Types 2 and 3 are describing two different parameters. Type 2 (and 1) means that a meteorite has experienced aqueous alteration. Because such effects are prominent in the CI, CM and CR groups, nearly all of them are traditionally (since the 1960s) described as types 1 and 2. Types 3-6 are traditionally used to describe metamorphic effects in chondrite groups where thermal processing has been important, such as CO, CV, CK, OCs, ECs, etc. Although most meteorites in the first list above are hydrated but unmetamorphosed and most meteorites in the second list are metamorphosed but unhydrated, there is crossover that leaves us without an adequate vocabulary to describe. Some CM and related chondrites have been heated to levels similar to a type 3.2 chondrite, yet they are still called type 2 due to alteration. Some low-type-3 ordinary and CV chondrites have hydrated phases and Ni-bearing sulfides like a type 2 chondrite might, yet they are called type 3.0 to distinguish them from more-heated group members.

So, when I say that most CR chondrites are type 3.00, I mean that their thermal histories are similar to those of type 3.00 ordinary or CO chondrites; they have never gotten very hot for very long. But most CR chondrites are ALSO type 2. Most CM chondrites are type 2 (alteration) AND type 3.00 (metamorphism). But somehow, alteration trumps metamorphism for carbonaceous chondrites and nobody calls them type 3.00 even thought this describes them well. Strangely, when a CR chondrite lacks alteration, many people are happy to call it type 3 (e.g., MET 00426). But when an ordinary chondrite is hydrated, nobody would ever think of calling it type 2 (e.g., Semarkona).

This is called a lousy nomenclature system.

jeff g.

At 05:25 AM 12/17/2009, Jeff Kuyken wrote:
Hi Jeff,

Inrteresting stuff indeed. One thing just caught my attention though. You mentioned that "CR chondrites which are mostly type 3.00" which I have not heard of before. The Met Bull lists nearly all as CR2, some as just CR and an odd CR1. My crude understanding of type-2 vs type-3 is that type-2 never received thermal alteration whereas type-3 is where that starts. Am I wrong there?

So would CR3.00 tell us that the particular meteorite in question did not go through any thermal metamorphism? How would that vary from CR2?

Thanks,

Jeff


----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Grossman" <jgross...@usgs.gov>
To: <Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Ordinary chondrites - decimal metamorphic grade question


The hundredths place is only defined for type 3s
that are lower than type 3.2.  This is because
there is a lot of variation in metamorphic
effects in the low end of the range, too much to
cram into just types 3.0 and 3.1.  Initially, I
define 4 new classes: 3.00, 3.05, 3.10 and 3.15
(Grossman and Brearley 2005, in
MAPS).  Subsequently Kimura, I and others have
realized that there are subtle variations that
may require more categories between 3.00 and
3.05, e.g. Semarkona as a type 3.01, as compared
with CR chondrites which are mostly type 3.00.

You do not need specialized equipment other than
an electron microprobe to determine
this.  However, with high-resolution FE-SEM
imaging, you can see structures in the metal and
olivine that also give this classification
information.  Raman spectroscopy also helps classify meteorites in this range.

Jeff

At 11:04 AM 12/16/2009, Matt Morgan wrote:
Since Darryl brought up his incredible LL3.05, I have to ask how does/can one classify the metamorphic grade to the to the tenths or now the hundredths of a decimal? I have had some tell me this is subjective and others say you need specialized equipment. Please, any researchers, explain.

Darryl-
I don't mean to pick on your material, but it is a question that has been nagging me for sometime and you stirred my brain!

Thanks in advance!
Matt
----------------------
Matt Morgan
Mile High Meteorites
http://www.mhmeteorites.com
P.O. Box 151293
Lakewood, CO 80215 USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl Pitt <dar...@dof3.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:35:38
To: Jeff Grossman<jgross...@usgs.gov>
Cc: <Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Ordinary chondrites - rarest to the most
        common classes



Get ready for NWA 5717.....

Initially "anomalous," the classification had to be changed to
"ungrouped" as it was too difficult to determine what it was anomalous
to.  3.05 subtype.  More to follow....





On Dec 16, 2009, at 10:26 AM, Jeff Grossman wrote:

> At 09:27 AM 12/16/2009, Chladnis Heirs wrote:
>> Indeed,
>>
>> it's for the first time, that I read that R-chondrites are included
>> in the
>> OC-group. If so, why exactly them and not the K-chondrites, the
>> Carbonaceous
>> from grade 3-6, the ungrouped and the enstatite chondrites too?
>
> I didn't say they ARE included in the OCs... I said that I thought
> they should be. As far as I know, I am alone in this opinion.  There
> are only two Kakangari-like chondrites, and I am not prepared to put
> them anywhere.  I'm not sure what the rest of the question means,
> but many ungrouped chondrites can be and are associated with a major
> class, as in "ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite".
>
> jeff
>
>
>>
>> >valuable type of OC from a
>> >scientific perspective is petrologic type 3.00-3.01
>>
>> Where one has to say, that it's maybe too early to say that,
>> Because the classification with decimal places, (even with two!),
>> is a
>> relatively new occurrence - most classifiers seems still to prefer
>> to use a
>> simple "3" - so that in case, there are still a lot known type-3ers
>> awaiting
>> to be revisited regarding the degree of their (un)equilibration.
>>
>> But I agree - "Ordinary" is a somewhat misleading term,
>> - as the ordinary chondrites have told us most about the origin and
>> formation of the solar system, the planets and ourselves, more than
>> any iron
>> or any lunar rock!
>>
>> Keep that always in mind, if you are tempted, now in the end of the
>> desert-era and the decreed end of meteorite finding in so many
>> countries,
>> with all their weird and fancy exotic types, to wrinkle your nose
>> about the
>> "ugly" ordinary 25$-a-kilo-chunk from NWA-wonderland!
>> Rare as brilliants they are - and they were our beginnings!
>>
>> Happy holidays to all!
>> Martin
>>
>>
>> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
>> Von: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com
>> [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von
>> Jeff
>> Grossman
>> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 16. Dezember 2009 11:33
>> An: Meteorite-list
>> Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Ordinary chondrites - rarest to the
>> most
>> common classes
>>
>> I agree with Doug... the rarest and most valuable type of OC from a
>> scientific perspective is petrologic type 3.00-3.01, from any of the
>> chemical groups.  Only one is known... Semarkona.  If we take a more
>> expansive definition of "ordinary chondrite" than most of my rather
>> conservative colleagues are normally willing to accept, I would say
>> that
>> the rarest group of OCs is the R chondrites (only ~100 are known and
>> many of those are paired).  In addition, a number of unique ungrouped
>> meteorites are OC-like.  But again, I don't know of any colleagues
>> who
>> agree with me that R chondrites are in the OC class. [I would say
>> that
>> the OC class has two clans, the H-L-LL clan and the R clan].
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> Mexicodoug wrote:
>> > Hi Melanie and thanks for the enthusiasm you add to the list ...
>> >
>> > Here's a high to low sorting of the "ordinary chondrites", for over
>> > 32,000 meteorites:
>> >
>> > 22.0% L6 ("most common")
>> > 19.9% H5
>> > 12.9% L5
>> > 12.3% H4
>> > 11.5% H6
>> > 7.8% LL5
>> > 4.2% LL6
>> > 3.3% L4
>> > 2.2% H3
>> > 2.0% L3
>> > 0.8% LL4
>> > 0.8% LL3
>> > 0.1% L7
>> > 0.1% LL7
>> > 0.03% H7 ("least common")
>> >
>> > But this "common" and "rare" is a misleading label. That is a
>> harder
>> > question if you look too closely at the deails and consider
>> > inhomogeneous and brecciated ordinary chondrites. That can all
>> become
>> > somewhat unique if you ask the right person. Then there are the
>> motley
>> > crew of ungrouped ordinary chondrites where it is hard to
>> generalize.
>> > Some may be a weak classification while others might truly be weird
>> > ("rare").
>> >
>> > Just a few notes: the H7, L7, LL7 types are not widely used in the
>> > literature and border on impact melts, so I'd take them with a
>> grain
>> > of salt unless someone goes postal on me in which case they are
>> right
>> > in whatever they say. The way I listed these, the meteorites are
>> > counted by the lowest number and won't show up in the higher
>> thermal
>> > (metamorphosed) levels. In other words, for example, an LL3.8-6 is
>> > counted with the LL3's.
>> >
>> > If you have a special meteorite, it can sometimes be a "rarer"
>> type if
>> > you start to split hairs, like H3.8 instead of just grouping it
>> within
>> > the H3's, but there is some degree of arbitrariness to this. The
>> > tendency is that more virgin Solar system stuff (closer and closer
>> > 3.00) is more special and like a holy grail ("rare" in a sense) to
>> > some who study that - since it is more representative of the
>> original
>> > material before water and heat were added and did their thing. From
>> > hat we can try to get the proof we need to work out early formation
>> > processes and theorize on the related dynamics happening. By this
>> > logic, and considering it is a very studied meteorite, the precious
>> > meteorite SEMARKONA (LL3.00 or is it 3.01 :-)), a witnessed fall
>> from
>> > India, is rather unique being the only one with that 3.00
>> > classification, which makes it super intact since formation and
>> > especially interesting to experts, and most notably Dr. Jeff
>> Grossman
>> > who reviewed and updated its classification upon careful study.
>> >
>> > By another measure, the "common" ordinary chondrite, L5, Canadian
>> > witnessed fall, VILNA, is one of those very few special meteorites
>> > that was imaged during atmospheric entry and a precise orbit was
>> > determined. It was not too far from Buzzard Coulee, and what
>> makes it
>> > even more special is that it was classified from a (although
>> witnesses
>> > heard pieces whizzing around) 94 milligram fragment with fusion
>> crust.
>> > The only other specimen found was a 48 milligram piece! This
>> becomes a
>> > wild anecdote of a meteorite tale when one considers that the
>> bolide
>> > passed directly over the only camera recording the sky for 500
>> miles
>> > (over 800 km) and headed for the newly constructed and world's only
>> > UFO landing site which had been built for the Canadian Centennial
>> > exposition in St. Paul, Alberta, where it showered sparks
>> > ("retro-rockets" to some folks). In case you wondered, I believe
>> the
>> > Japanese classified on Antarctic meteorite with 10 milligrams, if
>> you
>> > can believe that!
>> >
>> > So what actually makes a meteorite rare can turn into a matter of
>> > semantics and who you ask. Even the scale of 3 to 6 (or 7) is
>> somewhat
>> > arbitrary and just looks for convenient thermally changed cairns
>> along
>> > the path toward melting. So if we went the other way, if H, L,
>> and LL
>> > correspond to only three parent bodies, the frequency of the types
>> > follows:
>> >
>> > H 45.0%
>> > L 40.6%
>> > LL 14.3%
>> >
>> > Hope this helps a little with that general question!
>> >
>> > Kind wishes,
>> > Doug
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Melanie Matthews <miss_meteor...@yahoo.ca>
>> > To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
>> > Sent: Tue, Dec 15, 2009 7:01 am
>> > Subject: [meteorite-list] Ordinary chondrites - rarest to the most
>> > common classes
>> >
>> >
>> > G'mornin' listites,,
>> > What is the least common type of ordinary chondrite, as well as the
>> > most common?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > -----------
>> > Melanie
>> > IMCA: 2975
>> > eBay: metmel2775
>> > Known on SkyRock Cafe as SpaceCollector09
>> >
>> > Unclassified meteorites are like a box of chocolates... you never
>> know
>> > what
>> > you're gonna get!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >__________________________________________________________________
>> > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!
>> >
>> > http://www.flickr.com/gift/
>> >
>> >______________________________________________
>> > http://www.meteoritecentral.com
>> > Meteorite-list mailing list
>> > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
>> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> >
>> >______________________________________________
>> > http://www.meteoritecentral.com
>> > Meteorite-list mailing list
>> > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
>> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman       phone: (703) 648-6184
>> US Geological Survey          fax:   (703) 648-6383
>> 954 National Center
>> Reston, VA 20192, USA
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________
>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>
>>______________________________________________
>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman       phone: (703) 648-6184
> US Geological Survey          fax:   (703) 648-6383
> 954 National Center
> Reston, VA 20192, USA
>
>
>______________________________________________
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list

______________________________________________
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Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman       phone: (703) 648-6184
US Geological Survey          fax:   (703) 648-6383
954 National Center
Reston, VA 20192, USA


______________________________________________
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Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman       phone: (703) 648-6184
US Geological Survey          fax:   (703) 648-6383
954 National Center
Reston, VA 20192, USA


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