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Author
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Topic: Identifying and collecting meteorites
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David Stephenson
Member Posts: 294
From: England
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 07-30-2003 03:13 AM
   
I have just got interested in collecting meteorites and wonder how they are classified and identified. Is there a recognized body of scientists who ascertain where they came from? How is their source proven? If someone finds a meteorite where can they send it? |
derek
Member Posts: 297
From: N.Ireland.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 07-30-2003 04:04 AM
Try Rob Elliott, he's a Scotland-based source for all types, including lunar and Martian. |
Larry
Member Posts: 34
From: Cincinnati Ohio USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 07-30-2003 10:18 AM
I found this book to be very helpful: Rocks from Space: Meteorites and Meteorite Hunters by O. Richard and Dorothy S. Norton. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 07-30-2003 03:30 PM
An even better book is "Meteorites" by the same author, the nicest book on meteorites in my opinion. |
Walter Branch
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 07-30-2003 06:21 PM
I would like to invite you to take a look at my website. I have a lot of information there regarding collecting meteorites, type and classification, meteorites in history, recommended book and links, meteorites that have hit objects and more information. |
Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-31-2003 04:57 PM
I checked out your website, liked what I saw, and bought a small meteorite from your eBay listing. Looking forward to getting my piece of the Allende rock. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 07-31-2003 06:08 PM
I also just bought one of your meteorites from Astro-Auction last night. It takes me back to when I climbed part way down Meteor Crater with my Dad when I was a wee lad. I look forward to displaying it at home. |
DC Giants
Member Posts: 135
From: Kansas City, MO USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-31-2003 09:43 PM
Good luck collecting meteorites! There are some neat ones out there. |
derek
Member Posts: 297
From: N.Ireland.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 08-01-2003 08:02 AM
And they've definitely flown, unlike some items you get offered! |
Ed beck
Member Posts: 227
From: Florida
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-09-2003 11:47 PM
I would like to sing the praises of branchmeteorites.com. I have since received my slice of the Allende. It is wonderful! I first saw a sample of this rock at a planetarium in Miami. Never thought that I could own something like that. Thanks Dr. Branch! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-10-2003 12:00 AM
I have a few meteorites in my collection -- two larger pieces and a few small samples. I know they are meteorites, as I bought them from museums and such, but unfortunately, over the years I have lost the accompanying paperwork which identified from where they were recovered.I am relatively positive that my two larger pieces are Odessa and Canyon Diablo samples (one each) but is there a way to visually identify which is which? And what about the small fragments? Can the same visual inspection identify their source? |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 08-10-2003 11:44 AM
A visual inspection alone cannot tell the difference between Canyon Diablo and Odessa, a chemical one can. And the smaller ones are probably even harder to identify. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-10-2003 11:52 AM
Thanks, I suspected as much. Assuming I'd want to have these tested, any recommendations?Different question, but related -- how do meteorite collectors assemble their collections? Do you try to get one sample from each fall? Or is it based on meteorite-type? Or perhaps appearance (beauty)? Also, I have a polished slice of a meteorite to show the Widmanstatten pattern. Is it more popular to collect slices or complete (crust intact) samples? |
4tr
Member Posts: 129
From: Scituate, Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 08-10-2003 11:56 AM
I agree with Jurg. However, if one of the larger pieces has some dark fusion crust and the other is mostly oxidized (reddish in appearance), the one with the fusion crust is very likely the Canyon Diablo. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-10-2003 12:12 PM
I thought I would share a picture (note that the meteorites are not attached to the background -- they were all purchased separately). |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-23-2010 12:09 PM
Working on a story for tomorrow's (Tuesday's) paper and have a quick question: Are all meteorites magnetic?Editor's note: Threads merged. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-23-2010 12:15 PM
I am not aware of any meteorites that are magnetic (i.e. they don't attract other ferrite objects). Most meteorites however do have some ferromagnetic material which will respond to a magnetic field. There are in rare instances (stony) meteorites recovered which have such a low percentage of nickle/iron they will not be attracted to a magnet. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-23-2010 12:36 PM
Ah, okay, thanks. Working on a story about a guy who nearly got conked on the head by a rock from out of the blue (happened about a year ago.) He says he took it to a guy who owns a foundry and was unable to recognize what it was. It's about three pounds; a magnet doesn't stick to it. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-23-2010 12:41 PM
Best recommendation would be to have it sent to an meteorite lab at an academic institution or the Smithsonian for testing and classification. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-23-2010 12:43 PM
He took it to the local college, which also was unable to ID it. Since he's in NJ, I suggested the Hayden Planetarium in NYC. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 08-23-2010 04:28 PM
The vast majority of 'rock fell out of sky' stories are not meteorites. You should ask the guy if it was hot or if it left a crater. In most such stories this is what people say.If you can post a picture it may be possible to identify the object. Most meteorites do attract a magnet. They're also exceptionally heavy for their size (denser than Earthly rocks). |
paulushumungus
Member Posts: 466
From: Burton, Derbyshire, England
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 08-24-2010 12:14 PM
Come on David Bryant (Mr Meteorite)... I cannot believe that you have not added to this topic. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 08-24-2010 01:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spaced out:
Most meteorites do attract a magnet. They're also exceptionally heavy for their size (denser than Earthly rocks).
ALL meteorites contain metal, and are magnetic, it (metal) may be ground up too fine to see,Not all are denser (ex. stony meteorites, chondrites) Though stony meteorites are hard to spot. Most "meteorite" turns out to be hematite (iron ore) or mining slag. |
j0s9
Member Posts: 140
From: Clinton, MA, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 08-30-2010 07:47 PM
I think that a good way to collect, buy, sell, and/or get news and info about meteorites is joining the meteorite list. I had bought several rare samples, which are nicer and "cheaper" than the ones offered on eBay (sometimes by the same sellers). The web page for joining is meteoritecentral, if you subscribe you get about 2-3 emails per day, but also you can check past posts without joining on the archive section of the same web page. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-17-2010 02:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by paulushumungus:
Come on David Bryant (Mr Meteorite)... I cannot believe that you have not added to this topic.
Actually, the most intriguing and (as a class) expensive meteorites are NOT attracted to a magnet. These are the achondrites, which derive from fully differentiated bodies such as the Moon, Mars, the asteroids and possibly Mercury!There's a brief breakdown on my meteorite website. Collecting meteorites need not be an expensive hobby: mine start at $3! As a matter of fact, I've given small lunar meteorites to ten Apollo astronauts! |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 09-17-2010 06:03 AM
It might be a marcasite. These are typically iron pyrites, round and can easily be mistaken for meteorites. Though not common, they are not rare. A stroll along the base of any chalk cliffs in the UK might reveal one. I have one found in Lulworth Cove. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 09-20-2010 06:49 AM
A good collection of meteorites can be seen in Manhattan at The Evolution Store. |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 09-20-2010 10:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by moorouge:
I have one found in Lulworth Cove.
I wonder if there are many meteorites found in Lulworth cove, given the high rate of erosion in that area? It would be cool to find one insitu in the cliffs next to one of the fossils and date the fall to the deposit! |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 09-20-2010 11:24 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nasamad:
I wonder if there are many meteorites found in Lulworth cove, given the high rate of erosion in that area?
I didn't say I found a meteorite. I said I found a marcasite which can be mistaken for one. |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 09-20-2010 12:38 PM
Not wanting to put a dampener on any dreams of becoming 'meteorite men' over here in the UK: but only fifty have ever been found here, all but two of which were seen coming down! The problem is that we don't have any deserts and the landscape is too wet and grassy! |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 09-20-2010 02:02 PM
Very true, but we are lucky enough to be collecting at a time when there is a profusion of amazing meteorites available at prices that would have seemed impossible just ten or twenty years ago.Beautiful whole chondrites from NWA sell for peanuts per gram, and even lunar and martian material is a bargain compared to prices not so long ago. Eventually the supply of finds from the Sahara is going to dry up. Demand is not going to go down, so there's only one way for prices to go in the end. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 09-29-2010 05:00 AM
Check out the sub category "Space Rocks" at the CloudyNights forum! |
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