This Page is

UNDER CONTRUCTION

IMAGE GALLERY FOR LUCERNE VALLEY METEORITE - LV 014 (L5 S2 W3)

- - - REVISITING LUCERNE DRY LAKE 30 YEARS LATER - - -
IS THIS METEORITE A MEMBER OF A SINGLE STREWNFIELD, OR IS THIS METEORITE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS FOUND AT LUCERNE DRY LAKE, REPRESENTING JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF MULTIPLE FALLS.
- - - THIS FIND IS BEING COMPARED WITH THOSE ON DISPLAY AT GRIFFITHS OBSERVATORY, - - -
- - - AS WELL AS, WITH THOSE IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS THAT HAVE UNDERGONE TESTING. - - -



The smooth condition of the exterior of this meteorite, suggests that the fusion crust has been partially polished by the desert winds.

In this image you can see the contraction cracks in the remnant fusion crust. It has exposed the interior matrix.

 
In this close-up image of the above contraction crack you can see the individual grains, as well as chondrules, in the matrix.
Another contraction crack in the remnant fusion crust.
An even higher magnification of the area imaged above.
This is the opposite side of the first image.
And this is another view of that same side.
A close-up to show what has been interpreted to be a pit formed by a "plucked" chondrule. Nearly every exposed object on the dry lake bed surface exhibits some degree of "sandblasting" or wind-polishing. This find, like the other L5S2W3 appears to have had its original fusion crust somewhat thinned while being wind-polished..
An even higher magnification of the area imaged above suggests that this pit is not a "micro crater", but had weathered out while the fusion crust was being thinned away. Other chondrites display these 1-3mm pits. In these cases, chondrule plucking may have occurred during ablation. See Ridgecrest or Muroc Dry Lake or LV 017
A side view shows a continuation of a contraction crack.
A close-up of the above image shows the interior matrix exposed.
An even closer view.

        Any comments would be appreciated. Information regarding the existance of other Lucerne Valley meteorite finds would be very useful in the pursuit of this scientific inquiry. Your help would be very much appreciated.
Bolide*chaser

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since November 1, 1998.



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