In dense collection areas for which a numbering system is used to name meteorites (e.g., Dar al Gani, Northwest Africa, Dhofar, Roosevelt County, and many others), names may be assigned to newly collected specimens prior to classification. This may only be done by application to the Nomenclature Committee. Names assigned in this way are considered 'provisional,' which means that the information has not been reviewed or approved by the Committee, and therefore the name cannot be used in publications. Some may not even be real meteorites!

Provisional names are included in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (see link at left). They are clearly marked as provisional entries and are highlighted in orange. All information associated with these entries, including descriptions, comes from the meteorite collector or dealer who applied to the Committee for the provisional name.

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