[meteorite-list] Turkmenistan falls

From: MexicoDoug <MexicoDoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:30:36 -0600
Message-ID: <00b101c770e1$13b61100$16cc5ec8_at_0019110394>

Dear Listees,

I just noticed Mike offered up for sale a meteorite from Turkmenistan,
beautiful!
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170095403910

DASHOGUZ (H5) fall, 1998. This would appear to be the fresh good stuff
recovered by Kakabay Annaniyazov around the rim of the crater as everything
in the crater was apparently terribly oxidized officially with a total of
only 7kg. While NAU only has 21 grams for classification the rest seems to
be in the hands of an anonymous private collector.

Check out this little gem that coincidentally came into my inbox
(embellished only slightly):

On June 20, 1998, the eve of the anniversary of the democratic authoritarian
head of state of Turkmenistan was to celebrate the anniversary of his rise
to power on June 21 (Summer Solstice). By decree, a meteorite fell on his
country on that day to herald in the celebration - weighing well over a
metric ton! A diehard meteorite devotee, the kingly leader thought, ...
"This one has my name all over it".

He then decreed that the meteorite would be named "His Excellency, World
Leader of Turkmens and President Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov", after
himself. We better know this meteorite as KUNYA-URGENCH (H5), as the
Nomenclature Committee did not respect his wishes with official status. It
was then decreed in some circles underground, that members of said committee
would have their tongues cut out if they ever set foot in Turkmenistan
looking for meteorites. The King emphasized this point by commanding a
repeat occurrence for collectors.

Sure enough, on September 5, 1998, two and a half months later, another H5
fell which was named DASHOGUZ, just 50 kilometers away from the original.
The British Museum then was rumored to diplomatically motion for the tongues
of its colleagues by making Turkmenbashy (=Great Leader of the Turkmens) a
synonym in the style of Alexander the Great, using his first name: also
known as: Saparmurat Turkmenbashy (Saparmurat the Great Leader of the
Turkmens). And that official synonym, given the nod by Turkmen scientists
for the original Turkmenbashy fall, continues today.

His Excellency, Great Leader of Turkmens and President Saparmurat Atayevich
Niyazov unfortunately joined the stars from whence he came officially around
the Winter Solstice (December 21, 2006).

It is an interesting footnote that those are the only two witnessed falls
ever recorded for Turkmenistan :-) The new President of Turkmenistan is:
Gurbanguly M?likguly?ewi? Berdimuhammedow soon maybe to add Turkmenbashy.
The grapevine has it he may also command a meteorite fall in his name to
consolidate rule in this challenging resource rich country - and his is
rumored to be the son of Turkmenbashy.

Best Health and Best Wishes,
Doug
Received on Tue 27 Mar 2007 10:30:36 PM PDT