Article on Micrometeorites

[75RR]

Article on Micro-meteorites

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/scie ... -news&_r=0

[hkv]

Spent 2 hours now reading all this and their home page! http://project-stardust.com This is amazing work! Seems like they use a SEM at low magnifications. The dust particles range from 0.2-0.5 mm typically so a regular light microscope should give excellent results, specifically a metallurgical objective at 20-50X. Even better than SEM in some aspects I would imagine as you get the colors right. I have ordered the book!

I cannot find anything on HOW they manage to find the small particles in the samples they collect. He wrote that: "Once I discovered how to find them, I found them everywhere I looked".

Thanks for posting this!

[75RR]

Glad you liked it. I found it most interesting.
As you say, they should be quite viewable with a light microscope

As to finding them, this is what he says:

"Mr. Larsen then changed tactics. Rather than looking exclusively for cosmic dust, he taught himself how to classify the dozens of different kinds of earthly contaminants, starting a process of elimination that slowly narrowed the candidates and raised the chances that some tiny fraction of the urban debris might turn out to belong to the cosmos."

If the book clarifies this, do let us know! :)

[zzffnn]

Thank you, 75RR, for sharing.

Their published paper mentioned, in the method section, how they isolate the micrometeorites:

http://m.geology.gsapubs.org/content/ea ... 1.full.pdf

Basically, isolate particles with magnet, then visually screen under microscope.

It is in their book too, in better details, with photo illustrations. See photo#2 of the book: http://www.english.geotop.no/storefront.php?pid=2738

hkv,

Does the book have English translation?

Maybe you can share their detailed method, when you get the book?

I imagine a very tall building will be ideal, since less earthy dust would fly that high.

Then use a giant (for example, larger than human head) strong magnet to screen on the roof top. Keep only the magnetic particles. Then screen under scope.

[hkv]

Thank you, 75RR, for sharing.

Their published paper mentioned, in the method section, how they isolate the micrometeorites:

http://m.geology.gsapubs.org/content/ea ... 1.full.pdf

Basically, isolate particles with magnet, then visually screen under microscope.

It is in their book too, in better details, with photo illustrations. See photo#2 of the book: http://www.english.geotop.no/storefront.php?pid=2738

hkv,

Does the book have English translation?

Maybe you can share their detailed method, when you get the book?

I imagine a very tall building will be ideal, since less earthy dust would fly that high.

Then use a giant (for example, larger than human head) strong magnet to screen on the roof top. Keep only the magnetic particles. Then screen under scope.

Thanks for the reference. Yes, but I guess a magnet only find the magnetic ones. What about those (depicted) looking more like glass?

Anyhow, I did not realise the book was not in english! I assumed it was in english. The cover is in english on the web page, but we'll see. It does not matter to me as Norwegian is more or less the same as Swedish so I'll can read it anyhow. I assume the pictures are universal at least. You may be right about the norwegian because Amazon lists the book, but available in August 2017. Perhaps that is the english version. I'll probably will have the norwegian one. 1st edition and worth 10 times the english version in 100 years from now... Desperately trying to find something positive about this situation.

[zzffnn]

The glass-looking one shown as photo#3 on this page http://project-stardust.com has a nickel/iron bead, that may respond to magnets. Some probably don't though.

There is probably no better screening method? At least, I won't even try it, without a magnet. Not that it would be easy with a magnet, but I may try it that way. The method section of that paper indicated that the yield is pretty low, even with magnets.

[charlie g]

Fantastic subject for our microscopy, thanks for this thread,75RR.

There are mysteries which immediately jump up from this subject of costant precipitation from space to our world:

micro particles of all sorts (coal dust, agricultural grain dust, diesel exhaust particles, etc.) are the ones which enter so deep into lungs that problems can ensue with these particles building up in lungs.

recent concerns about micro-plastic beads added in many consumer products from lipsticks to toothpastes also can cause biologic problems with their build in organisms and the environment about us all.

Fine dust particles of sands and soils are evident in satelite images clearly tracking with prevailing winds from Africa to other continents.

So..these constant year in, year out ..for milenia..precipitations of micro particles from beyond earth..they should be concentrated by prevailing winds..and they should accumulate in specific biologic compartments..be it lungs of long living organisms..or be it long live snow and ice layers.

The other issue which is rather easy for a thoughtful math or geology minded person..is to speculate on the anual amount of these particles recieved on earth..and the signature this amount of material should manifest..do we find the numbers 'add up'? These particles are large enough to show up on lung tissue sections at light microscopy levels of magnification.

A great subject, thanks 75RR. charlie guevare who still has not encountered a 'dust mite' to observe with microscope!

I was in PS13 NYC 'kindergarden' grade when I thought I was looking at actual atoms on the large window ledges of our class room. I could squash these incredibly tiny globes with gentle finger touch...I never told anyone about it..perhaps I should have told Mrs.Lindsey our kind and gentle kindergarden teacher. It was so many years latter that I learned these tiny globes are: 'fly ash' from the city heating systems furnaces!

[hkv]

Just go a confirmation from the seller that the book I ordered indeed is written in english. Good to know.

[billbillt]

Here is a link to a crude method of collection and observing micrometeorites:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Micro-Meteorites/

BillT

[zzffnn]

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/how%20 ... rites.html

http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/micromet.html

http://www.iflscience.com/space/how-hun ... eteorites/

[hkv]

I need the strongest magnet available for this project!

[zzffnn]

Micrometeorites seem to be everywhere. I found 3-4 from my roof gutter with a small magnet. Outside time took 5 min, but picking time took an hour or more (I got lots of magnetic particles, most of which are not spherical).

The difficulty is picking them out and photographing them, since they are mostly smaller than diatoms and can stick to forceps. I lost 3 while I tried to picked them up.

Only got this one. Uncropped image is 9x on sensor, without any editing. Cropped images are contrast enhanced and sharpened. It will look better if I stack its images with a high magnification no cover objective of at least 40x, but I don't have one.

Give it a try, HKV?

jpg P1010034.jpg (46.84 KiB) Viewed 12627 times

jpg P1010034 cr.jpg (17.34 KiB) Viewed 12625 times

jpeg cr.jpg (229.7 KiB) Viewed 12620 times

[Crater Eddie]

Very interesting.
CE

[hkv]

Give it a try, HKV?

I will! Waiting for my magnets to arrive.

[zzffnn]

Finding them actually seemed easy. You may be surprised, once you find out how many magnetic particles there are in the roof gutter and how many do NOT look like micrometeorites.

Separating, picking and positioning them is a lot more difficult, as many are smaller than diatoms. There is a reason why one needs micromanipulator devices.

[charlie g]

Fantastic image,Fan..thanks for sharing! I just keep thinks of all the air borne particles generated by our industrial smelters, metal furnaces..and incinerators..and (?sp?) volcanic and lightning generated glassy beads..'teckites'..I sense a lot of air particles are magnetic /fero magnetic quality.

I wonder how one determines what is terrestrial vrs off planet particulate...I doubt magnetic properties are a marker.

charlie guevara who knows: 'the truth is out there'. this a terrific thread, thanks,OP and Fann for the image captures.

[Johann]

This is what I got - Assuming it is a micro meteorite

Found 3 of them fairly easily.

meteor.jpg (396.29 KiB) Viewed 12554 times

[zzffnn]

Johann,

What size is that or what objective/magnification did you use?

Charlie G,

You are right, I cannot be sure that it came from space.

[billbillt]

Here is a link to a vid about finding and identifying micrometeorites:

http://player.mashpedia.com/player.php? ... oGaGYNho8Q


Chances are good any spheroid shapes found are micrometeorites.. It is one of the most common shapes..

BillT

[kit1980]

This is what I got - Assuming it is a micro meteorite

Found 3 of them fairly easily.

meteor.jpg

Nice photo!
I replied to your Facebook "mystery object" post with correct answer before seeing your post here (but I've seen previous posts in this topic before, so guessing was easy for me.)

[hkv]

Nice! What illumination and objective did you use?

[Johann]

Johann,
What size is that or what objective/magnification did you use?

This one was fairly big compared to the other 2 - took the photos on stereo microscope - so no idea really what magnification - but this will give you some idea:

24March2017-2B.jpg (38.27 KiB) Viewed 12481 times

[Johann]

I replied to your Facebook "mystery object" post with correct answer before seeing your post here (but I've seen previous posts in this topic before, so guessing was easy for me.)

Lol - no worries Sergey - I just assumed you saw the articles on Amateur Microscopy FB page - like I did
Nice to match FB profiles with forum members

[Johann]

Nice! What illumination and objective did you use?

This was on the Stereo microscope - external lights with my trusted table tennis ball over it

[RudiV]

This is what I got - Assuming it is a micro meteorite

Found 3 of them fairly easily.

meteor.jpg

I am sure this is a micrometeorite. You can see the combination of iron (rusty) and nickle (shiny) that is very common in meteorites, combine that with the shape and it is extremely unlikely to be of earthly origin.

Nice catch Johann!

Thanks for sharing,
Rudi

[charlie g]

Hi all..you can 'google': 'magnetic air born particles'..current studies (with images of a variety of spheroid magnetic air polution particles from coal-burning powerplants...from incinerators..smelters) ...current studies of these air pollutants and their correlation with human brain pathologies.

These particles show up in human brains upon microscopy of the deceased. Please understand that all sorts of fly ash are spheroidal..all sorts are magnetic..all sorts contain iron.

Enjoy microscopy of spheroidal magnetic particles..but appreciate there are many coal furnace and incinerator sources of these particles. I enjoy the posts in this thread...thanks to the OP. charlie guevara

[billbillt]

Here is a link on more info on collecting and observing these interesting objects. This appears to be a lab hand-out from California State University, Fresno....

http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/~fringwal/0 ... orites.pdf

The Best,
BillT

[hkv]

I just go a copy of their book this week showing somewhat 1500 images of "Micrometeorites and other spherules".
Great images, many obviously made with a light microscope. Many SEM as well. They claim to have invented some kind of new high resolution imaging for these pictures, but gives no indication on what differs from traditional techniques. Amazon say they will have the book available in august 2017, but what I got was the "first edition" with 1000 copies made. Ordered from the Norwegian web site.

[billbillt]

Here is a link to "meteorwrongs" .. What is not a meteorite.. From Washington University in St. Louis.....

http://meteorites.wustl.edu/meteorwrong ... wrongs.htm

BillT

[kit1980]

Here is a link to "meteorwrongs" .. What is not a meteorite.. From Washington University in St. Louis.....

http://meteorites.wustl.edu/meteorwrong ... wrongs.htm

BillT

Thanks for posting this link, looks interesting.
Plus there are other interesting pages linked from that page, like http://meteorites.wustl.edu/realities.htm