I think what we all assume, just from looking at
the remarkable photograph, is that these pyramids
are the taenite portion of the meteorite and that
sea water, oxygen, UV light, and all the agents of
weathering has eaten the kamacite away entirely
to miraculously reveal it.
Both iron phases, taemite and kamacite, are
isometric-hexoctahedral crystals, which is a
fancy geometry term for a unit crystal shaped
like two four-sided pyramids fitted base-to-base.
More commonly this is called a "cubic" crystal.
The "pyramids" in Lovina are "step" pyramids. I'm
guessing that the height of those "steps" corresponds
to what would be the width of the Widmanstätten
bands if the original structure were in place and
we could slice and etch it.
It is a remarkable chance to "look inside" the crystal
structure of an iron meteorite in three dimensions
and with "x-ray" vision. What it shows is something
I don't think any imaging technique could ever
produce.
I'm not a petrologist, you understand, just an old
physicist and anything bigger than an atom (like
crystals) is above my pay grade. These are just
my guesses.
It certainly is pretty, though.
Sterling K. Webb
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Kuyken" <i...@meteorites.com.au>
To: "Meteorites USA" <e...@meteoritesusa.com>;
<meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:45 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lovina Iron
While I don't actually know (so don't assume it's anywhere near correct)
I
would presume the pyramidal feature is a result of weathering in the
tropical climate exposing the crystalline structure of the meteorite and
it's different minerals. (i.e. kamacite, taenite, etc, etc.) I would
also
assume the extremely high nickel content helped the whole thing from
pulling
a Nantan and allowing this to occur.
Does anyone actually know how this occured?
Cheers,
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Meteorites USA" <e...@meteoritesusa.com>
To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 4:30 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lovina Iron
I second that question... This is perhaps the oddest looking meteorite
I've seen.
It appears to have some sort of mineral growth attached to it. Perhaps a
mineralization which formed the crystalline pyramidal structures. The
structures show no sign of ablation at all and appear to be too fragile
to have survived atmospheric entry in such pristine shape. What are we
looking at in those structures?
Regards,
Eric
On 2/22/2010 6:51 AM, Jeff Kuyken wrote:
Agreed! Great news and easily the most interesting looking meteorite
I've ever seen!
Cheers,
Jeff
----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthias Bärmann"
<majbaerm...@web.de>
To: "Jim Strope" <nwa...@comcast.net>; "Meteorite Central"
<meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:47 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lovina Iron
Thanks, Jim, Darryll - as I already mentioned: simply incredible.
Should have been found in the treasure of an old Aztec pyramide. (But
Indonesian beach is okay too ;-)
Best regards,
Matthias
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Strope" <nwa...@comcast.net>
To: "Meteorite Central" <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 3:21 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Lovina Iron
Listees......
There was a lot of discussion at the Tucson show about the Lovina
Iron Meteorite found in Indonesia in 1981. It was first determined
to be a meteorite, a very unusual meteorite in appearance. Then
news came out that it was possibly not a meteorite. Anyway, the
partslices looked so cool that I got one off of Darryl Pitt in
Tucson. I knew full well that the jury was still out.
Well, just received news this morning from Darryl that it is now
back to being a meteorite.
Check out the photo of Lovina before cutting:
http://www.macovich.com/imagesOct2909/Lovina_large.jpg
I bet everybody that got a piece of this will be really stoked.
Congrats Darryl.
Jim Strope
421 Fourth Street
Glen Dale, WV 26038
http://www.catchafallingstar.com/
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