Sometime late last century I purchased a chunk of Gibeon iron from Blaine Reed. It was a very well formed complete individual that contained many of the features I needed. Yes, needed. For this particular iron was going to earn its keep as a tool for teaching about the solar system. Since that time, literally thousands of students young and
An Interplanetary Ambassador: The Gibeon Meteorite Read Post »
It is always exciting for me when I get the word back that a meteorite has finished being classified and is off to be approved. That happened several weeks ago for Paul and me. Three meteorites I had found while cutting a mixed box of stones looked unusual enough to warrant being sent off and classified. NWA 10731 as it
Preliminary results from quick tests with a handheld XRF show that you can tell the difference. Recently I was able to get access to a hand-held XRF analyzer (a Thermo Niton XL2 GOLDD unit). After much delay due to hardware problems and scheduled maintenance, I was finally able to test the various specimens of tektites, impactites, and obsidian that
Part 2 – Tektite or Impactite or Obsidian Pseudo-tektite? Read Post »
Tieschitz is interesting in thin section. In our sample, large and small chondrules are set apart by opaque matrix. Radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline chondrules display aqueous alteration. One large chondrule contains several relict grains. We see chondrules that appear to be radial olivine darkened with fine included particles, probably amphiboles or other alteration products, and by rust stains. There is
Splashform tektites largely assumed their geometric form during aerodynamic flight, giving rise to a wide variety of dumbbells, teardrops, patties, spheroids, and similar forms. Amongst the splashforms, there is a subclass which I term “splatforms” which show deformation of primary shapes suggestive of having “splatted” against some hard surface while yet very plastic. In the last column of this series,
Our Meteorite of the Month is kindly provided by Tucson Meteorites who hosts The Meteorite Picture of the Day. jnmczurich writes: This end section is a part of a 19 kg mass, found within the Imilac strewn field in 1986. One of the pictures shows the original impact crater with the 19 kg individual/fragment looking some few centimeters out of
