482   QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MINING JOURNAL   December, 1971

TWO METEORITES FROM NORTHWEST QUEENSLAND

BEVERLEY R. HOUSTON, Geological Survey of Queensland

INTRODUCTION

In March 1952 Mr. A. R. Watson of Mount Isa found a small siderite about a hundred yards from the "King Solomon" mine (20' 41' 58" S., 139° 48' 15" E.) northwest of Mary Kathleen.

A second, larger siderite was found on 16th June 1970 by Mr. J. Finch at the old camp near "Answer" mine (20' 39' 35" S., 40° 54' 25" E.), south of Selwyn.

Mr. Finch gave the second specimen to Mr. Watson who forwarded both to this Department for identification. There is nothing to establish that the actual locality of the fall (or falls) is that of the collection site.

Preliminary studies only, sufficient to determine that the specimens are meteorites, were carried out and the specimens were returned to Mr. Watson in Mount Isa.

Acknowledgements: I am indebted to Mr. C. H. Couper of the Queensland Government Chemical Laboratory and Mr. P. Schweinsberg of the Chemistry Department, Queensland Institute of Technology, for their assistance with the investigation.

THE "KING SOLOMON"

External Features

The meteorite, in outline, has edges approximately 35, 80, 70 and 80 mm. The 80 mm sides are concave and the 70 mm is convex. The small end is quite rectangular. (Plate I)

On the front, five well-developed sides (60 x 35 mm; 50

x 30 mm; 30 x 35 mm; 30 x 40 mm; triangle with base 20 mm and perpendicular height 30 mm) wedge together and the front face is reduced to an arcuate flat area about 30 mm long and 15 mm across at its widest part. This surface face is about 50 mm above the rear face. Two corners are slightly turned back.

Surface markings are very well-developed and the majority of the pits are about 10 mm across and 3 mm deep.

The rear face (Place I, ii) is slightly convex and surface markings are quite well-developed though smoother and shallower than those on the front.

The specimen has a fairly thick oxide crust and no flow lines can be seen.

Specific Gravity

Mr. A. D. Robertson of this Department determined the weight at 488 grams and the specific gravity as 7.87.

THE "ANSWER"

External Features

The meteorite .is roughly rectangular in outline with sides approximately 260 mm and 120 mm. Maximum thickness is about 90 mm.

The front face (Plate II, i) is markedly convex with the corners all turned back. One is drawn out as a knob 35 mm long and about 20 mm in diameter, pointing towards the back. Some 17 pits are in evidence, ranging in size up to 40 mm across and 30 mm deep. There are no nodules in evidence.

Three sides—one long and two short—are developed. On the fourth side, a partial side is developed, but along about half the length the front and rear wedge together. Numerous small pits, 5 to 10 mm across and 1 to 5 mm deep are developed on all sides.

The rear face (Plate II, ii) is concave and surface markings are not well-developed.

The meteorite has a thin oxide crust and no flow lines can be seen.

Preparation

A small, roughly triangular slice measuring approximately 40 mm across the base and 35 mm perpendicular height was cut from one corner as shown on Plate II (i).

The cut was made with a power hacksaw using a new high speed tungsten steel blade. Weight loss of the blade during cutting was negligible. The machine was carefully cleaned of grease and other shavings before cutting. The shavings were collected on paper and forwarded directly to the Government Chemical Laboratory for analysis before oxidation could take place.

The slice was polished at the Geological Survey using:-

1. 1000 wet and dry paper and kerosene (by hand)

2. 4-8 IL diamond paste in pellon cloth (rotating wheel)

3. 0.0-0.5 v. diamond paste in pellon cloth (rotating wheel)

4. 0.05 v. synthetic sapphire powder (by hand). Specific Gravity

Weight of the slice is 90.976 grams and the specific gravity 7.86. Weight of the main mass, after cutting, is 11,092 plus or minus 10 grams and the specific gravity 7.88. Chemical Composition

Analysis of the shavings gave the following results:

Iron (Fe)   86.7%

Nickel (Ni)   12.5%

Cobalt (Co)   0.65%

Silicon (Si)   0.001%

Sulphur (S)   less than 0.001% Phosphorous (P) less than 0.001%

Carbon (C)   less than 0.001%

Zinc (Zn)   less than 0.001%

Calcium (Ca)   less than 0.001%

Copper (Cu)   less than 0.001%

Lead (Pb)   less than 0.001%

Manganese (Mn) less than 0.001%

Analysis by emission spectrograph at the Chemistry Department, Queensland Institute of Technology, indicated also the presence of Molybdenum (Mo), Tungsten (W), Tin (Sn) and Ytterbium (Yb).

The following elements could not be detected:—
Chromium (Cr)

Vanadium (V)

Yttrium (Yt)

Lanthanum (La)

Tantalum (Ta)

Niobium (Nb)

Titanium (Ti)

The Government Analyst further reported that "As far as can be ascertained no steels have been reported with such low Si, S, P, C & Mn values and the absence of Cr, V, T, Ti is a further argument for the assumption that this is a sample from a meteorite."

Macro-examination

The surface of the slice was polished and etched with 5 per cent Nital, revealing a very fine eutectoid texture, which could scarcely be detected with the naked eye. Micro-examination

Mineragraphic examination of the slice revealed that the iron consists essentially of paraeutectoid light plessite (about 0.005 mm), with minor skeletal growths of taenite distributed at random. (Plate III, ii). These taenite "combs" range from 0.01 to 0.02 mm across and from 0.04 to 0.5 mm in length.

Minor intrusive Oxide (ferrosic oxide with rare associated ?hydroxide) occurs filling a fracture near the surface and replacing ?schreibersite bodies up to 0.7 mm in length (Plate III, i).

December, 1971   QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MINING JOURNAL   483

PLATE 1

• "KING SOLOMON"

1. Front face

Scale

0   1   2   .3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10

Centimetres

2. Rear face

484   QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MINING JOURNAL   December, 1971

PLATE 2

"ANSWER"

(i) Front face, showing direction of slice

Scale

II   0   5   10   15   20   25   30

1   I   I   I   I   t   i   i   I   I   i   1   i   i   1   i   ...   1   I   IIIIIIiI
Centimetres

December, 1971   QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MINING JOURNAL   485

PLATE 3

"ANSWER"

(i) Intrusive oxide replacing schreibersite body X20

§St

(ii) Paraeutectoid light plessite with random skeletal taenite. Picral 15 seconds X20

486   QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MINING JOURNAL   December, D71

Classification

This meteorite appears to be a nickel-rich ataxite. It has not been possible, however, to determine whether the specimen has a coarser octahedrite texture in the centre.

CONCLUSIONS

The microtexture of the "Answer" bears a strong resemblance to that of certain steels. However, the combined evidence of external features, microstructure, and chemical composition leave no room for doubt that the specimen from the "Answer" mine is a meteorite.

The basic similarity between the "Answer" and the "King Solomon" leads one to conclude that both specimens are of meteoric origin and possibly part of a multiple fall or shower.

REFERENCES

GREAVES, R. H., and WRIGHTON, H., 1967: Practical microscopical metallography. Chapman and Hall, London.

NININGER, H. H., 1952: Out of the Sky. Dover, New York. PERRY, S. H.,•1944: The Metallography of meteoritic iron. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 184.

BOARD OF EXAMINERS, QUEENSLAND

The undermentioned persons having complied with the necessary requirements, the Board of Examiners has issued to them the following Certificates or Licenses since August, 1971:

OPEN CUT EXAMINER CERTIFICATES:

No.   Name and Address

3054 MILLS, Noel Lawrence; Bundamba.

3055 PETIE, Maxwell John; Booval.

DEPUTY CERTIFICATES:

No.   Name and Address

3049 FITZPATRICK, Patrick Michael; Blackwater. 3050 HEIN, Leslie George; Torbanlea.

3051 DAVIDSON, Martin Fitzroy; Torbanlea.

3052 KATHAGE, Graham Walter; Bundamba.

3053 LOBLEY, Bruce Arnold; Ipswich.

MINE SURVEYOR CERTIFICATES:
No.   Name and Address

3037 GORDON, Douglas Rodney; Mount Isa.

3038 BUCKLER, Allan Charles; Mount Isa.

3039 VARVARI, Arvo; Mount Isa.

APPROVAL CERTIFICATES:

Issued by the Board of Examiners to Holders of
equivalent Interstate or Foreign Certificates.

No.   Name, Address and Particulars

3047 SMITHSON, Robert Raymond; Blackwater.

Ministry of Power, London, Deputy Certificate No. 32362 approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3048 BARRETT, Donald James; Blackwater.

New South Wales Third-Class Certificate of Competency (Deputy) No. 4530 approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3050 RYBINSKI, Tadeusz Antoni; Blackwater.

Minister of Power, United Kingdom, Deputy Certificate No. 24601 approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3051 ALLISON, William Mead; Blackwater.

New South Wales Third-Cass Certificate of Competency (Deputy) No. 4806, approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3052 GIBSON, Walter; Blackwater.

Ministry of Power, United Kingdom Deputy Certificate No. 24054 approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3055 DAVEY, Michael Vincent; Blackwater.

Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes Colliery Deputy's Proficiency Certificate approved as equivalent to Queensland Deputy Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3049 LEGRAT, Alfred Werner Dieter; Blackwater.

United Kingdom First Class Certificate of Competency No. 9522 approved as equivalent to Queensland First Class Coal Mine Manager Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3053 ENGLISH, Walter Herbert; Blackwater.

New South Wales Manager's Certificate of Competency No. 1567 approved as equivalent to Queensland First Class Coal Mine Manager Certificate. Passed oral examination.

3054 HUGHSON, Robert Arthur.

United Kingdom First Class Certificate of Competency No. 7797 approved as equivalent to Queensland First Class Coal Mine Manager Certificate. Passed oral examination.

WINDING LICENSES

Issued or Varied by the Board of Examiners:

No.   Name, Address and Particulars

1530 McNEVEN, Colin James; Blackwater.

Special Winding License (Oil) 75 h.p. varied to Winding License (Electrical and Oil) at Vertical and Inclined Shafts.

1649 ELLIOTT, Ronald Walter; Rosewood.

Special Winding License (Electrical) varied to Winding License (Electrical) at Inclined Shafts.

3083 TRINDLE, Ben; Mount Isa.   • Winding License (Electrical) at Vertical and Inclined Shafts issued after passing written and oral examinations.

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