A list of repositories holding material of the pre-selected meteorite is displayed. Just the weight sum of all individual specimens in a repository is given. The remark "main mass" is added if the repository holds more than 50% of the total known weight of the meteorite.
Prepared Sections of the meteorite are listed separately from the material information. The type of section is mentioned in brackets:
PS: Polished section or mount (mainly in case of iron meteorites)
TS: Thin section (covered thin section)
PTS: Polished thin section (uncovered)
The repository information is derived from more than 700 collection inventory lists stored in MetBase, totalling about 71,500 specimen weight data and 22,000 thin sections.
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Meteorite Value Indicators
Three different parameter were chosen to give an approximate indication of the meteorite value:
1. Scientific value
Of high scientific value are those meteorites that are highly demanded by researchers and subject for numerous scientific publications (like Allende, Murchison, or Semarkona). Types like achondrites, unequilibrated chondrites, carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites are commonly of higher scientific interest than main group iron meteorites and ordinary chondrites. Further are fresh falls of higher value than weathered finds, and all those meteorites that show distinctive features like shock melting, brecciation, presence of clasts, and unusual chemical or isotopical composition.
Scale: low - medium to low - medium - high - highest
2. Rarity of Type
Provided as a combination of the availability and distribution of specimens of a specific meteorite and the rarity of the whole group of which the meteorite is part of. The rarity of a group is indicated by the total number of group members (excluding pairings) and the total known weight of the group material. For a statistical survey of meteorite types, see Statistics - Classification/Subtype.
Scale: very common - common - not so common - rare - very rare
3. Historical value
Some meteorites are not so much of scientific value, but are connected to special events, tales and stories. An ancient fall like Ensisheim is of much higher historical interest than a more recent desert find. Meteorite falls of the 18th and early 19th century are in general of high historical interest. Some other examples are those meteorites that struck a car or house (like Benld and Peekskill) and meteorite falls of which the orbit could be calculated (like Pribram or Innisfree).
Scale: low - medium - high - highest
