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Letter from Tim McCoy to Glenn MacPherson, July 13, 1994Show simple item record

dc.creatorMcCoy, Tim (Timothy J.)
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-12T18:09:26Z
dc.date.available2024-02-12T18:09:26Z
dc.date.issued1994-07-13
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/63023
dc.descriptionLetter from Tim McCoy with the National Research Council's National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center to Glenn MacPherson discussing the Cedar and Bluff stones.
dc.relationOscar Monnig Papers (MS 124)
dc.rightsPrior written permission from TCU Special Collections required to use any document or photograph.
dc.sourceSeries III, Box 06, Fayette Co., Texas correspondence folder
dc.subjectMeteorite
dc.subjectFayette County meteorite
dc.subjectFayette County (Tex.)
dc.subjectCedar meteorite
dc.subjectBluff meteorites
dc.subjectTravis County meteorite
dc.subjectTravis County (Tex.)
dc.subjectLyndon B. Johnson Space Center
dc.subjectSmithsonian Institution
dc.subjectMcCoy, Tim (Timothy J.)
dc.titleLetter from Tim McCoy to Glenn MacPherson, July 13, 1994
dc.typeDocument
dc.description.transcriptionNATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center 77058 Dr. Glenn J. MacPherson July 13, 1994 Curator-in-Charge, Division of Meteorites Dept. of Mineral Sciences MRC NHB-119 Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560 Dear Dr. MacPherson, I am writing to once again ask for the the loans of materials from the Smithsonian Institution for the research I am conducting. As you may be aware, Klaus Keil has had a long-running research collaboration with Texas Christian University and Art Ehlmann to classify many of the previously unstudied meteorites in the Oscar Monnig collection. These meteorites were recovered over a fifty year period beginning in the 1920's. While they have never been examined, Mr. Monnig kept meticulous records that allow us to document these meteorites thoroughly. I am currently investigating two of these meteorites and am requesting Smithsonian materials to further these efforts. Travis County The original Travis County meteorite was recovered in the late 1880's and virtually nothing has been published as to its source. The original stone was a 2.5 kg fragment which had been chipped from a larger stone. In the 1930's, Mr. Monnig traced the source of this meteorite to a ranch near Leander, Texas. After discussions with Mr. Monnig, the ranch hands recovered 52 separate specimens of this meteorite over the course of the next 25 years. In 1939, the three largest meteorites were recovered and it is believed that one of these three is the original meteorite from which the 2.5 kg fragment was removed. All 52 meteorites are in the Monnig collection and we have now completed study of these meteorites. They represent at least two separate meteorites, one of which is shock blackened and fits the original description of Travis We would like to request materials which might confirm the match between the Original 2.5 kg specimen and one of the specimens currently in the Monnig Collection. Such materials would include the main mass of the 2.5 kg stone (a 1480 gram sample in the USNM collection) and any thin sections of this piece. The 1480 g sample will be compared to the Monnig pieces for a possible fit and will be returned in its original shape. The polished thin section would be compared to other shock-blackened samples of Travis County. We would anticipate all work would be completed by the late September. Cedar The Monnig collection contains several samples of the Bluff meteorite and these samples comprise at least two separate meteorites. While researching the Bluff samples, we became aware of the Cedar meteorite. Bluff (3 stones; 320 Ibs., ~30 Ibs., 17 Ibs.) and Cedar (4 stones; 16.5 Ibs, 2.5 Ibs., 12.5 Ibs., 25.5 Ibs.) were found in close proximity in Fayette County, Texas. Merrill argued that these were separate meteorites and today Bluff is listed as an L chondrite while Cedar is an H chondrite. However, many of the stones have never been examined, including Bluff stones in the Monnig Collection and in the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Cedar stones at Baylor University and the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. Thus, we feel that an examination of pieces or sections of all seven stones is in order before definitive classification can be made. The Smithsonian has samples of at least one and probably two of the Cedar stones. Graham et al. (1985) lists the Smithsonian as having a 2.18 kg sample which is the main mass of the 12.5 lb. Cedar stone. It is likely you also have samples of the 16.5 lb. Cedar Stone, the main mass of which is at the Field Museum. We would like to borrow thin sections of the Cedar samples, preferably with documentation as to the stone sampled by the section. As with the Travis County samples, these would be returned by late September. I would also like to inquire about the status of a loan request made for a thin section of the Parsa meteorite and, possibly, thin sections of Zagami. I had written back in February or March and had yet to receive a reply. It is possible, of course, that our letters have crossed in the mail. These materials would be of great interest to me and I hope a loan can be arranged in the near future. I look forward to hearing from you about all of these loan requests. Travis County and Cedar specimens should be mailed to me at Code SN4, NASA/Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058. I will be happy to sign for these materials or, if you prefer, I am sure that Klaus Keil will sign for these in my name. Thank you again for all of your consideration. Sincerely, Tim McCoy Postdoctoral Fellow xc: Klaus Keil, Univ. of Hawaii Art Ehlmann, Texas Christian Univ.


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This item appears in the following Collection(s)
  • Records of the Monnig Meteorite Gallery [2825]
    The files are arranged alphabetically, usually according to the location of discovery of the meteorite. The files contain correspondence and research material on the meteorites in the collection.

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