[meteorite-list] "Rock and Gem" Article + "Alien Metal"?

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Oct 13 23:22:09 2006
Message-ID: <005d01c6ef3f$e76e9540$e57e4b44_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi,

    In Wasson's 1974 analysis, he found 9.0 ppm.Ga,
52.3 ppm.Ge, and 2.7 ppm. Ir. It's probably that trace
of iridium that the writer is referring to, since it's been
so touted as the marker of extraterrestiality in the K-T
boundary, proof of Chicxulub, and so forth. He musta
missed the fine point that it's the EXCESS of iridium
there that makes the proof, since the Earth contains
iridium. Now, if you want "alien" metal, you have to
find Technetium!

Sterling K. Webb
-------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Notkin" <geoking_at_notkin.net>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 10:03 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] "Rock and Gem" Article + "Alien Metal"?


> Dear Listees:
>
> Greetings all from sunny Tucson -- the all-sunshine/no-winter city.
>
> The current (November '06) issue of "Rock and Gem" includes a feature
> article by Mark Mathosian entitled "Collecting Rocks from Space: Tips
> for Beginning Collectors," pgs 80-82,90. It's an entry level article
> with a few errors, but otherwise is written with considerable
> enthusiasm and includes nice plugs for books we all know and enjoy
> ("Art of Collecting Meteorites," "Rocks from Space," etc.).
>
> What puzzles me is the following paragraph:
>
> "Some meteorites are very different from Earth rocks and contain
> materials not found on Earth. The Estherville meteorite is a good
> example. This space stone is composed of iron, nickel, phosphorous,
> sulfur, and a metal not found on Earth. Because it contains an alien
> metal, it is even more attractive to collectors."
>
> And a picture quote which reads:
>
> "The Estherville (Iowa) meteorite is composed of iron, nickel,
> phosphorous, sulfur, and some unknown alien metal."
>
>
> I never heard of any kind of "unknown alien metal," apart from the
> Roswell ship, or course : ) Is there any truth to the above
> statement?
>
>
> Regards.
>
> Geoff N.
> www.aerolite.org
>
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Received on Fri 13 Oct 2006 11:21:56 PM PDT