[meteorite-list] NPA 04-19-1888 Kunz Can't Find Diamonds in the Novi Urei meteorite

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Jan 7 01:45:28 2005
Message-ID: <BAY4-F7A8C1E618BF3C9924A79FB3940_at_phx.gbl>

Paper: Decatur Republican
City: Decatur, Illinois
Date: Thursday, April 19, 1888
Page: 2

METEORIC DIAMONDS

Interesting Examinations Recently Made by George F. Kunz.

     George F. Kunz, at the tenth annual reception of the New York
Microscopical Society, exhibited a microscopical specimen of a meteoric
stone, in which, some foreign experts claim, diamond exist. The stone fell
at Novy Urej, Krasnoslobdsk, Government of Penza, Russia, on September 4,
1886, shortly after seven o'clock in the morning, and was found by MM.
Latshinof and Jeroleief, who, after examining it, came to the conclusion
that it was filled with meteoric diamonds.
     Mr. Kunz, in speaking of the specimen, said that it was of special
interest, since Fletcher had given the name "Cliftonite" to the new cubic
form of carbon, which he obtained from the meteoric iron that was found in
the sub-district of Yunadegin, Austrialia, in 1884, and suggested, since
this form is peculiar to the diamond and not to graphite, that, although the
crystalization may have been initially favorable to the formation of the
diamond, yet it was so rapid that the graphite form only was developed. He
had only received two grams of the meteor found by MM. Latschinof and
Jeroleief, and in view of the fact that the stone weighed four pounds, or
nearly two thousand grams, it was very difficult to judge from his specimen
of the nature of its bearings.
     Mr. Kunz made a careful examination of the two gram specimen, but found
absolutely no trace of diamonds. There occurred in the stone small grains of
olivine or peridot, which being rounded and having a marking as well as a
luster, must have been mistaken for diamonds. The discovers, according to
Mr. Kunz idea, head probably described the olivine as diamonds without a
thorough examination, although he could not alleged positively until he had
seen both the meteor and the papers describing the discovery, neither of
which had yet come to this country.
     Mr. Kunz also exhibited a specimen of porphyritic volcanic peridotite,
the altered carbonaceous breccia of which has yield nearly seven tons of
diamonds, valued, uncut, at $250,000,000; a section of a rock containing a
beautiful two karet absolutely white perfect octahedron, and several
specimens of rocks showing all the characteristic minerals which were
obtained during a trip through the country last summer. - Jeweler's Weekly.

(end)

Article refers to the Novi Urei meteorite.

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
http://www.imca.cc

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PDF copy of this article, and most I post, is available upon e-mail request.

The NPA in the subject line, stands for Newspaper Article and is for quick
reference.
Received on Fri 07 Jan 2005 01:43:49 AM PST