Crash Site Material Analysed 
Ed Gehrman

A sample of the material, taken from what I believe to be the Cameraman�s crash
site, has been analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction at the Technology of Materials Lab
in Wildomar, Ca. It has been identified as Cristobalite, and not agate as Ray
Stanford had maintained.

"Cristobalite is a polymorph of quartz, meaning that it is composed of the same
chemistry, SiO2, but has a different structure. Both quartz and cristobalite are
polymorphs with all the members of the Quartz Group which also include coesite,
tridymite and stishovite. Cristobalite is common in volcanic rocks and many
microscopic crystals are easily seen in a petrographic microscope. However,
larger well formed crystals are rarer and good specimens are found in the
crevices and cavities (called vesicles) of the host rocks. Cristobalite�s wide
spread distribution in certain types of rocks would require an abundance rating
of at least common, although good macroscopic crystal specimens are hard to
find...

The presence of cristobalite in a rock is helpful to petrologists (rock
scientists) in determining the temperature of the rock at the time it
crystallized. It will form from molten rock at temperatures above approximately
1470 degrees Celsius to the boiling point of silica. Pressure and water content
will vary this range, but it is usually a rather good indication of the extreme
temperature at which the rock crystallized. Below 1470 degrees Celsius and above
870 degrees Celsius tridymite is stable and will crystallize. Below 870 degrees
Celsius, beta quartz is stable and it will crystallize. Since a molten rock goes
through various temperatures as it cools all three polymorphs could be present,
confusing the issue...

Notable Occurrences include Cerro San Cristobal, Pachuca, Mexico (from where it
gets its name); San Juan Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, both in
Colorado and Mt. Lassen, California, USA and Italy.  Best Field Indicators are
crystal habit, environment of formation (mostly in the crevices of volcanic
rocks), color and index of refraction."
A desert area the size of three football fields, covered with cristobalite,
would be quite unusual.  I think that Ray might reexamine his assumptions in the
light of this new information, and reconsider my offer that we visit  this site,
along with any other interested participants,  in an attempt to validate the
cameraman�s testimony.


Ed