Unclassified NWAs: What's the attraction?
Bob wrote >>Hi all, I've seen on some websites that dealers are selling unclassified NWAs. Maybe it's because I'm such a newbie, but I don't understand why anyone would want to buy them, especially if they look like just a typical ordinary chondrite or iron?
It's just a space rock that was found somewhere in NWA (not a specific place) and isn't even classified yet, so you don't know if it's an H, L, LL, etc. Do people buy them because they are cheap, or because they are a mystery, or for some other reason? If someone else gets one classified, you have no way to know if the one you just bought is paired with it, or another one or is unpaired. There is no record, so no way to find out later.
I'm sorry if this has been talked about on this list before. I've been lurking for only a couple months and hadn't seen it mentioned. Thanks for any feedback! Regards, Bob
For some of us, the "space rock" part is the important one, not what random spot
on the Earth it just happened to land. There is no "just" about it. Darren
Hi Bob; Because of the circumstance you allready mentioned: It's (just) a space rock. Best regards, Andi
WOW! I can't remain silent. MOST of us are interested in the rocks, you
know the material that came from out of this world. I've heard it said "There
is no such thing as an ordinary chondrite" and that applies to all rocks from
space.
Your argument belongs in a Bennie Baby Club. Why collect any with bent
tags? Or Pokemon, Why collect any that aren't first edition?
With meteorites, it is MUCH more than the collecting!!!!
Tom
Tom wrote:
WOW! I can't remain silent. MOST of us are interested in the rocks, you
know the material that came from out of this world. I've heard it said "
There is no such thing as an ordinary chondrite" and that applies to all
rocks from space.
NORTON O.R. (2001) Ugly Ducklings of the desert
(Meteorite Mag., August 2001, Vol. 7-3, pp. 22-23):
None of the meteorites had fusion crusts. Most were severely fractured, some broken
in pieces along fracture lines allowing for the entrance of terrestrial contaminants. The
interiors were stained brown from iron oxide. But I kept telling myself that it didn't
matter their condition. These "ugly ducklings" are, after all, real meteorites...Off they
went to the thin section maker. When they returned and I had my first look at their
interiors my "Ho hum, just another Sahara OC" attitude changed. Like the story of the
ugly duckling, within the few months of grinding and polishing, a transfiguration had
taken place. These "ordinary" chondrites were every bit as beautiful and exciting as
any chondrites I have examined through the years. I was moved by the fact that I was
the first to peer into the interiors of these asteroid chps. Wonderful discoveries abound
in these sections. The textural variations are so great that the explorer is guaranteed
to see structures never before seen by anyone. Herein lies the beauty of these "ugly
ducklings".
Bernd
You gota love em all!!!!!!!! Jerry
Hi Bob,
>Do people buy them because they are cheap,
Yes, some do.
>because they are a mystery,
Yes, some do.
>or for some other reason?
Yes, some may want to create a diorama-like strewn field for display
purposes. I have sometimes thought of doing this.
Some (myself included) have bought them to give away to kids at various
functions.
I recently had a country crock container about filled with cheap NWA
material that I gave away to boy scouts after they looked at the moon
through my scope. Of course, being at night in a campground, some boys lost
theirs in the grass so I would just reach in and hand them another.
Some buy cheap NWA material to practice with, when they are first learning
to cut meteorite material.
Some buy them for re-sale, possibly thinking a huge mark-up will make them a
lot of money.
>If someone else gets one classified,
Few will bother to even attempt to get an NWA classified unless they first
have cut a window into it and discovered what may be an achondrite.
Hope this helps,
-Walter Branch.
>Yes, some may want to create a diorama-like strewn field for display
>purposes. I have sometimes thought of doing this.
Yes, me too! Get some sand, put it in a tray, arrange some meteorites. I have
70+ fully crusted 869s that would make a nice looking "strewn field".
Hi all,
Thanks for the heart-felt replies to my query. I knew my question would evoke the true feelings of collectors out there. :-) Even though I need some classification in my life (and in my collections), I do see all of your points. And no, I don't do Beanie Babies and Pokemon. :-) I have a mineral collection and now a meteorite collection (and used to have a coin collection when I was a kid), so I do like specific items. My girlfriend and I will be digging for topaz or aquamarine crystals in Colorado and I'm just looking for good crystalline specimens, while my girlfriend will pick up a chunk of granite and think it's cool (although she also likes the crystalline specimens). Everyone is different and that's what makes us
individuals (like meteorites).
Thanks again for sharing your opinions and thoughts about unclassified NWAs. I really do appreciate it.
Regards,
Bob