What context about a meteorite fall significantly influences its scientific pedigree and value to collectors?
Answer
The short time between fall and recovery, including witness testimony
While the inherent composition (rarity, elemental makeup) determines much of a meteorite's scientific worth, the context surrounding its recovery drastically influences its overall pedigree. A witnessed fall provides invaluable data regarding the precise geological environment, surrounding substrate, and time it impacted the ground. This information is utterly lost for a 'find' that has lain undiscovered for years, accumulating rust and dust through terrestrial weathering. Context transforms the recovered material into a precise scientific timestamp from the cosmos.
Related Questions
What is the cosmic object called while it is still traveling in space? What is the proper term when the space object enters Earth’s atmosphere and starts burning up? What term is used only after an object survives atmospheric passage and lands on the Earth’s surface? What term sometimes refers to the most spectacular fireballs seen streaking across the night sky? Which category of meteorites, composed primarily of silicate minerals, is the most common type encountered? What primary alloy composition defines Iron meteorites? Which meteorite category is the rarest, containing roughly equal parts silicate minerals and iron-nickel metal? What feature characterizes the Pallasite, an example of a stony-iron meteorite? What is the thin, glassy coating called that forms on the exterior of a small object after it cools rapidly upon slowing down? What is the first recommended action to secure a suspected meteorite specimen regarding contamination? What context about a meteorite fall significantly influences its scientific pedigree and value to collectors?