Hodgepodge Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Can anyone give me some advice please. I have a fragment of the Ghubara L5 chondrite,which fell in Oman, 1954, purchased yesterday. On one outer edge it has small, grain of rice, sized stones, white in colour and appear to be some form of mineral protruding from the interior of the chondrite. Can anyone please identify these for me. Please see attached images. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 From what little I know about meteorites, I would say they are silicates. I'm sure other more knowledgeable people will chime in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I think you need clearer photos, that doesn't even appear to be a meteorite, the meteorite you are referring to has a dark matrix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billpeters Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 That is not Ghubara, This is Ghubara as published in the Meteoritical Bulletin. billpeters 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgepodge Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thank you for all comments. The fragment was purchased from a reputable collector and seller in Edinburgh. I agree to one comment, the photos are not clear. I shall use a better camera and repost photos. Authenticity is assured, but I am open to greater comments once I post the new photos. Thank you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgepodge Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 I have attached clear photos of the Ghubara L5 Chondrite fragment i purchased. I welcome further advice regarding the fragment. Though the Stone Meteorite is magnetic, i realise it holds 20% or less iron in its composition, and magnetic does not always mean meteor. But it was bought from a reputable dealer himself with many years experience meteor hunting and collecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertpilot Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Here we go again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtimehermit Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Your chondrite has metamorphosed, and the white stuff is orthopyroxene that is a secondary mineral formed when the rock metamorphosed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thanks for the clear pictures, It looks like a really weathered chondrite, I find it hard to believe that its the same meteorite as the Ghubara L5 chondrite, I didn't see any example that appeared so weathered. The matrix on the Ghubara chondrite is dark with light chondrules. Maybe it's a pretty extensively weathered outer portion of a fragment. As for the white protrusions maybe it's calcium crystals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgepodge Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thank you Rocky and hardtimehermit both for your help. I agree the fragment must be an outer portion, weathered down. There was a secondary fragment of the Ghubara L5 Chondrite in the shop when I bought this one which is more to the description you gave Rocky, but it's outer shell is the same as my fragment. As both are sold together and almost identical, I am keeping faith the seller is legitimate.. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 5 minutes ago, Hodgepodge said: Thank you Rocky and hardtimehermit both for your help. I agree the fragment must be an outer portion, weathered down. There was a secondary fragment of the Ghubara L5 Chondrite in the shop when I bought this one which is more to the description you gave Rocky, but it's outer shell is the same as my fragment. As both are sold together and almost identical, I am keeping faith the seller is legitimate.. Thank you. Keep the faith and do some research. At least at this point we can agree it is a chondrite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 The chondrules in your sample do appear light colored upon closer careful look at the photo and some of the sample has what appears to be a darker matrix in a portion, so yes have faith. I did a quick look up and didn't find weathered photos but I'm sure they are out there. Interesting to say the least. Update us if you square it away because I would like to know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgepodge Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Rocky; Your experienced eye and instincts have given greater faith. A Chondrite it is agreed, weathered yes, but for my first in collection,, I have had a lucky escape. For sure, I will bring updates upon more research. If you see any identical fragments out there, same conditions, please get in touch. Thank you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B. Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 Hi All I have first hand experience with Ghubara . I and my Russian comrads found some pretty spectacular pieces there. The location is near Omans western border with Yeman. I also know the inside of the local prison there too. I found one piece about the size of a football and several softball sized pieces. We all found a lot of it. They had really cool lizards about 4 foot long that were pretty stupid and easy to catch. The strewn field there has oil pipes and drilling rigs scattered about and the areas that had some vegetation had the lizards. A lot of the Oman meteorites have very little iron left in them most are just small rusty pits were the metal was. I think even though they get virtually no rain there they do get a far amount of moisture from the Arabian sea that leaves dew on the surface stones. I would post pictures of the stones , lizards and Oman ( a giant litter kity box) but the Royal Omanie police confiscated it along with most of our money, cameras , clothes even the empty suitcases. And kicked our fannies out of there shithole country. Happy Huntin John B. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Slim Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 1 hour ago, John B. said: Hi All I have first hand experience with Ghubara . I and my Russian comrads found some pretty spectacular pieces there. The location is near Omans western border with Yeman. I also know the inside of the local prison there too. I found one piece about the size of a football and several softball sized pieces. We all found a lot of it. They had really cool lizards about 4 foot long that were pretty stupid and easy to catch. The strewn field there has oil pipes and drilling rigs scattered about and the areas that had some vegetation had the lizards. A lot of the Oman meteorites have very little iron left in them most are just small rusty pits were the metal was. I think even though they get virtually no rain there they do get a far amount of moisture from the Arabian sea that leaves dew on the surface stones. I would post pictures of the stones , lizards and Oman ( a giant litter kity box) but the Royal Omanie police confiscated it along with most of our money, cameras , clothes even the empty suitcases. And kicked our fannies out of there shithole country. Happy Huntin John B. John B, by any chance was the camera the dirty Royal Omanie police confiscated from you a Sony Mavica which stored the pictures on a floppy disk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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