The human industrial activity can be considered as the source of spherical particles that were often confused as micrometeorites.
The challenge is to separate the extraterrestrial objects from objects of terrestrial provenance.
A problem is that very little is known, so far, about the morphology of these objects - what do micrometeorites actually look like? Also: “what do false micrometeorites actually look like?”
My goal would be to create a list of false micrometeorites and/or cosmic spherules in order to discriminate between terrestrial and extraterrestrial origin.
I repeat, I think that it is interesting and probably not totally irrelevant to reverse the question: “what do false micrometeorites actually look like?”.
I present a first tentative list of possible micrometeorwrongs, to be further analyzed.
The challenge is to separate the extraterrestrial objects from objects of terrestrial provenance.
A problem is that very little is known, so far, about the morphology of these objects - what do micrometeorites actually look like? Also: “what do false micrometeorites actually look like?”
My goal would be to create a list of false micrometeorites and/or cosmic spherules in order to discriminate between terrestrial and extraterrestrial origin.
I repeat, I think that it is interesting and probably not totally irrelevant to reverse the question: “what do false micrometeorites actually look like?”.
I present a first tentative list of possible micrometeorwrongs, to be further analyzed.
Iron spherules from grinding wheel treatment
Iron “false micrometeorites” can be produced for ex. by grinding wheel treatment.
Here an image, from A. Anselmo, “Observation of false spherical micrometeorites”.
Here an image, from A. Anselmo, “Observation of false spherical micrometeorites”.
Glass spherules from composite materials
My friend Silvana Cosmi collected a kind of composite material with many glass spherules.This material was collected near a big store and also in a parking.
However these glass spherules look differently from (possible) micrometeorites because they seem to have:
-always max. size 0,3 - 0,4 mm;
-always no vesicles;
-always no metal bead.
Nothing to do with this big (3 mm) glass spherule with internal vesicles and metallic nugget (top), and 0,8 mm transparent spherule (bottom).
However these glass spherules look differently from (possible) micrometeorites because they seem to have:
-always max. size 0,3 - 0,4 mm;
-always no vesicles;
-always no metal bead.
Nothing to do with this big (3 mm) glass spherule with internal vesicles and metallic nugget (top), and 0,8 mm transparent spherule (bottom).
Glass spherules from reflective painting
Paint with reflective beads has been found very useful for pavement marking.
The retroreflectivity of glass beads is explained by examining the path of light as it enters a single bead in the paint: as the headlight beam enters the bead, it is bent or refracted downward.
Collecting spherules in a car parking in Montenero I’ve found only a few metallic spherules, and many transparent glass spherules.
Perhaps these are due to reflective painting?
The retroreflectivity of glass beads is explained by examining the path of light as it enters a single bead in the paint: as the headlight beam enters the bead, it is bent or refracted downward.
Collecting spherules in a car parking in Montenero I’ve found only a few metallic spherules, and many transparent glass spherules.
Perhaps these are due to reflective painting?
Glass spherules from fireworks
Silvana Cosmi has collected spherules like these in a terrace (Tirano, Sondrio province, photo Silvana Cosmi).
There was a launch of fireworks from this terrace, so the origin of these spherules is quite suspect.
So probably also some specimens from Rosignano Marittimo may be due to the traditional midnight launch of fireworks to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
There was a launch of fireworks from this terrace, so the origin of these spherules is quite suspect.
So probably also some specimens from Rosignano Marittimo may be due to the traditional midnight launch of fireworks to celebrate the arrival of the new year.