[meteorite-list] Sahara Sand and Michigan Dirt

From: Mark Fox <unclefireballmtf_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:52:05 2004
Message-ID: <20020802010447.5177.qmail_at_web14903.mail.yahoo.com>

Aug. 1, 2002

Greetings Jeanne Devon and Fellow Meteorite
Enthusiasts!

I believe I have a clue to what you are describing.
On our farm I have often seen thin layers of what
appear to be dark grey to black particles in wash
outs. They are very minute to be sure. However, a
magnet readily attracts them as if they were metal
filings. If they were magnetite, wouldn't one expect
them to rust and/or corrode? I find them to be very
strange and even more so under a microscope. Some, I
recall, reminded me of micro iron meteorites. I have
pondered there presence for a long time and have come
up with a few theories, one being that they are
connected in some way to an impact crater.

I hope to investigate this matter more thoroughly when
time permits and hopefully solve this possibly
meteoritic mystery and perhaps answer your question as
well.

Long strewn fields!

Mark Fox
Newaygo, MI USA


--- MuseumStore/NatureSource <musnat_at_alaska.net>
wrote:
> (I tried to post this yesterday, but didn't see it
> come up. Sorry if it's a repeat!)
>
> Hi List!
>
>
> Can anyone tell me anything about the general
> composition of Sahara Desert sand? I have a couple
> vials that I've been looking at on my lunch break.
> Just out of curiosity, I held a Nd magnet against
> the glass of the vial and several little black
> specks jumped up on to the magnet. I looked at them
> under a binocular microscope. I couldn't rule them
> in or out as little micrometeorites.
>
> The orange color of the sand leads me to believe
> that iron may be a factor in the sand's coloration
> and composition, and that these specks may just be
> ferrous minerals and nothing to get too excited
> about.
>
> Has anyone come across this? Does anyone have any
> information/thoughts/comments?
>
> Regards,
> Jeanne Devon
> IMCA #9236
> www.thenaturesource.com
> The Museum Store/The Nature Source
>
>


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Received on Thu 01 Aug 2002 09:04:47 PM PDT