[meteorite-list] Sweaty Fingers, Chlorides, and Chondrites

From: MarkF <mafer_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Dec 20 17:22:40 2004
Message-ID: <006401c4e6e2$6c0c4f80$d046fc04_at_MAF>

Hi Stephen amd list

At WWU we had a once nice Nantan that was showing signs of rapid corrosion
and we got a acrylic container and filled it with argon for a few seconds
with the top ready to put into place. It had sealing grommets so would be
"air-tight" and we believe its secure enough to keep the argon in.
Nitrogen is another gas that would work I believe but am not sure.
Don't know how the mixing of gases to make new compounds will affect the
Nantan over time, but at least the salty Bellingham, WA air cannot get to it
any longer.

Mark F

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen McMann" <stephen_mcmann_at_hotmail.com>
To: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 5:06 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Sweaty Fingers, Chlorides, and Chondrites


> Dear Jorn and List,
>
> I couldn't agree more that a chemical treatment applied to any meteorite
> (stony, iron, etc.) ensures that it is no longer pristine. Thinking about
> chemical treatments brings up all sorts of philosophical issues about what
> collectors can or should do as stewards of meteorites (including the cheap
> abundant ones) for future generations. Everyone would probably agree that
> plopping a fresh unstudied CM into an organic solvent is inappropriate.
> On
> the other hand, the choice seems less clear when faced with a more common
> type that seems to be determined to terrestrialize into iron-rich dirt.
>
> Perhaps I can be a bit more specific about what is bothering me right now.
> Little iron-oxide pillars are expanding out of some of my slices of SAU
> 001
> like tree seedlings growing out of a sidewalk. I don't know whether this
> is
> due to indigenous water, indigenous NaCl, mishandling during its many-step
> trip from the field to me, or some other factor. However, regardless of
> the
> cause I would like to try to stabilize these pieces and thus preserve some
> of their extraterrestrial characteristics. I have some interest in all of
> the methods that are available. However, what would be the most useful to
> me personally is to know if reasonably effective procedures can be
> performed
> without elaborate equipment.
>
> Sincerely,
> Stephen McMann
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Received on Mon 20 Dec 2004 05:22:39 PM PST