proteins.ars __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Best Type of Light
A very complex question actually, but for this purpose we can use a simple solution. If you are using digital, any lights can be used as long as they are all of the same type and color temperature. You then adjust the white balance in post processing. I am using CFLs and they work great. If you set up your lighting first and even if you want to use a colored background, insert a white, black or gray card where your meteorites will be posed Take an image of that card and then insert you preferred background. Shoot all of your rocks. When you process, get the proper white balance off of the card you shot first and then use that WB correction for all of your successive images. As long as your lighting setup isn't changed, the WB will be correct for all of the images. -- Richard Kowalski Full Moon Photography IMCA #1081 --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Thunder Stone stanleygr...@hotmail.com wrote: From: Thunder Stone stanleygr...@hotmail.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Best Type of Light To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 9:24 AM List: What is the best type of light source to use when looking at meteorites and taking photos to achieve the most 'true' colors within the specimen? Thanks in Advance, Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] NASA-Funded Research Discovers Life Built With Toxic Chemical
Dec. 02, 2010 Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.br...@nasa.gov Cathy Weselby Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650-604-2791 cathy.wese...@nasa.gov RELEASE: 10-320 NASA-FUNDED RESEARCH DISCOVERS LIFE BUILT WITH TOXIC CHEMICAL WASHINGTON -- NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth. Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components. The definition of life has just expanded, said Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it. This finding of an alternative biochemistry makeup will alter biology textbooks and expand the scope of the search for life beyond Earth. The research is published in this week's edition of Science Express. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur are the six basic building blocks of all known forms of life on Earth. Phosphorus is part of the chemical backbone of DNA and RNA, the structures that carry genetic instructions for life, and is considered an essential element for all living cells. Phosphorus is a central component of the energy-carrying molecule in all cells (adenosine triphosphate) and also the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. Arsenic, which is chemically similar to phosphorus, is poisonous for most life on Earth. Arsenic disrupts metabolic pathways because chemically it behaves similarly to phosphate. We know that some microbes can breathe arsenic, but what we've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic, said Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a NASA astrobiology research fellow in residence at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., and the research team's lead scientist. If something here on Earth can do something so unexpected, what else can life do that we haven't seen yet? The newly discovered microbe, strain GFAJ-1, is a member of a common group of bacteria, the Gammaproteobacteria. In the laboratory, the researchers successfully grew microbes from the lake on a diet that was very lean on phosphorus, but included generous helpings of arsenic. When researchers removed the phosphorus and replaced it with arsenic the microbes continued to grow. Subsequent analyses indicated that the arsenic was being used to produce the building blocks of new GFAJ-1 cells. The key issue the researchers investigated was when the microbe was grown on arsenic did the arsenic actually became incorporated into the organisms' vital biochemical machinery, such as DNA, proteins and the cell membranes. A variety of sophisticated laboratory techniques were used to determine where the arsenic was incorporated. The team chose to explore Mono Lake because of its unusual chemistry, especially its high salinity, high alkalinity, and high levels of arsenic. This chemistry is in part a result of Mono Lake's isolation from its sources of fresh water for 50 years. The results of this study will inform ongoing research in many areas, including the study of Earth's evolution, organic chemistry, biogeochemical cycles, disease mitigation and Earth system research. These findings also will open up new frontiers in microbiology and other areas of research. The idea of alternative biochemistries for life is common in science fiction, said Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. Until now a life form using arsenic as a building block was only theoretical, but now we know such life exists in Mono Lake. The research team included scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource in Menlo Park. NASA's Astrobiology Program in Washington contributed funding for the research through its Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology program and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. NASA's Astrobiology Program supports research into the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life on Earth. For more information about the finding and a complete list of researchers, visit: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov -end- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
Re: [meteorite-list] Best Type of Light
If you want the easiest way to get daylight color, go to WalMart and get the CFL bulbs marked daylight (with a Kelvin temperature of ~ 5500 or 6000, not home right now to get the exact number!). You may have to look around but every WalMart I've tired has them. Picked up a couple in Tucson during the shows a couple of years ago as I had left mine at home! These are available at 60, 75, and 100 watts, I believe. I use 2 or more 100 watters to photograph minerals, fossils, and meteorites without having to ever deal with white balance. These seem to be the best for the money. I tired the Reveal bulbs and had NO luck with them even though they say daylight! Just my 2 coppers worth of experience! John Teague Knoxville, Tennessee -Original Message- From: Richard Kowalski damoc...@yahoo.com Sent: Dec 2, 2010 2:21 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Best Type of Light A very complex question actually, but for this purpose we can use a simple solution. If you are using digital, any lights can be used as long as they are all of the same type and color temperature. You then adjust the white balance in post processing. I am using CFLs and they work great. If you set up your lighting first and even if you want to use a colored background, insert a white, black or gray card where your meteorites will be posed Take an image of that card and then insert you preferred background. Shoot all of your rocks. When you process, get the proper white balance off of the card you shot first and then use that WB correction for all of your successive images. As long as your lighting setup isn't changed, the WB will be correct for all of the images. -- Richard Kowalski Full Moon Photography IMCA #1081 --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Thunder Stone stanleygr...@hotmail.com wrote: From: Thunder Stone stanleygr...@hotmail.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Best Type of Light To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 9:24 AM List: What is the best type of light source to use when looking at meteorites and taking photos to achieve the most 'true' colors within the specimen? Thanks in Advance, Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Tally of Falls in the Last 10 years
Some more observations on these 21st century fall stats - There have been no pallasite or stony-iron falls during this period. 6 achondrites out of 56 falls total, that amounts to 9.3% ratio of achondrites to other types. 1 iron out of 56 falls, or only 1.7% ratio of irons to other types. Over the last 10 years, we have averaged 5.6 officially-recognized falls per year, but in the year 2005 there were no official falls. So far in 2010, we have only had 2 official falls and 3 others (non-official) awaiting classification. There were 15 hammer falls, or 1.5 per year for the last 10 years. 6 of those hammers were in North America and 5 in the USA. 2 other strong candidates for hammer falls have not been officially approved yet : Zunhua China and Cartersville Georgia. India has 10 falls (including one hammer) in the last 10 years. The USA has 7 falls (including 5 hammers) in the last 10 years, or approx. 71% hammer ratio - the highest of any nation with more than one fall. The USA had zero falls from Jan 01, 2000 until Mar 25, 2003. The goose-egg was broken the next day by the Park Forest hammer fall. The next big dry spell for the USA came after the Orlando Florida fall of Nov 08, 2004 and lasted until Feb 15, 2009 when Ash Creek fell. A dry spell of over 4 years. Since Ash Creek, the USA has had 4 official falls and one unapproved fall (Cartersville), in less than 3 years. Not to be outdone, Canada has only had 3 falls in the last 10 years, but all were doozies - Tagish Lake (C2-ung of extraordinary interest), Grimsby (hammer), and Buzzard Coulee (media sensation). -- Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone Ironworks Meteorites Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone Meteorite Top List - http://meteorite.gotop100.com EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 --- On 12/1/10, almi...@localnet.com almi...@localnet.com wrote: Hi Mike, Patrick and all, Then from Jan. 01, 2000 to Dec.1, 2010 there have been 56 falls in eleven years (11 yr).Interesting. --AL Mitterling Quoting Galactic Stone Ironworks meteoritem...@gmail.com: Hi Patrick, Yes, I meant to say from Jan 01, 2000. :) Best regards, MikeG On 11/30/10, Patrick Wiggins p...@wirelessbeehive.com wrote: Hi, If you are really meaning ...falls in the 21st century. shouldn't the list start on 2001 JAN 01, the beginning of the 21st century and not since 2000AD? Or maybe did you mean since the start of the 2000s? patrick On 30 Nov 2010, at 15:52, Galactic Stone Ironworks wrote: With Lorton now being official (thanks to Greg S. for pointing this out), here is a break down of types for all official meteorite falls in the 21st century. Only falls that are officially-approved and appear in the Met Bulletin are counted. Type : Total falls since 2000AD (56 total falls) __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list -- -- Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone Ironworks Meteorites Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone Meteorite Top List - http://meteorite.gotop100.com EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 --- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. If even one meteorite could ever prove to have fossils, regardless where it originated, it would revolutionize this hobby / industry! I would guess that as soon as one proves to have fossils of life beyond a shadow of a doubt, any other secret evidence of ET will rapidly surface. If that is what it takes to know for sure ET exists, I hope I find one soon because I am extremely anxious to know for sure! Abe Guenther -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Thunder Stone Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 1:44 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD: Accepting offers for Portales Valley nosecone
Hello Listees, While we wait for NASA's big announcement, here are some interesting images of a recently found mass of the 1998 New Mexico fall: Portales Valley: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220697291976 The owner of this 3855gram nosecone-shaped mass of metal-rich, metallic-melt called Portales Valley, is accepting serious offers. This represents an unexpected opportunity for the collector that may have missed-out on the initial offerings of this 1998 fall to obtain an uncut mass. Also represents an investment opportunity for a dealer (or consortium of dealers or institutions) since there are very few slices of this meteorite available. More details here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220697291976 Hope you, at least, enjoy the images, Bob V. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
I have to agree, I think sales hype will be the main factor to any increased prices of Martian meteorites until 100% proof is offered... an example of sales hype - Before the NASA announcement was even made, one person stopped selling a certain martian while another immediately offered some for sale. Reminds me of the old time sales tactics used to create a perceived demand, supply shortage and scarcity while a partner offers to supply those who missed out from the other persons stock. Just using this an an example of how hype can create an artificial increase in cost with good sales planning from people working together. If that time comes that fossils are found in any meteorite, all will jump up in price and demand I think. Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Guenther abe.guent...@mnsi.net wrote: From: Guenther abe.guent...@mnsi.net Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites To: 'Thunder Stone' stanleygr...@hotmail.com, meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 3:14 PM Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. If even one meteorite could ever prove to have fossils, regardless where it originated, it would revolutionize this hobby / industry! I would guess that as soon as one proves to have fossils of life beyond a shadow of a doubt, any other secret evidence of ET will rapidly surface. If that is what it takes to know for sure ET exists, I hope I find one soon because I am extremely anxious to know for sure! Abe Guenther -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Thunder Stone Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 1:44 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
I wouldn't call it hype when a major institution like the University of Toronto announces it: http://skymania.com/wp/2010/04/new-meteorite-clues-to-life-on-mars.html This has nothing to do with sales on my part. I only have a few milligrams left of NWA 998 to sell unless somebody wants the main mass which is currently not for sale. People who bought some of this in the past should be happy since I was told by a researcher that it is much, much more rich in presumed fossils than the world famous ALH 84001.They are trying to prove this without a doubt as mentioned in the article. I find this very exciting and nothing to do with hype. I was just making the point that there are a lot flakes out there gathering media attention with crazy claims of alien life and posting outrageous prices to the press. It seems when a reliable institution makes an announcement, it goes largely ignored. Why is this? Adam - Original Message From: Greg Catterton star_wars_collec...@yahoo.com To: Guenther abe.guent...@mnsi.net Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thu, December 2, 2010 12:41:52 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites I have to agree, I think sales hype will be the main factor to any increased prices of Martian meteorites until 100% proof is offered... an example of sales hype - Before the NASA announcement was even made, one person stopped selling a certain martian while another immediately offered some for sale. Reminds me of the old time sales tactics used to create a perceived demand, supply shortage and scarcity while a partner offers to supply those who missed out from the other persons stock. Just using this an an example of how hype can create an artificial increase in cost with good sales planning from people working together. If that time comes that fossils are found in any meteorite, all will jump up in price and demand I think. Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Guenther abe.guent...@mnsi.net wrote: From: Guenther abe.guent...@mnsi.net Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites To: 'Thunder Stone' stanleygr...@hotmail.com, meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 3:14 PM Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. If even one meteorite could ever prove to have fossils, regardless where it originated, it would revolutionize this hobby / industry! I would guess that as soon as one proves to have fossils of life beyond a shadow of a doubt, any other secret evidence of ET will rapidly surface. If that is what it takes to know for sure ET exists, I hope I find one soon because I am extremely anxious to know for sure! Abe Guenther -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Thunder Stone Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 1:44 PM To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
I saw something else on (I think) The History Channel with another life form near Mono Lake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2-xj_axpYfeature=related NASA didn't mention anything about this, did they? Carl2 Adam wrote: I saw a show on one of the educational channels over a year ago which discussed the bacteria living in poisonous Mono Lake. They nearly touched on this very issue when discussing extremaphiles. Look at how small (~1 micron) the bacteriais. I remember this being one of the reasons for discounting the fossils in ALH84001 which were said to be too small to support DNA... __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
Sales of my remaining specimens of Monturaqu Impactite have also been suspended until further notice. Jim Strope 421 Fourth Street Glen Dale, WV 26038 http://www.catchafallingstar.com/ I have to agree, I think sales hype will be the main factor to any increased prices of Martian meteorites until 100% proof is offered... an example of sales hype - Before the NASA announcement was even made, one person stopped selling a certain martian while another immediately offered some for sale. Reminds me of the old time sales tactics used to create a perceived demand, supply shortage and scarcity while a partner offers to supply those who missed out from the other persons stock. Just using this an an example of how hype can create an artificial increase in cost with good sales planning from people working together. If that time comes that fossils are found in any meteorite, all will jump up in price and demand I think. Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Guenther abe.guenther at mnsi.net wrote: From: Guenther abe.guenther at mnsi.net Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites To: 'Thunder Stone' stanleygregr at hotmail.com , meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 3:14 PM Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. If even one meteorite could ever prove to have fossils, regardless where it originated, it would revolutionize this hobby / industry! I would guess that as soon as one proves to have fossils of life beyond a shadow of a doubt, any other secret evidence of ET will rapidly surface. If that is what it takes to know for sure ET exists, I hope I find one soon because I am extremely anxious to know for sure! Abe Guenther -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com [mailto: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com ] On Behalf Of Thunder Stone Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 1:44 PM To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
Galactic Stone and Ironworks has suspended sales of all Jesus-related ice meteorites. ;) CM1 Toliet Plungers are still available at a discount. -- Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone Ironworks Meteorites Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone Meteorite Top List - http://meteorite.gotop100.com EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 --- On 12/2/10, Jim Strope nwa...@comcast.net wrote: Sales of my remaining specimens of Monturaqu Impactite have also been suspended until further notice. Jim Strope 421 Fourth Street Glen Dale, WV 26038 http://www.catchafallingstar.com/ I have to agree, I think sales hype will be the main factor to any increased prices of Martian meteorites until 100% proof is offered... an example of sales hype - Before the NASA announcement was even made, one person stopped selling a certain martian while another immediately offered some for sale. Reminds me of the old time sales tactics used to create a perceived demand, supply shortage and scarcity while a partner offers to supply those who missed out from the other persons stock. Just using this an an example of how hype can create an artificial increase in cost with good sales planning from people working together. If that time comes that fossils are found in any meteorite, all will jump up in price and demand I think. Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites --- On Thu, 12/2/10, Guenther abe.guenther at mnsi.net wrote: From: Guenther abe.guenther at mnsi.net Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites To: 'Thunder Stone' stanleygregr at hotmail.com , meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 3:14 PM Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. If even one meteorite could ever prove to have fossils, regardless where it originated, it would revolutionize this hobby / industry! I would guess that as soon as one proves to have fossils of life beyond a shadow of a doubt, any other secret evidence of ET will rapidly surface. If that is what it takes to know for sure ET exists, I hope I find one soon because I am extremely anxious to know for sure! Abe Guenther -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com [mailto: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com ] On Behalf Of Thunder Stone Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 1:44 PM To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com Subject: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites List: I wonder if this will increase the demand (and value) of all Martian Meteorites since they believe possible life is within multiple Martian Meteorites. Be interesting to see what happens. Greg S. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
I have some Mono Lake salt I'd be happy to trade for any martian meteorite. Howard Wu Bishop, CA __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] NASA Finds New Life Form
Interestingly enough NASA announces a discovery that helps change and expand our understanding of what kind of life is possible in the universe. This worldwide scientific news gets a few little blurbs on the Met-List. ;) For those who'd like to read more on this discovery: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/astrobiology_toxic_chemical.html Astrobiology Magazine: http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/3698/thriving-on-arsenic Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=bacteria-use-arsenic-as-basic-build-10-12-02 Space.com: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/arsenic-bacteria-alien-life-101202.html Discover Magazine: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2010/12/02/of-arsenic-and-aliens/ Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703377504575650840897300342.html USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2010-12-03-microbe03_ST_N.htm Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1202/Arsenic-microbe-in-Mono-Lake-may-reshape-hunt-for-extraterrestrial-life BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11886943 CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/12/02/nasa.extraterrestrial.life/?hpt=T2 Enjoy... Regards, Eric On 12/2/2010 10:03 AM, Adam Hupe wrote: Supposedly the cat is out of the bag Here is the link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/ Best Regards, Adam __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
Just wanted to note that neither of the current MERs were designed to look for signs of life (well, short of bumping into a house or some such grin. In fact the last machines sent to Mars to look for signs of life were the Viking landers back in the 70s. Happily that is soon to change with next year's planned launch of MSL. More data here: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl Clear skies, patrick Good point Greg but since the Mars Rovers haven't found any evidence of life, it would be hugely coincidental for a meteorite from there to have any fossils. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD: Signed Nininger Book - Krinov Book Principles of Meteoritics, and Meteorite Jewelry for Holiday Shopping :)
Hi there lovely meteorite people! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and you are all enjoying the holiday time :) I have some really cool auctions up, and the coolest of them all, (I swear, I have never seen anything so cool) Is a HANDWRITTEN Christmas Card from HH Nininger and His wife, Addie, that comes complete with Meteorite Spheroids in it! HOW COOL IS THAT? And that holiday card is inside a Signed book of his, with a perfect dust jacket, RARE FIND!!! I am selling some more stuff off for a friend of mine, and she has some really really amazing books, they are scarce and hard to find copies, and like I said with this Christmas card, who has ever seen that? She also is getting me to sell another Krinov book for her, this one is the Principles of Meteoritics. Also, my friend, the lovely Lisa Marie Morrison, is making some lovely holiday jewelry with Gibeon Meteorites, and she asked me to sell them on my Ebay site for her, and I told her that I gladly would. So all you meteorite fellas who need a good Christmas present for your lovely beautiful women in your life, this is a good opportunity to do so, (although one of these necklaces would look really good on a guy too).:) Help us all raise money, and bid high and bid happy :) Here are all my new meteorite related auctions this week: This is that crazy one of a kind SIGNED Nininger book, with a Handwritten Christmas Card from HH Nininger and his wife (who would not want this?!?) - A copy of Nininger's Arizona's Meteorite Crater, inscribed by Nininger himself dedicated to some of friends thanking them for cooking him a Thanksgiving meal, and including a Christmas card signed by Nininger and his wife, plus a stardust sample! It doesn't get any better than this! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=260702306850ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT - A copy of Krinov's Principals of Meteoritics - nice copy - good condition - with a dust jacket! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=250736663047ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT - An old collection Canyon Diablo Meteorite Specimen http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=250734531546ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT - A lovely Campo del Cielo Meteorite Specimen http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=260700228221ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT - A Carved NWA 869 Sphere - super nice! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=260698514595ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT Lisa Marie Morrison's Jewelry auctions: This is the more feminine of the two that are up for sale. feel free to make an offer on it :) http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibeon-Meteorite-Sterling-Silver-Necklace-Pendant-OOAK-/250736708973?pt=Handcrafted_Artisan_Jewelryhash=item3a61128d6d This is the one that is more masculine - they are both lovely gorgeous Gibeon's http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibeon-Meteorite-Sterling-Silver-Necklace-Pendant-OOAK-/250736709765?pt=Handcrafted_Artisan_Jewelryhash=item3a61129085 Thank you guys, love you guys! Leigh Anne DelRay IMCA #7446 www.callistoimages.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Grimsby meteorite on National Geographic Ch. tonight
Hello all, For those in the West Coast of the US, the National Geographic Channel's Naked Science had/has a program on Grimsby. It was shown at 7 pm but will show again at 10pm. Frank __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Martian Meteorites
I'm pretty sure the raison d'etre behind the Mars Missions is to look for life or signs of biological activity. I know they're looking for water, but why? Could it be because 70 to 90% of a living organism is water? Water is the prime ingredient and habitat for life. Something like 80% of all Earth fossils are marine. From the very beginning, they've been looking for signs of life. The search for water is a subset of the main goal of looking for life. Mariner 4 calculated that liquid water could not exist on Mar's surface. The Viking orbiters were looking for signs of ancient water to determine if life could have existed in the Martian past. Since they figured out that multicellular life was a no go, the Viking probes went to Mars in the 1970s to specifically look for single-celled organisms and organic matter. The Phoenix lander of 2008 had two goals: look for life supporting habitable zones and of course, to look for geologic signs of water. All the future Mars missions on the drawing board have one purpose. To look for signs of life! So far none of the evidence has met the criteria and parameters for exo-biologic origin. Humans are a lonely herd. We just can't believe that we're all alone. It's hard to accept that the closest, most Earth-like planet we can imagine is a cold, desolate, lifeless place. - Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have. (SW) Phil Whitmer Just wanted to note that neither of the current MERs were designed to look for signs of life (well, short of bumping into a house or some such grin. In fact the last machines sent to Mars to look for signs of life were the Viking landers back in the 70s. Happily that is soon to change with next year's planned launch of MSL. More data here: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl Clear skies, patrick __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Martian Meteorite Not Evidence of Extraterrestrials, Scientists Say
Not only is there no evidence of life on the surface of Mars, there's also no evidence in Martian meteorites: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars-meteorite-extraterrestrial-life-atmosphere-101201.html Martian Meteorite Not Evidence of Extraterrestrials, Scientists Say By Charles Q. Choi SPACE.com Contributor posted: 02 December 2010 09:30 am ET What some argue is evidence of ancient life in a meteorite from Mars could have a simple chemical explanation, scientists now suggest. These findings could also shed light on of the tricky chemistry going on in the atmospheres of both Mars and Earth. Impacting space rocks on Mars over the years have hurled debris off the planet, some of which has landed on Earth. One such rock - the 3.9 billion-year-old meteorite known as ALH84001 - had globular, micron-sized carbonate particles seemingly arranged in chains that some thought must have been made by ancient Martian life. Ads by GoogleThe 9mm is No DefenseDiscover What Self Defense Masters The Army Don't Want You To Know www.CloseCombatTraining.comWhat is Quantum Jumping?Discover Why Thousands of People are Jumping to Change Their Life www.QuantumJumping.comHowever, researchers have now discovered a new way to form carbonates on Earth without interference from biological organisms. They suggest this process likely takes place on Mars as well. Unusual oxygen type The carbonates seen in ALH84001 possessed unusually high levels of the isotope oxygen-17. (An oxygen atom has eight protons in its nucleus, and while most of these also have eight neutrons, oxygen-17 has nine.) Atmospheric chemist Robina Shaheen at the University of California at San Diego discovered anomalously high levels of oxygen-17 in carbonates found on dust grains, aerosols and dirt on Earth as well. This hinted that a chemical process common to both planets might be at work. Shaheen calculated that ozone in the atmosphere could interact with oxygen-bearing mineral aerosols from dust and other sources to form hydrogen peroxide and carbonates possessing this same oxygen-isotope anomaly. What she found is that the tiny little layer on the outside of the grain is where this chemistry all happens, said researcher Mark Thiemens, a planetary scientist at the University of California at San Diego. Shaheen's analysis of the carbonates in ALH84001 suggested they could have been formed on aerosols in the ancient Martian atmosphere. NASA's Phoenix lander recently detected carbonates linked with particulates in the dusty atmosphere of Mars. We think it might be this same mechanism that is operating, she said. Although the researchers think the carbonate particles seen in ALH84001 are probably not biological in origin, that doesn't mean that life is impossible on Mars, Thiemens cautioned. This chemical process might not only shed light on the past and present of Mars, but it could also do the same for our planet as well. For instance, current models of atmospheric processes on Earth assume that the mixing of large volumes of gases drives the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere. This new work might force a rethinking of this idea, scientists said, especially as the Earth's atmosphere becomes warmer and dustier due to climate change, providing more opportunities for this kind of chemistry to take place on aerosols. The chemical transformations aerosols can undergo could make them seeds for cloud formation when before we thought they could not, which has huge implications regarding the water cycle and probabilities of rain, Shaheen told SPACE.com. Window into Earth's past Scientists could also peer into Earth's atmosphere as it was in the past, particularly its oxygen levels, by examining carbonates found in rocks that are hundreds of millions of years old, researchers said. This could provide a window to early Earth far beyond the 60,000 years or so back that scientists can now study via ice core samples. We've found a new way to measure the earth's atmosphere for time periods when we previously could not do it, Thiemens said. What happened to ozone and oxygen levels 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Tertiary period when the dinosaurs and many other forms of life were killed in a mass extinction? Who died first? Did the food chain disappear before the dinosaurs? What happened 251 million years ago during the Permian-Triassic period, the most severe extinction of life on Earth, when 85 percent of life disappeared and no one knows why? There's no record of what happened in the atmosphere. But if you can find a record of what happened to oxygen levels, you can answer questions like that. Ancient carbonate might even shed light on the origins of complex life, Thiemens said. If you want to understand the origin and evolution of complex life, oxygen is your number one culprit, Thiemens told SPACE.com. The most interesting time carbonates might
