#Meteorite etching
8 messages in this thread
Hi Jim,
Here is yet another message for you to read <<G>>. I think Joseph's method
sounds like a really good way to go. Joseph has been collecting longer than I
and knows the ropes better. However if you don't have all the equipment, the
body shop sandpaper on a flat hard surface works well. None of my
professionally etched meteorites I have look better than what I have done. The
oven bit is a really good Idea and I have but one precaution. Make sure to put
meteorite(s) on the racks above the base of the oven as that base gets alot
hotter than the air inside (its where the heat rises and can be much hotter
than 200). I use a thermometer to keep check on air temp. inside.
I use a spray lacquer that dries in a few minutes. I personally have had good
results with that method. So far my etches have withstood the test of time.
I Second Joseph's motion to have a group of people here in the forum wanting to
address all aspects of meteoritics. We could address a number of areas as: how
to collect, sources, types and classes, good books, preservation, display
techniques, etc, etc. Now how to get the message out?
–AL
Hi, Al–
Write letters to the editors of any and all magazines meteoritophiles are
likely to read, mentioning this forum and the rocks-and-fossils mail-list. I
lured a number of people here by writing to Mineralogical Record, Rocks &
Minerals, the UV Waves (newsletter of the Fluorescent Mineral Society), the
Friends of Mineralogy newsletter, and so on. I made no special mention of
meteorites, and did not send to publications specialized for such. I
emphasized the virtues of this mode of communication, such as the cheap, fast,
and easy way you talk to Hawaii, Europe, and wherever.
A couple of years back, I watched in Astronomy forum as people reported a great
fireball that ran up the east coast. They were comparing TV news reports to
winnow out a lot more truth than the reporters had a handle on (in the
discussion I learned of the Draconid/Giacobinid shower, one I had not heard
of), and by comparing reports were actually zeroing in on the landing area
until a TV report was relayed that a fragment had trashed some person's
Volkswagen – they might have actually located the zone to search even if the
meteorite had not "announced" its landing in the news.
A few tales such as that may convince fence-sitters that this medium can make
new things possible.
–Doug
Doug,
That Meteorite was the Peekskill, N.Y. fall (October 9, 1992). and I think it
was a red c. 1980 Ford Fairlane or some similar American car. Creamed the rear
edge of the left trunk with a hole you can easily put your arm through. But
the gas tank and bumper were intact! Got the picture in front of me right now.
The stone's fusion crust was damaged with scraped red paint and one corner has
a 50 cents sized caked on concrete dust from the driveway. Would you believe
that the car is a choice collectible now??? Miniscule amounts of that
meteorite are actually available to collectors, but at a horrendous premium
(it's only an H6 common olivine bronzite chondrite!),…and with a copy of the
front-page article from the local paper! and a video of the meteorite as
someone shot it over Maryland.
No, I don't have a piece of that particular fall, though I'd love to see the
video sometime. Would've thought the remnant meteorite would have been more
spectacular, rather than a sub-bowling ball-sized individual. But that fall
did generate a lot of interest!
And, yes, communicating with Hawaii certainly is easy,…though long distance
off peak hours is pretty reasonable these days.
Joseph
Hi, Joseph
> and I think it was a red c. 1980 Ford Fairlane or some similar American car.
I remember that photo – you're close – my recollection is that it was a
relatively elderly Chevy Chevelle or Nova. Early '80s or late '70s sounds
about right. You're right on about the collectiblity of the car. Seems to me
that the last time I heard of it they were asking many (100's?) of thousands
of dollars for it! Probably the most valuable wrecked car of all time!
Regards, Guy
Dear Guy,
Just received O. Richard Norton's new book, ROCKS FROM SPACE which arrived at
my office just yesterday noon time, courtesy of the author. We're getting
closer. It was a 1980 Chevy Malibu and a 26 lb meteorite. The stone ought to
have sold for $3/g or $35,412 or so… But due to the public interest over it,
the final bid by a consortium of three people "surpassed" $69,000",…and by
quite a bit. On the other hand, the car which was valued at $300 by the
insurance co. sold to a collector for at least $10,000. Lucky it didn't hit a
Lexus! The Knapp family who became the owner by this "Act of God" also gained
some publicity or notoriety for their windfall. I wonder if they had to pay
any taxes???
Incidentally, the paperback book is very attractive. Not too technical, but at
the same time very informative with basic Meteoritical info and lots of
history……….
Joseph
Hi, Joseph
> It was a 1980 Chevy Malibu and a 26 lb meteorite.
Ah, yes. The Malibu was a Chevelle variant. Thank you for confirming my
(sometimes fuzzy) recollection. <g>
Cheers, Guy
I wonder if they sold the car and got the insurance money <<G>>.
Alan,
Thanks for the note. A regular meteorite group would be nice. It's tough to get
good information on this subject.
Jim