[brmeteorites_list] List 131 - more small stuff
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 131
December 19, 2012
Dear Collectors,
I am sorry that this is going out late. I discovered yesterday morning that my one remaining Guinea pig (CQ) is ill and required an emergency trip to the vet (which is a bit over an hour drive each way for the vet that is up to date on Guinea pig care). We did not get back from this appointment until a bit after 4PM yesterday - too late to send this out. We have had CQ for a bit over 7½ years now (she is close to 8 as she was 5 months or so old when we got her). Unfortunately, the doctor's news clearly says we will not have her for much longer. She had cancer a couple years ago and did great after surgery. Unfortunately it has returned with a vengeance and is inoperable this time. So, making her comfortable (pain medication, lots of treats and attention) is all we can do for her at this point. (I have put some photos of her in the group photos section for anyone that wants to see what this old girl looks like).
I still hope to do an "end of year get it out of inventory" offering. However, I have not had much time to do the work to find what I want to go away (for simplifying bookwork purposes anyway). I have been buried with what has turned out to be a far bigger project than I had anticipated. I got all the general components to set up a solar hot water heating system (mostly for the water heater for nice "free" hot showers but also for actually heating the house if there is left over heat from that primary job). This is a really BIG project to put together it turns out. It has it all; plumbing, mechanical, and electric. For added excitement, much of the work has to be done in small closets, under the house in crawl spaces and on the roof. I had been really putting myself into this hoping to get the bulk of the work done while we had nice weather. I am maybe 2/3 done with this. However, we have bad weather rapidly moving in which might put an end to this project (the out doors and semi-outdoors parts anyway) for awhile (it is snowing heavily at this moment so I probably won't be taking packages to the post office today either). Then I may get to my inventory work and see if I can make a list out of it.
Anyway, here is another little selection from the old research collection that the last list came out of.
ATARRA, India: (L4), black. Fell December 23, 1920. Tkw = 1280 grams.
Now I know there cannot be much of this out. Only three stones were recovered with a total of a bit over a kilo known. This is certainly the first time I have seen a piece (al be it small) of this fall.
.065 grams fragments in capsule - $60
AZTEC, New Mexico: (L6). Fell February 1, 1938. Tkw = 2.83kg.
I know that there is very little of this one out there. I went through the brutal process of doing a trade with the Field Museum many years ago to get a small bit of this for a collector who lives in the area of the fall. This is the first time I have seen any of this since.
.05 gram fragment – 5mm x 5mm x 1.5mm - $30
.065 grams of fragments in capsule - $35
BATH, South Dakota: (H4), breccia. Fell August 29, 1892. Tkw = 21kg.
I know I had a piece of Bath Furnace in my micro collection years ago but don't think I had any of this one.
.025g fragment – 2.5mm x 2mm x 2mm - $10
ELENOVKA, Ukraine: (L5). Fell October 17, 1951. Tkw = 54.64kg.
These (I have a couple of them) are powder, crumbs and fragments in a capsule. The fragments portion are generally sized from 1mm up to 5mm in size.
.5 grams of fragments, crumbs, powder in capsule - $20
KELLY, Colorado: (LL4), breccia. Found 1937. Tkw = 44.3kg.
Kelly was my first LL4 I ever had and sold. It was also VERY popular as pretty much no collectors had an LL4 at that point (they are quite a bit rarer than LL3s). I seem to recall that back then (certainly over 20 years and likely closer to 24 years ago) the stuff brought the princely sum of around $20/g.
1.9 gram thick slice – 12mm x 9mm x 10mm - $60
KUTTIPPURAM, India: (L6). Fell April 6, 1914. Tkw = 45.4kg.
A shower of stones fell over 4 villages. The largest piece was around 71 pounds. Not a lot of this has gotten out as there are around 38kg of this fall reported held in Calcutta (meaning only around 7kg for the rest of us, museums included).
.025 grams, 3 fragments in capsule - $10
.04 gram fragment – 4mm x 3mm x 2mm - $15
KYUSHU, Japan: (L6) veined. Fell October 26, 1886. Tkw = 45+kg.
I have had piece of this in the past but it has been awhile. Not many meteorites from Japan are available to collectors (small target, a lot relatively difficult hunting terrain and such).
.015 grams, 2 fragments in capsule - $10
.03 gram fragment – 4mm x 2mm x 2mm - $15
SEARSMONT, Maine: (H5). Fell May 21, 1871. Tkw = about 900grams.
It was reported that a 12 pound (around 5.5kg) stone fell but only about 2 pounds was preserved. I have had a piece of this in the long ago past. I think this is the only meteorite from Maine I have ever had.
.06 grams fragments and dust in capsule - $20
WESTON, Connecticut: (H4). Fell December 14, 1807. Tkw = 149.7kg.
Apparently, this was a much larger fall than I had thought. However, it is noted that "very little was preserved". According to the Catalog of Meteorites, there is a bit under 4.3kg of this meteorite reported in major museum collections. I know that this has been one of the really high dollar historic rarities I've seen occasionally lately. But I guess though this is indeed important as it is the US's first witnessed fall.
.035 grams fragments in capsule - $15
.18 gram fragment – 6mm x 4mm x 4mm - $60
WOOLGORONG, Australia: (L6). Fell December 20, 1960. Tkw = 36.3 kg.
This, like Millbillillie, was recovered some time after the fall. In the case of this stone, it was not until July of 1961 that 80 pounds of fragemnts were recovered.
Dust in capsule - $5
About .01g (about 2mm square) of fragments in capsule - $10
ZAVID, Bosnia-Herzegovina: (L6) breccia. Fell August 1, 1897. Tkw = 92.78kg.
The fireball from this fall traveled from the SE to the NW. Four stones were recovered. It is likely that more pieces fell in to the river Drina.
.045 gram fragment – 4mm x 3mm x 2mm - $10
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 130 - small rare bits 1
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 130
December 4, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a small assortment of some interesting things I received recently from an old research collection. There are many things in this collection that I have not cataloged fully yet. Regardless, I am already seeing a bunch of names of things (all really small, good for the micro collectors) that I have never seen or had before. The next couple offerings will likely be things pulled from this collection lot as I catalog them (though I may run an "inventory clearance" offering next time. I am currently working on that grueling task. I have not come across a lot of last one or two pieces of an item things yet – the things I'd probably want to get rid of so I don't have to do all the inventory work on them for taxes – but that may change).
ABEE, Canada: (EH4) impact melt breccia. Fell June 9, 1952. Tkw = 107kg.
This is a nice cut fragment that has a nice 12mm x 7mm patch of fusion crust. This had a thin coating of light rust on it so I hand sanded it to show fresh metal and breccia texture on its cut faces (and stunk up the kitchen in the process. One of the interesting features of most enstatite chondrites is that they stink of sulfur really bad when sanded).
1.95 gram cut fragment – 20mm x 7mm x 7mm - $120
ALLENDE, Mexico: (CV3.2). Fell February 8, 1969.
This is a "black inclusion" that was originally set aside to be thin-sectioned (and it may very well have had a layer cut off for this purpose). This, texturally, looks very much like a CM2 meteorite but the color is a bit lighter. I left this in the bottle I got it in which has a label that says " Allende black inclusion, a piece for thin section 1/24/74, 1.122g.
1.12 gram slice – 10mm x 8mm x 4mm - $15
AOUELLOUL GLASS, Mauritania.
A 250 meter diameter crater was discovered with a small amount of highly silicious glass around it. This glass contains iron and nickel, showing its impact origin. It is estimated that the impact occurred about 3.3 million years ago. These are 3 small pieces that have been sawn for research work and are in the plastic tube I received them in.
1.3 grams 3 pieces - $7
ARRIBA, Colorado: (L5), brecciated. Found 1936. Tkw = 31.1kg.
These piece are both "raw cut" unsanded. I left them as I got them. However, the back side of both is really nice in that they have very nice obvious weathered fusion crust (not badly weathered either. The crust is a nice mix of dark gray and chocolate brown). These are really nice little end pieces and likely very rare as such.
2.2 gram end piece – 18mm x 9mm x 6mm - $20
NEW CONCORD, Ohio: (L6) veined. Fell May 1, 1860. Tkw = 226.8kg.
Here is a US historic classic. I have not had any of this in quite awhile. I remember something about a rumor that a horse was supposedly killed in the fall of this meteorite but don't recall where I heard that.
2.3 gram slice – 17mm x 9mm x 4mm - $45
3.4 gram slice – 22mm x 9mm x 5mm - $65
5.0 gram slice – 40mm x 9mm x 4mm - $95
ORGUIEL, France: (CI1). Fell May 14, 1864. Tkw = 10.5+kg.
I sold a fair amount of this material when I offered it on a list recently. This piece is special in that it is still in the little plastic disk container that a researcher received decades ago (likely directly from the Paris Museum). I have priced this pretty much at the same price per gram (possibly even a hair less) that I had my "regular" material listed at.
.37grams of crumbs in Paris museum container - $700
PANTAR, Philippines: (H5). Fell June 16, 1938. Tkw = 10.3kg (?)
I put a question mark on the total known. This 10.3kg is what Meteorites A to Z reports but I could only come up with about 1600 grams in museum collections (according to the Catalog of Meteorites). Even the Meteoritical Bulletin has the total on this as 2.1kg. It was reported that 16 fairly small stones were recovered from this fall. However, a note was made that "thousands the size of corn and rice grains fell on roofs in the area". Perhaps a big load of these were recently recovered, but I certainly have not ever seen any of this fall available before.
.02 grams fragments/ crumbs in capsule - $15
.03 grams fragments in a capsule - $25
.11g fragment – 7mm x 5mm x 2mm - $80
WALTERS, Oklahoma: (L6). Fell July 28, 1946. Tkw = 28kg.
This is a meteorite that looks like there are only a couple kilos that has made it out of research collections, according to the numbers in the Catalog of Meteorites. These aren't much, but maybe all that is available of this fall at this point in time.
.20 gram fragments in capsule - $20
.7 gram cut fragment – 15mm x 5mm x 3mm - $50
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 130
December 4, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a small assortment of some interesting things I received recently from an old research collection. There are many things in this collection that I have not cataloged fully yet. Regardless, I am already seeing a bunch of names of things (all really small, good for the micro collectors) that I have never seen or had before. The next couple offerings will likely be things pulled from this collection lot as I catalog them (though I may run an "inventory clearance" offering next time. I am currently working on that grueling task. I have not come across a lot of last one or two pieces of an item things yet – the things I'd probably want to get rid of so I don't have to do all the inventory work on them for taxes – but that may change).
ABEE, Canada: (EH4) impact melt breccia. Fell June 9, 1952. Tkw = 107kg.
This is a nice cut fragment that has a nice 12mm x 7mm patch of fusion crust. This had a thin coating of light rust on it so I hand sanded it to show fresh metal and breccia texture on its cut faces (and stunk up the kitchen in the process. One of the interesting features of most enstatite chondrites is that they stink of sulfur really bad when sanded).
1.95 gram cut fragment – 20mm x 7mm x 7mm - $120
ALLENDE, Mexico: (CV3.2). Fell February 8, 1969.
This is a "black inclusion" that was originally set aside to be thin-sectioned (and it may very well have had a layer cut off for this purpose). This, texturally, looks very much like a CM2 meteorite but the color is a bit lighter. I left this in the bottle I got it in which has a label that says " Allende black inclusion, a piece for thin section 1/24/74, 1.122g.
1.12 gram slice – 10mm x 8mm x 4mm - $15
AOUELLOUL GLASS, Mauritania.
A 250 meter diameter crater was discovered with a small amount of highly silicious glass around it. This glass contains iron and nickel, showing its impact origin. It is estimated that the impact occurred about 3.3 million years ago. These are 3 small pieces that have been sawn for research work and are in the plastic tube I received them in.
1.3 grams 3 pieces - $7
ARRIBA, Colorado: (L5), brecciated. Found 1936. Tkw = 31.1kg.
These piece are both "raw cut" unsanded. I left them as I got them. However, the back side of both is really nice in that they have very nice obvious weathered fusion crust (not badly weathered either. The crust is a nice mix of dark gray and chocolate brown). These are really nice little end pieces and likely very rare as such.
2.2 gram end piece – 18mm x 9mm x 6mm - $20
NEW CONCORD, Ohio: (L6) veined. Fell May 1, 1860. Tkw = 226.8kg.
Here is a US historic classic. I have not had any of this in quite awhile. I remember something about a rumor that a horse was supposedly killed in the fall of this meteorite but don't recall where I heard that.
2.3 gram slice – 17mm x 9mm x 4mm - $45
3.4 gram slice – 22mm x 9mm x 5mm - $65
5.0 gram slice – 40mm x 9mm x 4mm - $95
ORGUIEL, France: (CI1). Fell May 14, 1864. Tkw = 10.5+kg.
I sold a fair amount of this material when I offered it on a list recently. This piece is special in that it is still in the little plastic disk container that a researcher received decades ago (likely directly from the Paris Museum). I have priced this pretty much at the same price per gram (possibly even a hair less) that I had my "regular" material listed at.
.37grams of crumbs in Paris museum container - $700
PANTAR, Philippines: (H5). Fell June 16, 1938. Tkw = 10.3kg (?)
I put a question mark on the total known. This 10.3kg is what Meteorites A to Z reports but I could only come up with about 1600 grams in museum collections (according to the Catalog of Meteorites). Even the Meteoritical Bulletin has the total on this as 2.1kg. It was reported that 16 fairly small stones were recovered from this fall. However, a note was made that "thousands the size of corn and rice grains fell on roofs in the area". Perhaps a big load of these were recently recovered, but I certainly have not ever seen any of this fall available before.
.02 grams fragments/ crumbs in capsule - $15
.03 grams fragments in a capsule - $25
.11g fragment – 7mm x 5mm x 2mm - $80
WALTERS, Oklahoma: (L6). Fell July 28, 1946. Tkw = 28kg.
This is a meteorite that looks like there are only a couple kilos that has made it out of research collections, according to the numbers in the Catalog of Meteorites. These aren't much, but maybe all that is available of this fall at this point in time.
.20 gram fragments in capsule - $20
.7 gram cut fragment – 15mm x 5mm x 3mm - $50
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites -List 129 - some interesting larger items
Blaine Reed Meteorites -List 129 - some interesting larger items
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 129
November 20, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here are a few items I have picked up at the past couple shows. These things are more tektites and miscellaneous special or large pieces than meteorites this time. I listed the meteorites first, but there are certainly interesting things below.
A holiday season note, request for help or opinion:
I had hoped to pull together some kind of gift certificate system by now. Frankly, the holiday season is generally one of my slowest. This is because collectors are using their money to buy gifts for family and friends (not meteorites) and family and friends don't often buy meteorites for their collector friends (can't blame them – they usually have no idea what those collectors want or need so the don't risk buying any meteorite specimens). I thought that a gift certificate program on my part might help break up that log jam (then family and friends of collectors could simply buy a gift certificate from me which the collector could then use to turn into meteorites/ tektites and such from me later). Unfortunately, in our highly over regulated supposedly free economy, it seems that I may not legally be able to do this. It seems that the government (both state and Fed) has gotten into regulating gift certificates, balances on them and collecting taxes fees and such. I do understand that I certainly should pay taxes on any sale of gift certificates I make BUT it seems that they want additional taxes and demand that I turn over unused balances to them after a certain amount of time. I don't know the specific rules (and whether or not they would fully apply to what tiny amount of business I would do in these things) but I was informed by another dealer who looked into it a few years ago to simply DON'T DO IT. If anyone out there has a better understanding of the rules on these things PLEASE CONTACT ME. Maybe I can find a loop-hole that will allow me to offer gift certificates in the future. I suppose I should first ask though if anyone out there thinks that having such available would be of any use or help to them (no sense getting all worked up over legal details if really no one wants the things to begin with).
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite).
Here is a really nice bookend of true pallasite (loaded with olivine). Its profile is square (all cut edges) but the back is natural exterior (so its kind of an end piece). This stands up nicely on its own. I have this priced a bit below what it would likely cost to replace it at this point (probably around $1500 or so from what I saw at the Denver show). I'd rather try to sell this nice piece as it is before possibly sending it off for cutting.
368.9 gram book end – 72mm x 70mm x 20mm - $1250
TAZA – NWA (859) : Plessitic octahedrite (real one).
I got this piece in Denver incase I needed to have a decent piece to hand around (or run an XRF on in front of) the jury at last month's trial. I did not end up needing to do either (but I guess there is indeed still a chance the clown will be awarded a new trial though). I managed to pick a nice oriented `bullet' shaped individual. It has a nice rounded nose and slowly tapers out from there. There are some thumbprints on and near the back of the piece. This is a mottled rust brown as I have left this just as I got it (which looks to be pretty much as it was likely found).
245.2 gram oriented individual as found – 60mm x 30mm x 25mm - $650
ANORTHOSITE: Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK
Here is an end piece of terrestrial anorthosite. Like its Lunar counterpart, this is nearly white in color (though there is a greenish tinge on one side of the cut and polished face). This is the cheap way to see what the material that originally made up much of the luinar highlands looked like before impact mixing and such. The paper that comes with this gives the location as Lingerbay, Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK.
58.4 gram cut fragment – 65mm x 30mm x 20mm - $20
AUSTRALITE: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Here is, by far, the largest Australite I have ever had. I can't recall having any in the past 26 years that were much bigger than 12 grams or so. This is a positively huge one in comparison to all I have had in the past. This is a complete individual as found. It is not real exciting in shape or features – a slightly squashed egg shaped piece with fairly shallow grooving and flow lines. The real special feature of this piece is indeed its truly rare (and unchipped no less) size.
43.8 gram individual – 45mm x 30mm x 20mm - $400
JOSEPHENITE, Oregon: Terrestrial Fe/Ni alloy.
This is a little individual nugget of this interesting and quite rare material. It is believed that this may have been brought up from the outer core with a very deep origin magma plume. These are often found as placer nuggets in streams after they have weathered out of the rock they were originally trapped in. This is a typical rounded little nugget.
2.6 gram nugget – 12mm x 10mm x 5mm - $15
TEKTITE KIT:
Here is a neat item I got from Al Mitterling at the Denver show. It is a Riker box with 5 different tektites/ impact glasses. The pieces in this are no slouches for size or quality either. I suppose the Australite could be a bit bigger (see above) but it certainly is the size of what is usually available. The items (and weights) are: Australite – 2.1g, Darwin Glass – 8.7g, Indochinite – 12.5g, Libyan Desert Glass – 14.6g, Moldavite – 8.6g.
Tektite kit in Riker - $120
WABAR IMPACTITE/ CRATER GLASS, Saudi Arabia.
I have only seen small bits of impact glass from this crater over the years. Usually, I see the small impact pearls (little half centimeter or so glass beads) that the owners generally want waaaay too much money for (last I was offered they wanted $300 to $500 for each pearl). There is a lot of those pearls and impactites out there in the desert but VERY few people have ever been allowed out to the crater (and are often monitored when they are there). I have heard that large sand dunes are moving into the area and are about to (if they have not already) cover the area for what will likely be a long time. Anyway, what I have here is truly a HUGE piece of crater glass/ impactite from this crater. I picked it up in Socorro a couple weeks ago. It came from a retired geologist who did work in Saudi Arabia many years ago. I am not certain exactly how to classify this chunk. It has the highly frothy nature (and metal blebs) of an impactite but has kind of a lava like flow structure to it as well. NOTE – I certainly did test this – it indeed has plenty of nickel in it so it certainly is NOT just a piece of lava. I also am not sure how to price this, perhaps its an item that is unique enough that it would be better in an auction. I decided to price (per gram wise) about the same that my other impactites are. However, this has a lot of grams to it so it still works out to be a substantial chunk of money.
209gram natural fragment as found – 140mm x 75mm x 45mm - $400
THIN-SECTION:
Here is, unfortunately, a broken thin-section I have had sitting on my desk for years now (it got broken in shipping, not from sitting on my desk surprisingly). It was from my NWA (5779) LL5 breccia that finally got reported recently (hence my ability to now get rid of this thing). It is broken into 5 pieces but there are certainly a couple big enough to still enjoy under a scope.
Broken t-section - $5
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 129
November 20, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here are a few items I have picked up at the past couple shows. These things are more tektites and miscellaneous special or large pieces than meteorites this time. I listed the meteorites first, but there are certainly interesting things below.
A holiday season note, request for help or opinion:
I had hoped to pull together some kind of gift certificate system by now. Frankly, the holiday season is generally one of my slowest. This is because collectors are using their money to buy gifts for family and friends (not meteorites) and family and friends don't often buy meteorites for their collector friends (can't blame them – they usually have no idea what those collectors want or need so the don't risk buying any meteorite specimens). I thought that a gift certificate program on my part might help break up that log jam (then family and friends of collectors could simply buy a gift certificate from me which the collector could then use to turn into meteorites/ tektites and such from me later). Unfortunately, in our highly over regulated supposedly free economy, it seems that I may not legally be able to do this. It seems that the government (both state and Fed) has gotten into regulating gift certificates, balances on them and collecting taxes fees and such. I do understand that I certainly should pay taxes on any sale of gift certificates I make BUT it seems that they want additional taxes and demand that I turn over unused balances to them after a certain amount of time. I don't know the specific rules (and whether or not they would fully apply to what tiny amount of business I would do in these things) but I was informed by another dealer who looked into it a few years ago to simply DON'T DO IT. If anyone out there has a better understanding of the rules on these things PLEASE CONTACT ME. Maybe I can find a loop-hole that will allow me to offer gift certificates in the future. I suppose I should first ask though if anyone out there thinks that having such available would be of any use or help to them (no sense getting all worked up over legal details if really no one wants the things to begin with).
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite).
Here is a really nice bookend of true pallasite (loaded with olivine). Its profile is square (all cut edges) but the back is natural exterior (so its kind of an end piece). This stands up nicely on its own. I have this priced a bit below what it would likely cost to replace it at this point (probably around $1500 or so from what I saw at the Denver show). I'd rather try to sell this nice piece as it is before possibly sending it off for cutting.
368.9 gram book end – 72mm x 70mm x 20mm - $1250
TAZA – NWA (859) : Plessitic octahedrite (real one).
I got this piece in Denver incase I needed to have a decent piece to hand around (or run an XRF on in front of) the jury at last month's trial. I did not end up needing to do either (but I guess there is indeed still a chance the clown will be awarded a new trial though). I managed to pick a nice oriented `bullet' shaped individual. It has a nice rounded nose and slowly tapers out from there. There are some thumbprints on and near the back of the piece. This is a mottled rust brown as I have left this just as I got it (which looks to be pretty much as it was likely found).
245.2 gram oriented individual as found – 60mm x 30mm x 25mm - $650
ANORTHOSITE: Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK
Here is an end piece of terrestrial anorthosite. Like its Lunar counterpart, this is nearly white in color (though there is a greenish tinge on one side of the cut and polished face). This is the cheap way to see what the material that originally made up much of the luinar highlands looked like before impact mixing and such. The paper that comes with this gives the location as Lingerbay, Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK.
58.4 gram cut fragment – 65mm x 30mm x 20mm - $20
AUSTRALITE: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Here is, by far, the largest Australite I have ever had. I can't recall having any in the past 26 years that were much bigger than 12 grams or so. This is a positively huge one in comparison to all I have had in the past. This is a complete individual as found. It is not real exciting in shape or features – a slightly squashed egg shaped piece with fairly shallow grooving and flow lines. The real special feature of this piece is indeed its truly rare (and unchipped no less) size.
43.8 gram individual – 45mm x 30mm x 20mm - $400
JOSEPHENITE, Oregon: Terrestrial Fe/Ni alloy.
This is a little individual nugget of this interesting and quite rare material. It is believed that this may have been brought up from the outer core with a very deep origin magma plume. These are often found as placer nuggets in streams after they have weathered out of the rock they were originally trapped in. This is a typical rounded little nugget.
2.6 gram nugget – 12mm x 10mm x 5mm - $15
TEKTITE KIT:
Here is a neat item I got from Al Mitterling at the Denver show. It is a Riker box with 5 different tektites/ impact glasses. The pieces in this are no slouches for size or quality either. I suppose the Australite could be a bit bigger (see above) but it certainly is the size of what is usually available. The items (and weights) are: Australite – 2.1g, Darwin Glass – 8.7g, Indochinite – 12.5g, Libyan Desert Glass – 14.6g, Moldavite – 8.6g.
Tektite kit in Riker - $120
WABAR IMPACTITE/ CRATER GLASS, Saudi Arabia.
I have only seen small bits of impact glass from this crater over the years. Usually, I see the small impact pearls (little half centimeter or so glass beads) that the owners generally want waaaay too much money for (last I was offered they wanted $300 to $500 for each pearl). There is a lot of those pearls and impactites out there in the desert but VERY few people have ever been allowed out to the crater (and are often monitored when they are there). I have heard that large sand dunes are moving into the area and are about to (if they have not already) cover the area for what will likely be a long time. Anyway, what I have here is truly a HUGE piece of crater glass/ impactite from this crater. I picked it up in Socorro a couple weeks ago. It came from a retired geologist who did work in Saudi Arabia many years ago. I am not certain exactly how to classify this chunk. It has the highly frothy nature (and metal blebs) of an impactite but has kind of a lava like flow structure to it as well. NOTE – I certainly did test this – it indeed has plenty of nickel in it so it certainly is NOT just a piece of lava. I also am not sure how to price this, perhaps its an item that is unique enough that it would be better in an auction. I decided to price (per gram wise) about the same that my other impactites are. However, this has a lot of grams to it so it still works out to be a substantial chunk of money.
209gram natural fragment as found – 140mm x 75mm x 45mm - $400
THIN-SECTION:
Here is, unfortunately, a broken thin-section I have had sitting on my desk for years now (it got broken in shipping, not from sitting on my desk surprisingly). It was from my NWA (5779) LL5 breccia that finally got reported recently (hence my ability to now get rid of this thing). It is broken into 5 pieces but there are certainly a couple big enough to still enjoy under a scope.
Broken t-section - $5
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 127 - after Denver stuff
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 127 - after Denver stuff
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 127
October 2, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here are a few things I got at the show a couple weeks ago. This is a bit rushed as I am also trying to pull together a mailed listing right now as well (as well as madly working on as much of a solar hot water system as I can possibly accomplish on my own while the weather is still nice). I did not pick up a whole lot of material at the show (that's what happens when you are stuck running a room I guess). The bits I got here are, on review of the list, typically on the more expensive side (not necessarily in price per gram, just over all cost). I usually try to have more material on the affordable side, but simply did not come up with much this time.
LAFAYETTE, Indiana: Nakhlite. Found before 1930. Tkw = 800 grams.
Here is a small crumb (about 1mm x 1.5mm) of this super famous and rare meteorite. This fantastically oriented meteorite was found in the Purdue University geological specimen collection. Less than 200 grams was cut from this beautiful stone for research and distribution to collections. As such, pieces of this are rare in private hands. This piece came from a specimen that came from the Jim Schwade collection. It is in a gem case mounted in a riker box that has a picture of the main mass and basic info (type, find date) inside. Nice little display. I have had these in the past and they have always sold rapidly.
Small (roughly 1mm x 1.5mm crumb in display box - $75
LANCE, France: Carbonaceous (CO3.5). Fell July 23, 1872. Tkw = 51.7 kilograms.
Here are a few fragments (one "large" one and a few small) in a capsule in a Paris Museum container (30mm diameter, 10mm thick plastic disk). I had a few other similar contained specimens, but sold them before Ann Black helped determine that they were Paris museum pieces. I am surprised that this one didn't sell at the show, but then it is not cheap and I had the display case absolutely packed with stuff (easy to get lost in the clutter). Anyway, this is my last such "Paris" piece.
.30 grams fragments in capsule in Paris museum container - $100
LOST CITY, Oklahoma: Fell January 3, 1970. Tkw = 17 kilograms.
These are small blocks of this super famous and important meteorite mounted in Riker boxes with a photograph of the fireball and information card. This was the first meteorite in the US to be recovered from photographs of the meteor trail. Three stations of the Prairie Network of sky cameras picked up the trail and allowed a calculation of the likely fall point. 6 days later, a search team discovered the first specimen, a 9.8 kilo mass, by nearly driving over it as it sat in a road. It took over 10 years of operation of this sky monitoring systems operation before this meteorite was recovered from those efforts. As such, this has been considered to be one of the "most expensive meteorites of all times" (not that it is much "cheaper" now).
a) .57 gram block – 8mm x 7mm x 3mm - $125
b) 1.10 gram block – 10mm x 6mm x 5mm - $240
NWA (unstudied): Diogenite. Found before September 2011. Tkw = 40g.
I got this little beauty at the show last year. BUT I got a bigger one for my collection this year. This is a fresh almost complete individual. It has crust (black with contraction cracks though a bit shiny from wind polishing) covering probably 90% of the specimen. It has one end broken (about 16mm x 15mm) that clearly shows the Bilanga like diogenite internal texture (though a bit hidden by adhering dirt – I have not attempted to clean this in any way). I am selling this for what I paid for it. This is actually cheaper than its current replacement cost, from what I saw at the show this year. From the prices I saw, any Diogenite (and eucrite or howardite for that matter) was priced at $12 to $15/g and above (unstudied even!). I know the official reports are that we don't have inflation here in the US, but those economists sure aren't looking into the meteorite world for their numbers.
39.76 gram individual – 42mm x 25mm x 20mm - $400
NWA (unstudied): Thin sections.
Here are some neat little "kits" a friend of mine created. He has been working on making his own thin-sections the past few years and has gotten quite good at it. He made these from a selection of miscellaneous pieces he pulled out of one of my miscellaneous NWA trays a couple years ago. He thinks that these are all an L6 with high shock level (he has found ringwoodite in all of these). These "kits" each contain the thin-section, the end piece it was made from and a couple photos of the slide through a microscope (in regular and crossed polarizers light). Neat items! I am trying to get him to put similar kits together with know items in the future as well.
Thin section with end piece it was made from and photos - $50
NWA (2968): Ungrouped achondrite (Dunite). Found 2004. Tkw = 265 grams.
This was one of those super rare/ super important things that I pretty much sold all of before I even had a chance to publicly list it (not a bad thing to have happen on my end). Some months ago, I had someone looking for a piece of this and I could not locate one at all. I thought I had set aside some. Recently while going through my "micro" box collection I discovered that I had two pieces hiding there, one being this huge (for this stuff) piece. (Now I wish I could find the 20 odd grams of NWA (5782) acapulcoite/ lodranite breccia I thought I set aside hiding there as well). Anyway, this piece was among the very largest that I got. I am not going to cut this as this material has the nasty habit of breaking apart into small little blocks when cutting or polishing (and in nature apparently, as there really were no big pieces). I have heard rumor of this stuff "going for" hundreds of dollars per gram. I am keeping this piece (partly due to its size) much more reasonable for now.
9.65 gram natural fragment – 18mm x 15mm x 12mm - $1000
ZAGAMI, Nigeria: Mars rock (Shergottite). Fell October 3, 1962. Tkw = 18.1 kilograms.
Happy birthday to this fall tomorrow! This fell 50 years ago. This specimen is certainly the signature piece of this offering. In fact, this comes with 2 signatures! This is a Haag collection piece and he has personally signed both the certificate of authenticity and the information card that comes with it! And, as a "birthday special" this is also priced below (per gram wise) pretty much ANY Mars rock that I am aware of right now! This is a great chance to get an "historic" specimen (Robert does not sell or sign much these days) at an affordable (per gram wise anyway) price. I have a picture of this piece ready to go out to interested collectors.
16.8 gram part slice – 70mm x 30mm x 4mm - $7000
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 126. Denver show SEP2012 info and some meteorites
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 126. Denver show SEP2012 info and some meteorites
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 126
September 2, 2012
Dear Collectors,
I am sending this out a couple days early as I will soon (in just a few days!) be heading off to the Denver show. I am leaving a couple days early as I have some other things I need to do (and people to visit) before I get stuck in my room for the remainder of the trip. I will be gone from the morning of September 8th until September 18th.
I will be in my usual show location; Room 224 however the hotel has changed names. It is now Ramada Plaza - Denver Central. It is still 4849 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80216 for those of you that might be using a GPS to navigate to the show. I will try to have my room open by noon on Tuesday (the 11th). I say try as I have been warned that my room may have been "remodeled" as part of the hotel name change. I really fear these kinds of things. It takes a lot of time and effort to set up a semi-functional room/ display around the (in general) over clutter of furniture that hotels like to stuff the rooms with. So, this year (after 25 years of knowing what I had to do), I may be back at zero in setting up this year (I just pray my tables will still fit). Anyway, I will be in the room from 10am to around 10pm each day for the rest of the show. I will likely go to the COMETS party/ auction on Friday at 6 or 7pm and I will start packing things down around 5pm on Sunday (pretty much my usual schedule).
BASSIKOUNOU, Mauritania: (H5). Fell October 16, 2006. Tkw = around 80 kilograms.
Now here is a specimen that literally looks like it was picked up right after the fall. This is an absolutely pristine complete individual. This does not have a lot in the way of flow lines but it does have a general conical shape to it ("E-Bay oriented" perhaps). The previous owner of this beauty paid over $600 for this years ago. Pieces this nice are certainly hard to come by these days.
103.4 gram complete individual – 45mm x 40mm x 27mm - $470
CANYON DIABLO, Arizona: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
Here is a nice lightly brushed individual. It has a cow paddy shape (round and squat) BUT with nice sculpting to it (larger scale thumb-printing and nice thin ridges around the edge). Not exceptional but nice for a popular meteorite that has become very hard to come by lately (my usual sources say "no more available" these days).
1141.9 gram lightly brushed individual – 90mm x 80mm x 30mm - $740
DALGETY DOWNS, Australia: (L4). Found 1941. Tkw = 473 kilograms.
I got this material a couple years ago while in Socorro and completely forgot about it. This is interesting looking stuff. It shows a good amount of metal and sulfides in a brown and gray mottled matrix. I have some other pieces of Dalgety Downs stashed away somewhere but these look to be a bit fresher (I think these were taken from a large piece and my other pieces were all smaller fragments and subject to slightly greater weathering internally).
1) Slices:
a) 18.2 grams – 47mm x 25mm x 5mm - $45
b) 30.0 grams – 55mm x 30mm x 5mm - $75
2) End piece:
a) 82.6 grams – 60mm x 30mm x 20mm - $190
IMILAC,Chile: (Pallasite). Found 1922.
These are some of the small angular "shrapnel" individuals that have sandy yellow to pinkish orange crystals in their deep pockets. I think I got these from Steve Arnold many years ago (well before he hit the road of fame anyway). I had these on my "regular" catalog for years but recently pulled them as I had so very few remaining (and Seymchan slices make for a better representative pallasite anyway).
1) Shrapnel "individuals" as found:
a) 3.7 grams – 13mm x 13mm x 8mm - $19
b) 5.1 grams – 18mm x 15mm x 6mm - $26
c) 6.7 grams – 20mm x 11mm x 10mm - $34
JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997. Tkw = 100+ kilograms.
These are some nice individuals that were likely fairly early recoveries (only some minor browning in areas on some). All of these are basically complete individuals though there are some minor chips on some and others have areas of light secondary crust (that may superficially have the appearance of a break but closer inspection does reveal the presence o fusion crust). I got these (along with the one that I offered earlier that had a label) in a trade from Alan Lang. Unfortunately, I got only one label and that went with the earlier listed piece.
1) Individuals:
a) 5.7 grams – 16mm x 15mm x 11mm - $26
b) 7.1 grams – 17mm x 15mm x 12mm - $32
c) 9.7 grams – 20mm x 15mm x 12mm - $44
d) 12.5 grams – 23mm x 20mm x 11mm - $56
e) 14.1 grams – 28mm x 22mm x 12mm - $63
NWA (801): Carbonaceous chondrite (CR2). Found 2000. Tkw = 5+ kilograms.
This is a complete slice of a fragment. This has quite a bit of metal, both round blebs or metal chondrules and as armoring around many of the chondrules. This also has an interesting large chondrule/ inclusion (roughly 5mm x 6mm). This is in a plastic display box and comes with a Farmer label.
4.4 gram slice – 30mm x 20mm x 3mm - $100
NWA (6454); L-melt rock. Found before February 2005. Tkw = 300 grams.
I only got a small amount of this strange material. This has a light gray interior with some black shock lines and lots of round to elongate metal/ triolite blebs. Very interesting and different. I recall seeing something like this at a Denver show years ago being sold as an achondrite for around $100/g (unfortunately, I cannot recall the NWA number on that material.
1) Slices:
a) 1.9 grams – 22mm x 16mm x 2mm - $40
b) 4.1 grams – 31mm x 27mm x 2mm - $82
c) 9.8 grams – 38mm x 31mm x 3mm - $180 – complete slice.
COPROLITE: Fossilized dung.
I had someone ask me to pick up a piece of this for them at one of the shows (perhaps a year and a half ago, don't remember) but then failed to take it when I got home (I am really starting to think that I will NOT be taking special requests anymore. The track record is something like 30%,I think, of those special requests being honored/ accepted when I do find the asked for material). Anyway, this is a nice piece that looks pretty much like a piece of dung should. I don't think this is really dinosaur doo (those tend to be more nondescript chunks) but nice (and certainly NOT fresh) none the less.
127.1 grams – 60mm x 35mm x 30mm - $25
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 126
September 2, 2012
Dear Collectors,
I am sending this out a couple days early as I will soon (in just a few days!) be heading off to the Denver show. I am leaving a couple days early as I have some other things I need to do (and people to visit) before I get stuck in my room for the remainder of the trip. I will be gone from the morning of September 8th until September 18th.
I will be in my usual show location; Room 224 however the hotel has changed names. It is now Ramada Plaza - Denver Central. It is still 4849 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80216 for those of you that might be using a GPS to navigate to the show. I will try to have my room open by noon on Tuesday (the 11th). I say try as I have been warned that my room may have been "remodeled" as part of the hotel name change. I really fear these kinds of things. It takes a lot of time and effort to set up a semi-functional room/ display around the (in general) over clutter of furniture that hotels like to stuff the rooms with. So, this year (after 25 years of knowing what I had to do), I may be back at zero in setting up this year (I just pray my tables will still fit). Anyway, I will be in the room from 10am to around 10pm each day for the rest of the show. I will likely go to the COMETS party/ auction on Friday at 6 or 7pm and I will start packing things down around 5pm on Sunday (pretty much my usual schedule).
BASSIKOUNOU, Mauritania: (H5). Fell October 16, 2006. Tkw = around 80 kilograms.
Now here is a specimen that literally looks like it was picked up right after the fall. This is an absolutely pristine complete individual. This does not have a lot in the way of flow lines but it does have a general conical shape to it ("E-Bay oriented" perhaps). The previous owner of this beauty paid over $600 for this years ago. Pieces this nice are certainly hard to come by these days.
103.4 gram complete individual – 45mm x 40mm x 27mm - $470
CANYON DIABLO, Arizona: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
Here is a nice lightly brushed individual. It has a cow paddy shape (round and squat) BUT with nice sculpting to it (larger scale thumb-printing and nice thin ridges around the edge). Not exceptional but nice for a popular meteorite that has become very hard to come by lately (my usual sources say "no more available" these days).
1141.9 gram lightly brushed individual – 90mm x 80mm x 30mm - $740
DALGETY DOWNS, Australia: (L4). Found 1941. Tkw = 473 kilograms.
I got this material a couple years ago while in Socorro and completely forgot about it. This is interesting looking stuff. It shows a good amount of metal and sulfides in a brown and gray mottled matrix. I have some other pieces of Dalgety Downs stashed away somewhere but these look to be a bit fresher (I think these were taken from a large piece and my other pieces were all smaller fragments and subject to slightly greater weathering internally).
1) Slices:
a) 18.2 grams – 47mm x 25mm x 5mm - $45
b) 30.0 grams – 55mm x 30mm x 5mm - $75
2) End piece:
a) 82.6 grams – 60mm x 30mm x 20mm - $190
IMILAC,Chile: (Pallasite). Found 1922.
These are some of the small angular "shrapnel" individuals that have sandy yellow to pinkish orange crystals in their deep pockets. I think I got these from Steve Arnold many years ago (well before he hit the road of fame anyway). I had these on my "regular" catalog for years but recently pulled them as I had so very few remaining (and Seymchan slices make for a better representative pallasite anyway).
1) Shrapnel "individuals" as found:
a) 3.7 grams – 13mm x 13mm x 8mm - $19
b) 5.1 grams – 18mm x 15mm x 6mm - $26
c) 6.7 grams – 20mm x 11mm x 10mm - $34
JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997. Tkw = 100+ kilograms.
These are some nice individuals that were likely fairly early recoveries (only some minor browning in areas on some). All of these are basically complete individuals though there are some minor chips on some and others have areas of light secondary crust (that may superficially have the appearance of a break but closer inspection does reveal the presence o fusion crust). I got these (along with the one that I offered earlier that had a label) in a trade from Alan Lang. Unfortunately, I got only one label and that went with the earlier listed piece.
1) Individuals:
a) 5.7 grams – 16mm x 15mm x 11mm - $26
b) 7.1 grams – 17mm x 15mm x 12mm - $32
c) 9.7 grams – 20mm x 15mm x 12mm - $44
d) 12.5 grams – 23mm x 20mm x 11mm - $56
e) 14.1 grams – 28mm x 22mm x 12mm - $63
NWA (801): Carbonaceous chondrite (CR2). Found 2000. Tkw = 5+ kilograms.
This is a complete slice of a fragment. This has quite a bit of metal, both round blebs or metal chondrules and as armoring around many of the chondrules. This also has an interesting large chondrule/ inclusion (roughly 5mm x 6mm). This is in a plastic display box and comes with a Farmer label.
4.4 gram slice – 30mm x 20mm x 3mm - $100
NWA (6454); L-melt rock. Found before February 2005. Tkw = 300 grams.
I only got a small amount of this strange material. This has a light gray interior with some black shock lines and lots of round to elongate metal/ triolite blebs. Very interesting and different. I recall seeing something like this at a Denver show years ago being sold as an achondrite for around $100/g (unfortunately, I cannot recall the NWA number on that material.
1) Slices:
a) 1.9 grams – 22mm x 16mm x 2mm - $40
b) 4.1 grams – 31mm x 27mm x 2mm - $82
c) 9.8 grams – 38mm x 31mm x 3mm - $180 – complete slice.
COPROLITE: Fossilized dung.
I had someone ask me to pick up a piece of this for them at one of the shows (perhaps a year and a half ago, don't remember) but then failed to take it when I got home (I am really starting to think that I will NOT be taking special requests anymore. The track record is something like 30%,I think, of those special requests being honored/ accepted when I do find the asked for material). Anyway, this is a nice piece that looks pretty much like a piece of dung should. I don't think this is really dinosaur doo (those tend to be more nondescript chunks) but nice (and certainly NOT fresh) none the less.
127.1 grams – 60mm x 35mm x 30mm - $25
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites- List 125 - Couple irons, etc. 14AUG2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites- List 125 - Couple irons, etc. 14AUG2012
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 125
August 14, 2012
Dear Collectors,
This was supposed to go out last Tuesday but I was not back from the show yet. I thought about waiting until next Tuesday (the properly scheduled time for an offering) but I have an up coming issue next week that meant I would likely have little time to take and ship orders (and may even interfere with my preparations for Denver). That issue is I get to go to trial against the clown that has been selling fake meteorites supposedly found in Montrose (about 20 miles South of me) the past few years. Thankfully, I a will be testifying on the side of "The People of Colorado" in all of this (after all, it was my purchasing a specimen he was publicly selling and proving it was fake is what started all of this). I know the "defendant" thinks he is going to get me arrested at all of this for "fraud and conspiracy" for saying his material is not real (at least the pieces I have been able to run some analysis work on – can't make any absolute claims on the others). I certainly doubt he will have much luck in that area but this whole thing may get ugly and take considerable time regardless. I apologize to the many of you out there that received rather frightening demands/ invitations/ "electronic subpoenas" from this guy the past few weeks. I have not been able to get the Mesa County DA's office to respond to requests concerning the legitimacy of these "subpoenas" (and have received a bit of heat from some of you that have received them). However, I have heard from officials a bit higher up the food chain (the State Attorney General's office) that those of you that have received these have no obligation to act on them. You must be formally served, as I was, with an official court subpoena to be required to show for the trial. (Darn, and I thought I'd host a big trial/ meteorite people cook out/ party here with all the people that "had to show up" for this circus).
Anyway, I just got in a couple nice irons, a few small scraps from an old research collection and had some things that were sitting around for awhile so here is a (very) brief offering.
ALLENDE, Mexico: Carbonaceous (CV3.2). Fell February 8, 1969.
Here are 3 fresh fragments that, unfortunately, have no crust. These were out of an old research collection.
6.7 grams 3 fragments - $45
GEBEL KAMIL, Egypt: Ni-rich ataxite (ungrouped). Found 2008.
This is a nice piece of the material that was found when a fresh crater (complete with rays) was found on satellite photos. Studies show that debris from the impact cover an ancient road/ trail. It appears the this 148 foot impact happened around 5000 years ago – or after the trail was in place (so the impact was likely witnessed by ancient people). This is a nice, as found, natural shrapnel fragment with a nice chocolate brown color.
220.9 gram natural individual – 80mm x 40mm x 20mm - $200
GIBEON, Namibia: Fine octahedrite (IVA). Found 1836.
This is a nice as found natural small individual. It is elongate/ pointed piece and could almost be used as a spear point. This has a nice natural orange/ brown color and a nice sculpted shape.
108.6 gram natural individual – 90mm x 30mm x 15mm - $110
JULESBURG, Colorado: (L3.6). Found 1983. Tkw = 60+ kilograms.
This was the "famous" meteorite that was found discarded at the local dump. I did some field work in the area and did manage to get a hold of a roughly 1kg individual many years ago. This is a rectangular slice that was obviously cut from one of the large slices from the mass found at the dump (Glenn Huss – American Meteorite Lab got that one. This does not have a Huss number on it though). One edge (about 35mm long) has a nice thumb-print textured brown crust. The interior shows some obvious chondrules (lots more on careful inspection) and plenty of metal in a mottled dark gray/ jade green matrix.
58.3 gram slice – 80mm x 35mm x 6mm - $580
LEEDEY, Oklahoma: (L6). Fell November 25, 1943. Tkw = 51.5 kilograms.
Here is a nice slice that was set aside by a collector who recently decided to put their limited funds elsewhere. This has one long edge of black crust (about 95mm long worth). The interior is nearly white with some patches of light brown staining (about as fresh as this comes).
82.4 gram slice – 80mm x 72mm x 5mm - $825
RICHARDTON, North Dakota: (H5), veined. Fell June 30, 1918. Tkw = 90.9 kilograms.
This is a small fresh fragment from the same source (old research collection) as the Allende above. Also like the Allende pieces above, this has no crust.
1.1 gram fragment – 10mm x 9mm x 8mm - $20
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 125
August 14, 2012
Dear Collectors,
This was supposed to go out last Tuesday but I was not back from the show yet. I thought about waiting until next Tuesday (the properly scheduled time for an offering) but I have an up coming issue next week that meant I would likely have little time to take and ship orders (and may even interfere with my preparations for Denver). That issue is I get to go to trial against the clown that has been selling fake meteorites supposedly found in Montrose (about 20 miles South of me) the past few years. Thankfully, I a will be testifying on the side of "The People of Colorado" in all of this (after all, it was my purchasing a specimen he was publicly selling and proving it was fake is what started all of this). I know the "defendant" thinks he is going to get me arrested at all of this for "fraud and conspiracy" for saying his material is not real (at least the pieces I have been able to run some analysis work on – can't make any absolute claims on the others). I certainly doubt he will have much luck in that area but this whole thing may get ugly and take considerable time regardless. I apologize to the many of you out there that received rather frightening demands/ invitations/ "electronic subpoenas" from this guy the past few weeks. I have not been able to get the Mesa County DA's office to respond to requests concerning the legitimacy of these "subpoenas" (and have received a bit of heat from some of you that have received them). However, I have heard from officials a bit higher up the food chain (the State Attorney General's office) that those of you that have received these have no obligation to act on them. You must be formally served, as I was, with an official court subpoena to be required to show for the trial. (Darn, and I thought I'd host a big trial/ meteorite people cook out/ party here with all the people that "had to show up" for this circus).
Anyway, I just got in a couple nice irons, a few small scraps from an old research collection and had some things that were sitting around for awhile so here is a (very) brief offering.
ALLENDE, Mexico: Carbonaceous (CV3.2). Fell February 8, 1969.
Here are 3 fresh fragments that, unfortunately, have no crust. These were out of an old research collection.
6.7 grams 3 fragments - $45
GEBEL KAMIL, Egypt: Ni-rich ataxite (ungrouped). Found 2008.
This is a nice piece of the material that was found when a fresh crater (complete with rays) was found on satellite photos. Studies show that debris from the impact cover an ancient road/ trail. It appears the this 148 foot impact happened around 5000 years ago – or after the trail was in place (so the impact was likely witnessed by ancient people). This is a nice, as found, natural shrapnel fragment with a nice chocolate brown color.
220.9 gram natural individual – 80mm x 40mm x 20mm - $200
GIBEON, Namibia: Fine octahedrite (IVA). Found 1836.
This is a nice as found natural small individual. It is elongate/ pointed piece and could almost be used as a spear point. This has a nice natural orange/ brown color and a nice sculpted shape.
108.6 gram natural individual – 90mm x 30mm x 15mm - $110
JULESBURG, Colorado: (L3.6). Found 1983. Tkw = 60+ kilograms.
This was the "famous" meteorite that was found discarded at the local dump. I did some field work in the area and did manage to get a hold of a roughly 1kg individual many years ago. This is a rectangular slice that was obviously cut from one of the large slices from the mass found at the dump (Glenn Huss – American Meteorite Lab got that one. This does not have a Huss number on it though). One edge (about 35mm long) has a nice thumb-print textured brown crust. The interior shows some obvious chondrules (lots more on careful inspection) and plenty of metal in a mottled dark gray/ jade green matrix.
58.3 gram slice – 80mm x 35mm x 6mm - $580
LEEDEY, Oklahoma: (L6). Fell November 25, 1943. Tkw = 51.5 kilograms.
Here is a nice slice that was set aside by a collector who recently decided to put their limited funds elsewhere. This has one long edge of black crust (about 95mm long worth). The interior is nearly white with some patches of light brown staining (about as fresh as this comes).
82.4 gram slice – 80mm x 72mm x 5mm - $825
RICHARDTON, North Dakota: (H5), veined. Fell June 30, 1918. Tkw = 90.9 kilograms.
This is a small fresh fragment from the same source (old research collection) as the Allende above. Also like the Allende pieces above, this has no crust.
1.1 gram fragment – 10mm x 9mm x 8mm - $20
Monday, 16 July 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 124 - set of Buchwalds, Berthoud, etc.
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 124 - set of Buchwalds, Berthoud, etc.
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 124
July 16, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Normally, this offering should go out tomorrow. I have to leave town yet again Thursday morning, so I thought it a good idea to get this out as early as possible (I had not finished preparing the Belmont pieces until yesterday afternoon). I'll likely be back in full operation on Tuesday the 24th.
I will also be out of town August 2nd through the 7th or 8th for the Creede Mineral show. This runs the 3rd, 4th and 5th (the first Friday, Saturday, Sunday of August). This will also delay my first (only?) August listing as well (assuming I pull out enough new stuff to have one anyway).
BELMONT, Wisconsin: (H6), veined. Found 1958. Tkw = 25.3 kilograms.
This was a single stone ploughed up by a farmer. It has been around for quite awhile, but I think these may be the first pieces of this meteorite I have ever had to sell. This is nice material with lots of metal in a pleasant mottled medium to dark brown matrix. These specimens were cut from a piece that was traded out of UNM and come with a UNM Institute of Meteoritics label.
1) Slices:
a) 5.0 grams – 18mm x 15mm x 5mm - $75
b) 8.6 grams – 30mm x 19mm x 4mm - $129
c) 15.1 grams – 35mm x 27mm x 5mm - $225 – one edge crusted
d) 33.4 grams – 50mm x 36mm x 5mm - $500 – one edge crusted/ museum numbered.
e) 82.6 grams – 85mm x 46mm x 5mm - $1200 – 50% of edge crusted.
BERTHOUD, Colorado: (Eucrite), monomict breccia. Fell October 5, 2004. Tkw = 960 grams.
This was one of those "kind of snuck in" falls. There were no reports of a huge fire- ball, sonic booms and such. A simple whistling noise and a thud was observed by a couple (Andy and Megan Clifford) just after they left their house. Dust kicked up in a near by horse pen led them to the spot where this small stone was found buried just below the surface. I remember seeing the news reports on this and thought I would never see/ have any of this one. I recall they were "accepting offers" with a starting price of $250,000 – or more per gram for the whole chunk than what I am asking on nice finished thin slices. This is very fresh (obviously) and fairly fragile stuff. Accordingly, each of these pieces in a membrane box. These came from UNM and I have "official" UNM Institute of Meteoritics labels to fill out and send with each one of these.
1) Slices:
a) .43 grams – 10mm x 10mm x 2mm - $110
b) .76 grams – 15mm x 11mm x 2mm - $190
c) 1.25 grams – 20mm x 13mm x 2mm - $310
d) 3.15 grams – 25mm x 24mm x 2mm - $780 – has 15mm of crust along one edge.
e) 4.70 grams – 40mm x 27mm x 2mm - $1150
DIMMITT (?), Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942. Tkw = 200+ kilograms.
I put the (?) on this one because I strongly suspect that a couple of these (the two smaller specimens listed) really look to be too fresh and L-type for the real Dimmitt. I personally think that they are more likely pieces of Tulia (B) – an L chondrite that I have had a few pieces of over the years. However, these do have Monig/ TCU labels made up for them as Dimmitt (I likely will make a note on the back that this may not be the case) as they did come out of the bin of Dimmitts in that collection. The area has a number of overlapping strewn fields and the stones often look pretty much identical from the outside, so these issues will likely continue to crop up from time to time as more pieces of "Dimmitt" (or "Tulia" for that matter) get cut in the future (not that there are that many left to cut though). The large piece certainly looks like real Dimmitt to me and has an interesting 1cm sized inclusion (xenolith or melt pocket perhaps).
1) Slices:
a) 3.6 grams – 30mm x 10mm x 4mm - $7
b) 5.2 grams – 25mm x 14mm x 4mm - $10
c) 23.4 grams – 45mm x 25mm x 6mm - $40
NWA (2932): (Mesosiderite). Found 2005. Tkw = 15+ kilograms.
This (like the NWA 4656 and Oum Dreyga below) was set aside for a collector and forgotten about (by them as well as me). This really nice mesosiderite had large metal nodules in it that contained only tiny flecks of silicates uniformly scattered throughout them. Some of these nodules were found loose on their own like meteorite marbles. Their shape and composition made them very difficult to cut and polish (hard to hold onto and got very hot to the point of giving me a couple blisters). This is one of the few I did manage to cut though. I quickly sold out of these when I offered them some years ago. Here is my last one!
26.0 gram end piece – 25mm x 22mm x 12mm - $125
NWA (4656): (H4). Found before February 2006. Tkw = 5 kilograms.
This is a piece I had set aside for a long time for a collector that never came back for it (and I had forgotten about it myself). I think this is my last small piece of this fairly interesting stuff (I think I still have a few hundred gram sized full slice set aside). This is quite fresh and showed strange dark greenish/ gray inclusions on the stone's exterior. When cut, these inclusions are not as distinct (this slice has a couple). They look a bit darker and a bit richer in metal than the surrounding material (which is a medium brown) but they don't leap out a bunch visually as the rest of the stone is very metal rich as well.
18.2 gram slice – 39mm x 38mm x 5mm - $30
NWA (4857): Martian (Shergottite). Found before August 2007. Tkw = about 1kg.
This is another piece of what was the commonly available Martian material a few years ago. We were all thrilled to be able to finally get complete little Mars rocks for our collections (even if they were a bit wind polished. Remember – Tissint had not happened yet). This is a particularly special one though. I don't remember who I got it from, but glad I did (show trade or purchase I believe). This is a nice ORIENTED individual. It has the classic dome shaped nose and flat back. The crust is wind polished on this but in better condition than many pieces of this material. There are some flow lines visible on the parts of the dome (nose) side and a roll-over ridge around the edge of the back. These is a roughly 4 or 5mm corner chipped off of this (an old break – possibly from the fall) but is otherwise complete (and as such, more complete than the vast majority of the specimens from this find).
1.28 gram oriented individual – 12mm x 12mm x 6mm - $1000
OUM DREYGA, Western Sahara: (H3-5). Fell October 16, 2003. Tkw = 17+ kilograms.
This is what we originally sold and traded as `Amgala" before a name was officially attached to it. I have not had much of this recently and wouldn't even have this one if it weren't another one of the "set aside for a collector and forgotten" specimens like a couple above. Actually, these were all set aside in the same place for the same person. I re-discovered them while raking the pit (cleaning my office) and the collector was no longer interested in them (not surprising as they wouldn't have been forgotten if they had enough interest to ask for them later after setting them aside with me). Anyway, this is a fresh individual. It looks like a ½ stone but it is indeed complete. Looking at the "broken" face with a lens it is interesting to see that the very highest points on the face have little blebs of fusion crust perched on them (kind of neat, actually). This stone shows at least three distinct different levels of crusting!
30.7 gram individual – 36mm x 28mm x 15mm - $110
HANDBOOK OF IRON METEORITES:
This is a full set (including outer box) of this famous and very rare trio of books by Vagn F. Buchwald. I remember discussing this book set with folks at ASU many years ago. I recall that VERY few sets were printed (something along the lines of 100 sets or so) and fewer yet were actually distributed (oh how I wish I could have been hiding by the dumpster when the "leftovers" were finally disposed of). Anyway, this set is very fresh and has been very lightly used. I priced that at a level that Mike Jensen (someone who actually specializes in meteorite related books and has a clue to their value) says it should be snatched up in short order.
Complete 3 book set and outer case - $1700
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 124
July 16, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Normally, this offering should go out tomorrow. I have to leave town yet again Thursday morning, so I thought it a good idea to get this out as early as possible (I had not finished preparing the Belmont pieces until yesterday afternoon). I'll likely be back in full operation on Tuesday the 24th.
I will also be out of town August 2nd through the 7th or 8th for the Creede Mineral show. This runs the 3rd, 4th and 5th (the first Friday, Saturday, Sunday of August). This will also delay my first (only?) August listing as well (assuming I pull out enough new stuff to have one anyway).
BELMONT, Wisconsin: (H6), veined. Found 1958. Tkw = 25.3 kilograms.
This was a single stone ploughed up by a farmer. It has been around for quite awhile, but I think these may be the first pieces of this meteorite I have ever had to sell. This is nice material with lots of metal in a pleasant mottled medium to dark brown matrix. These specimens were cut from a piece that was traded out of UNM and come with a UNM Institute of Meteoritics label.
1) Slices:
a) 5.0 grams – 18mm x 15mm x 5mm - $75
b) 8.6 grams – 30mm x 19mm x 4mm - $129
c) 15.1 grams – 35mm x 27mm x 5mm - $225 – one edge crusted
d) 33.4 grams – 50mm x 36mm x 5mm - $500 – one edge crusted/ museum numbered.
e) 82.6 grams – 85mm x 46mm x 5mm - $1200 – 50% of edge crusted.
BERTHOUD, Colorado: (Eucrite), monomict breccia. Fell October 5, 2004. Tkw = 960 grams.
This was one of those "kind of snuck in" falls. There were no reports of a huge fire- ball, sonic booms and such. A simple whistling noise and a thud was observed by a couple (Andy and Megan Clifford) just after they left their house. Dust kicked up in a near by horse pen led them to the spot where this small stone was found buried just below the surface. I remember seeing the news reports on this and thought I would never see/ have any of this one. I recall they were "accepting offers" with a starting price of $250,000 – or more per gram for the whole chunk than what I am asking on nice finished thin slices. This is very fresh (obviously) and fairly fragile stuff. Accordingly, each of these pieces in a membrane box. These came from UNM and I have "official" UNM Institute of Meteoritics labels to fill out and send with each one of these.
1) Slices:
a) .43 grams – 10mm x 10mm x 2mm - $110
b) .76 grams – 15mm x 11mm x 2mm - $190
c) 1.25 grams – 20mm x 13mm x 2mm - $310
d) 3.15 grams – 25mm x 24mm x 2mm - $780 – has 15mm of crust along one edge.
e) 4.70 grams – 40mm x 27mm x 2mm - $1150
DIMMITT (?), Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942. Tkw = 200+ kilograms.
I put the (?) on this one because I strongly suspect that a couple of these (the two smaller specimens listed) really look to be too fresh and L-type for the real Dimmitt. I personally think that they are more likely pieces of Tulia (B) – an L chondrite that I have had a few pieces of over the years. However, these do have Monig/ TCU labels made up for them as Dimmitt (I likely will make a note on the back that this may not be the case) as they did come out of the bin of Dimmitts in that collection. The area has a number of overlapping strewn fields and the stones often look pretty much identical from the outside, so these issues will likely continue to crop up from time to time as more pieces of "Dimmitt" (or "Tulia" for that matter) get cut in the future (not that there are that many left to cut though). The large piece certainly looks like real Dimmitt to me and has an interesting 1cm sized inclusion (xenolith or melt pocket perhaps).
1) Slices:
a) 3.6 grams – 30mm x 10mm x 4mm - $7
b) 5.2 grams – 25mm x 14mm x 4mm - $10
c) 23.4 grams – 45mm x 25mm x 6mm - $40
NWA (2932): (Mesosiderite). Found 2005. Tkw = 15+ kilograms.
This (like the NWA 4656 and Oum Dreyga below) was set aside for a collector and forgotten about (by them as well as me). This really nice mesosiderite had large metal nodules in it that contained only tiny flecks of silicates uniformly scattered throughout them. Some of these nodules were found loose on their own like meteorite marbles. Their shape and composition made them very difficult to cut and polish (hard to hold onto and got very hot to the point of giving me a couple blisters). This is one of the few I did manage to cut though. I quickly sold out of these when I offered them some years ago. Here is my last one!
26.0 gram end piece – 25mm x 22mm x 12mm - $125
NWA (4656): (H4). Found before February 2006. Tkw = 5 kilograms.
This is a piece I had set aside for a long time for a collector that never came back for it (and I had forgotten about it myself). I think this is my last small piece of this fairly interesting stuff (I think I still have a few hundred gram sized full slice set aside). This is quite fresh and showed strange dark greenish/ gray inclusions on the stone's exterior. When cut, these inclusions are not as distinct (this slice has a couple). They look a bit darker and a bit richer in metal than the surrounding material (which is a medium brown) but they don't leap out a bunch visually as the rest of the stone is very metal rich as well.
18.2 gram slice – 39mm x 38mm x 5mm - $30
NWA (4857): Martian (Shergottite). Found before August 2007. Tkw = about 1kg.
This is another piece of what was the commonly available Martian material a few years ago. We were all thrilled to be able to finally get complete little Mars rocks for our collections (even if they were a bit wind polished. Remember – Tissint had not happened yet). This is a particularly special one though. I don't remember who I got it from, but glad I did (show trade or purchase I believe). This is a nice ORIENTED individual. It has the classic dome shaped nose and flat back. The crust is wind polished on this but in better condition than many pieces of this material. There are some flow lines visible on the parts of the dome (nose) side and a roll-over ridge around the edge of the back. These is a roughly 4 or 5mm corner chipped off of this (an old break – possibly from the fall) but is otherwise complete (and as such, more complete than the vast majority of the specimens from this find).
1.28 gram oriented individual – 12mm x 12mm x 6mm - $1000
OUM DREYGA, Western Sahara: (H3-5). Fell October 16, 2003. Tkw = 17+ kilograms.
This is what we originally sold and traded as `Amgala" before a name was officially attached to it. I have not had much of this recently and wouldn't even have this one if it weren't another one of the "set aside for a collector and forgotten" specimens like a couple above. Actually, these were all set aside in the same place for the same person. I re-discovered them while raking the pit (cleaning my office) and the collector was no longer interested in them (not surprising as they wouldn't have been forgotten if they had enough interest to ask for them later after setting them aside with me). Anyway, this is a fresh individual. It looks like a ½ stone but it is indeed complete. Looking at the "broken" face with a lens it is interesting to see that the very highest points on the face have little blebs of fusion crust perched on them (kind of neat, actually). This stone shows at least three distinct different levels of crusting!
30.7 gram individual – 36mm x 28mm x 15mm - $110
HANDBOOK OF IRON METEORITES:
This is a full set (including outer box) of this famous and very rare trio of books by Vagn F. Buchwald. I remember discussing this book set with folks at ASU many years ago. I recall that VERY few sets were printed (something along the lines of 100 sets or so) and fewer yet were actually distributed (oh how I wish I could have been hiding by the dumpster when the "leftovers" were finally disposed of). Anyway, this set is very fresh and has been very lightly used. I priced that at a level that Mike Jensen (someone who actually specializes in meteorite related books and has a clue to their value) says it should be snatched up in short order.
Complete 3 book set and outer case - $1700
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 123 my largest carbonaceous, etc.
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 123 my largest carbonaceous, etc.
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 123
July 3, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a slightly abbreviated list. I have been busy with things around the house (nothing like cleaning up the garage for a couple days in 100 degree plus heat to knock you back a bit) and have not had much time to pull things together. I will also be heading out of town for the weekend. I had planned on leaving Thursday morning but I likely will delay leaving until Friday. I should be back by next Tuesday afternoon at the latest. I MAY have computer access on parts of this trip (I will try), so if you notice this list sometime after Friday morning, do feel free to leave a message (if phoning – Linda will pass that on to me) or e-mail. I will get back to you either way as soon as I can.
DARWIN GLASS, Tasmania, Australia.
I had this, one of my largest pieces ever, set aside for a collector since I listed this stuff back in October last year. He, unfortunately, had some health issues. He has recovered, thankfully, but his collecting has not. So, here is a second chance for someone out there to get a fairly big piece of this crater/ impact glass.
36.9 gram fragment – 40mm x 28mm x 25mm - $90
HASSAYAMPA, Arizona: (H4). Found before 1963. Tkw = 16kg.
Here are some small slices from TCU/ Monig Collection. This is quite fresh material and shows lots of metal in a medium brown matrix. Two of these (the 7.5g and the 15.0g) have a nice edge of black fusion crust. All of these have a TCU/ Monig label.
1) Slices:
a) 4.0 grams – 28mm x 10mm x 5mm - $14
b) 7.5 grams – 25mm x 25mm x 4mm - $27 – one edge crusted.
c) 9.7 grams – 32mm x 20mm x 5mm - $34
d) 15.0 grams – 31mm x 24mm x 5mm - $53 – one edge crusted.
JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997. Tkw = 100+kilograms.
This is a nice complete individual that has a Lang Collection label with it. It is a piece that was properly taken care (some of these stones were really rusty – I was told from the finders soaking them in water to make them weigh more because they were offered money by weight for them). It has some faint hints of brown, but light enough that it is likely from Alan's humid home environment rather than a Chinese finder's soaking. There are a few minor chipped areas, but these show light secondary crust.
22.9 gram individual – 30mm x 22mm x 18mm - $125
NWA Carbonaceous: (CO3). Found before September 2010. Tkw = 15,947 grams.
This is currently my largest stone meteorite! (it may even be my largest meteorite period at this point). It was sold to me as "just" an LL3. But once I received it, it was clearly a CO3! This is currently in research and has been confirmed a CO3. I am still waiting for the subtype (I might regret selling this if then later turns out to be a 3.0). This is a large single stone that appears to be oriented (dome shaped with some flow lines down parts of the side). This is likely the 4th or 5th largest pieces of CO3 known (depending upon how much Isna has been cut down). This is a special offer price and I will pull this item if a deal on a piece of land I am selling does go through (at this point it is one or the other). I had this in Tucson at $50k (and came fairly close to a deal – money and trade any way – on it at that price). Even that price (around $3/g) is what the Moroccans are asking for any stone they think is a type 3 (H, L, LL's anyway) these days.
15,900gram likely oriented individual - 295mm x 220mm x 150mm - $25,000
NWA (1648): (Diogenite), polymict breccia. Found October 2002. Tkw = 803 grams.
This looks a lot like a howardite actually but the science work on it would have easily caught it if it was. These are 4 nice cut fragments (3 around 1 cm sized and one closer to 5mm) in a membrane box that is in a Riker mount with a Lang collection label. These would probably be great for re-sale.
1.8 grams, 4 fragments - $65
NWA (1929): (howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = "922 grams".
Here are a couple slices that are likely from that original piece that Mike Farmer hauled back from Morocco (before it was discovered that the was a fairly large strew field of this stuff soon after). I am still waiting to see/ hear if they have determined yet if these things (the HED achondrites) really are from Vesta. I have heard the occasional rumor that they are, but nothing concrete (hey – we have been orbiting the thing for a year now. I have seen plenty of interesting pictures but not much in the way of science discovery notes). Both of these appear to be complete slices, but they have broken edges that I am not certain if they are natural or not. Both come in a plastic display box and have their original Michael Farmer Meteorites labels.
a) 5.0 gram slice – 35mm x 20mm x 3mm - $80
b) 17.1 gram slice – 48mm x 26mm x 6mm - $250
RENFROW, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 2003. Tkw = 81.6kilograms.
Either this or an Etter I bought early on was the largest stone meteorite I have ever had (these two were both right at the 180 pound size – I didn't have a scale that could really accurately weigh these monsters back then). Regardless, this is pretty much the only piece I have of this meteorite (other than the 1697g largest slice I have in my collection) at this point. I now pretty much have to rely on pieces bought from collectors (as this was) to be able to offer any of this these days. Hard to imagine that much material disappearing into collections around the world to only be seen on rare occasions. Any way, this is a complete slice that I recently picked up from a collector in Oklahoma that is downsizing his collection (not so many dinner plate sized slices on his shelf these days – allows for more smaller specimens).
898.7 gram complete slice – 290mm x 200mm x 6mm - $1700
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 123
July 3, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a slightly abbreviated list. I have been busy with things around the house (nothing like cleaning up the garage for a couple days in 100 degree plus heat to knock you back a bit) and have not had much time to pull things together. I will also be heading out of town for the weekend. I had planned on leaving Thursday morning but I likely will delay leaving until Friday. I should be back by next Tuesday afternoon at the latest. I MAY have computer access on parts of this trip (I will try), so if you notice this list sometime after Friday morning, do feel free to leave a message (if phoning – Linda will pass that on to me) or e-mail. I will get back to you either way as soon as I can.
DARWIN GLASS, Tasmania, Australia.
I had this, one of my largest pieces ever, set aside for a collector since I listed this stuff back in October last year. He, unfortunately, had some health issues. He has recovered, thankfully, but his collecting has not. So, here is a second chance for someone out there to get a fairly big piece of this crater/ impact glass.
36.9 gram fragment – 40mm x 28mm x 25mm - $90
HASSAYAMPA, Arizona: (H4). Found before 1963. Tkw = 16kg.
Here are some small slices from TCU/ Monig Collection. This is quite fresh material and shows lots of metal in a medium brown matrix. Two of these (the 7.5g and the 15.0g) have a nice edge of black fusion crust. All of these have a TCU/ Monig label.
1) Slices:
a) 4.0 grams – 28mm x 10mm x 5mm - $14
b) 7.5 grams – 25mm x 25mm x 4mm - $27 – one edge crusted.
c) 9.7 grams – 32mm x 20mm x 5mm - $34
d) 15.0 grams – 31mm x 24mm x 5mm - $53 – one edge crusted.
JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997. Tkw = 100+kilograms.
This is a nice complete individual that has a Lang Collection label with it. It is a piece that was properly taken care (some of these stones were really rusty – I was told from the finders soaking them in water to make them weigh more because they were offered money by weight for them). It has some faint hints of brown, but light enough that it is likely from Alan's humid home environment rather than a Chinese finder's soaking. There are a few minor chipped areas, but these show light secondary crust.
22.9 gram individual – 30mm x 22mm x 18mm - $125
NWA Carbonaceous: (CO3). Found before September 2010. Tkw = 15,947 grams.
This is currently my largest stone meteorite! (it may even be my largest meteorite period at this point). It was sold to me as "just" an LL3. But once I received it, it was clearly a CO3! This is currently in research and has been confirmed a CO3. I am still waiting for the subtype (I might regret selling this if then later turns out to be a 3.0). This is a large single stone that appears to be oriented (dome shaped with some flow lines down parts of the side). This is likely the 4th or 5th largest pieces of CO3 known (depending upon how much Isna has been cut down). This is a special offer price and I will pull this item if a deal on a piece of land I am selling does go through (at this point it is one or the other). I had this in Tucson at $50k (and came fairly close to a deal – money and trade any way – on it at that price). Even that price (around $3/g) is what the Moroccans are asking for any stone they think is a type 3 (H, L, LL's anyway) these days.
15,900gram likely oriented individual - 295mm x 220mm x 150mm - $25,000
NWA (1648): (Diogenite), polymict breccia. Found October 2002. Tkw = 803 grams.
This looks a lot like a howardite actually but the science work on it would have easily caught it if it was. These are 4 nice cut fragments (3 around 1 cm sized and one closer to 5mm) in a membrane box that is in a Riker mount with a Lang collection label. These would probably be great for re-sale.
1.8 grams, 4 fragments - $65
NWA (1929): (howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = "922 grams".
Here are a couple slices that are likely from that original piece that Mike Farmer hauled back from Morocco (before it was discovered that the was a fairly large strew field of this stuff soon after). I am still waiting to see/ hear if they have determined yet if these things (the HED achondrites) really are from Vesta. I have heard the occasional rumor that they are, but nothing concrete (hey – we have been orbiting the thing for a year now. I have seen plenty of interesting pictures but not much in the way of science discovery notes). Both of these appear to be complete slices, but they have broken edges that I am not certain if they are natural or not. Both come in a plastic display box and have their original Michael Farmer Meteorites labels.
a) 5.0 gram slice – 35mm x 20mm x 3mm - $80
b) 17.1 gram slice – 48mm x 26mm x 6mm - $250
RENFROW, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 2003. Tkw = 81.6kilograms.
Either this or an Etter I bought early on was the largest stone meteorite I have ever had (these two were both right at the 180 pound size – I didn't have a scale that could really accurately weigh these monsters back then). Regardless, this is pretty much the only piece I have of this meteorite (other than the 1697g largest slice I have in my collection) at this point. I now pretty much have to rely on pieces bought from collectors (as this was) to be able to offer any of this these days. Hard to imagine that much material disappearing into collections around the world to only be seen on rare occasions. Any way, this is a complete slice that I recently picked up from a collector in Oklahoma that is downsizing his collection (not so many dinner plate sized slices on his shelf these days – allows for more smaller specimens).
898.7 gram complete slice – 290mm x 200mm x 6mm - $1700
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List #122 6JUN2012
[brmeteorites_list] List 122 - more misc
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 122
June 5, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is yet another assortment of things I had in boxes (both from Tucson and otherwise). Many are collection labeled, but some are not (I'll note this in the description).
I may be a but hard to reach late this afternoon. We have another interesting astronomical event happening today – Venus crossing the sun after about 5pm here today. I'll have my telescope set up (I have a serious sun filter – which I used just a couple weeks ago with a good pair of binoculars to see the annular eclipse) to see this. I got to see this same event back in May of 2004, I believe. However, today will be the last time this occurs for over 100 years. Thankfully, it looks like (as usual) we will be cloud free (but really hot) today.
CLEO SPRINGS, Oklahoma: (H4). Found 1960, Tkw = 24 kilograms.
This is a thick ½ slice (one cut edge, remainder is natural). This was a really weathered old meteorite and pieces broken off the exterior did not show any remaining metal to speak of. This slice did not show a lot when I got it but I did a little re-polishing work on it and was quite pleased with the results. There is indeed a zone of metal free weathering rind (about 20mm thick) along the top edge of this piece but the remainder actually looks quite nice. It shows a LOT of really fine-grained metal in a medium brown/gray matrix. If this does not sell as it is, I will get this cut into some thinner pieces and offer those later.
755.5 gram ½ slice – 135mm x 130mm x 12mm - $1350
HUCKITTA, Australia: (Pallasite). Found 1924. Tkw = 1500+kilograms.
These are some nice complete slices of the usual oxidized material. These are all Lang Collection pieces but I only got labels to go with the three largest pieces. I had some similar slices a couple years ago and they sold quite rapidly so I was happy to see these come along. The large slice is a particularly nice display specimen (largest surface area I have seen for this material) and I have been debating whether or not to keep it as part of my collection (but then, more geo-exchange install bills come along…..)
a) 37.5 gram complete slice – 70mm x 45mm x 3mm - $94
b) 69.2 gram complete slice – 75mm x 60mm x 4mm - $173
c) 100.5 gram complete slice – 115mm x 68mm x 4mm - $250
d) 128.2 gram complete slice – 165mm x 95mm x 3mm - $320
MOUNT TAZERZAIT, Niger: (L5). Fell August 21, 1991. Tkw = 110 kilograms.
I have had this piece for quite some time so I know I have offered it before, but I think it has been quite some time. I am quite surprised that I still have this. It is an affordable witnessed fall that is not all that readily available. This is a "complete" slice (no cut edges) that has only a little patch of crust along on edge. This is a light gray with hints of light brown and has an interesting porous matrix (obviously this has a low shock level). I have not seen another piece of this available for quite awhile.
40.0 gram slice – 63mm x 40mm x 6mm - $200
NWA 065: (H5). Found August 6, 2000. Tkw = 5094grams.
I have only three pieces of this. I had offered it a couple years (or more) ago and then promptly forgot about it after I set it aside with some other NWA material. This is an early NWA piece and is quite interesting in that it has a porous texture (like the above Mt. Tazerzait) and an interesting mixed reddish brown and gray matrix. The 23.6 gram piece has a Cottingham label to go with it.
a) 18.4 gram slice – 47mm x 33mm x 5mm - $45
b) 23.6 gram slice – 50mm x 35mm x 5mm - $55 – has label.
c) 25.4 gram slice – 50mm x 37mm x 6mm - $60
NWA (6355): (Lunar). Found 2009. Tkw = 760 grams.
This is the stuff that closely matches the composition of soils at the Apollo 16 landing site. There has been speculation (but no way to completely prove at this point, unfortunately) that this meteorite might have indeed originated from an impact in that area of the moon. This is a nice thumb-nail sized slice that shows some lighter colored angular clasts in a dark matrix. This is in a ready to show/ pass around display. It has an explanatory label that has both pictures of this actual specimen, the complete NWA (6355) meteorite before cutting and the Apollo 16 landing site – all in a membrane box. This is my last piece of this material set up this way.
.81 gram slice – 14mm x 11mm x 2mm - $690
SARATOV, Russia: (L4). Fell September 6, 1918. Tkw = 328 kilograms.
This is quite friable stuff. It likes to crumble a bit into fragments and chondrules if handled harshly. Because of this, most pieces of this material available have been fragments, blocks and thick slices. This is the case here. I may try having a block (or the large somewhat wedged slice) listed here cut with a gentle wire saw if I have them remaining later. Resulting pieces would be at a substantially higher price per gram though as wire cutting is an expensive process but the only that has much chance of making some slices of this without turning it all into a pile of gravel and mud. I do have one Lang Collection label that was for a 291g piece that I do not have – I'll send it with the 508g "slice" (numbers already changed on the weight space for this).
a) 4.4 grams fragment – 15mm x 14mm x 10mm - $26
b) 62.9 gram cut fragment – 38mm x 20mm x 26mm - $280
c) 114.6 gram block – 45mm x 35mm x 25mm - $500
d) 508.6 gram wedged slice – 110mm x 75mm x 20mm - $2000 – this has some nice crust along its thick edge.
TRAVIS COUNTY (a), Texas: (H5). Found 1889. Tkw = 175.4 kilograms.
41 of the 52 pieces of meteorite recovered in the area were found to represent one fall. These were found to be a shock blackened (H5) chondrite and was assigned the name Travis County (a). The pieces I have here are all small slices from the TCU Monig Collection and each has a Monig label to go with them.
a) 6.6 gram slice – 30mm x 20mm x 3mm - $12
b) 8.7 gram slice – 33mm x 21mm x 4mm - $15
c) 11.8 gram slice – 35mm x 31mm x 4mm - $20
TULIA (d), Texas: (H6). Found 1981. Tkw = 17.7 kilograms.
I received a small batch of small slices and end pieces of this meteorite recently (well, after Tucson anyway – I probably would have sold them out there if I had them then). These pieces each have a TCU, Monig Collection label with them.
a) 4.8 gram end piece – 30mm x 18mm x 5mm - $17
b) 6.2 gram slice – 27mm x 18mm x 3mm - $22
c) 9.0 gram slice – 28mm x 25mm x 4mm - $32
d) 14.5 gram slice – 46mm x 25mm x 6mm - $51
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 122
June 5, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is yet another assortment of things I had in boxes (both from Tucson and otherwise). Many are collection labeled, but some are not (I'll note this in the description).
I may be a but hard to reach late this afternoon. We have another interesting astronomical event happening today – Venus crossing the sun after about 5pm here today. I'll have my telescope set up (I have a serious sun filter – which I used just a couple weeks ago with a good pair of binoculars to see the annular eclipse) to see this. I got to see this same event back in May of 2004, I believe. However, today will be the last time this occurs for over 100 years. Thankfully, it looks like (as usual) we will be cloud free (but really hot) today.
CLEO SPRINGS, Oklahoma: (H4). Found 1960, Tkw = 24 kilograms.
This is a thick ½ slice (one cut edge, remainder is natural). This was a really weathered old meteorite and pieces broken off the exterior did not show any remaining metal to speak of. This slice did not show a lot when I got it but I did a little re-polishing work on it and was quite pleased with the results. There is indeed a zone of metal free weathering rind (about 20mm thick) along the top edge of this piece but the remainder actually looks quite nice. It shows a LOT of really fine-grained metal in a medium brown/gray matrix. If this does not sell as it is, I will get this cut into some thinner pieces and offer those later.
755.5 gram ½ slice – 135mm x 130mm x 12mm - $1350
HUCKITTA, Australia: (Pallasite). Found 1924. Tkw = 1500+kilograms.
These are some nice complete slices of the usual oxidized material. These are all Lang Collection pieces but I only got labels to go with the three largest pieces. I had some similar slices a couple years ago and they sold quite rapidly so I was happy to see these come along. The large slice is a particularly nice display specimen (largest surface area I have seen for this material) and I have been debating whether or not to keep it as part of my collection (but then, more geo-exchange install bills come along…..)
a) 37.5 gram complete slice – 70mm x 45mm x 3mm - $94
b) 69.2 gram complete slice – 75mm x 60mm x 4mm - $173
c) 100.5 gram complete slice – 115mm x 68mm x 4mm - $250
d) 128.2 gram complete slice – 165mm x 95mm x 3mm - $320
MOUNT TAZERZAIT, Niger: (L5). Fell August 21, 1991. Tkw = 110 kilograms.
I have had this piece for quite some time so I know I have offered it before, but I think it has been quite some time. I am quite surprised that I still have this. It is an affordable witnessed fall that is not all that readily available. This is a "complete" slice (no cut edges) that has only a little patch of crust along on edge. This is a light gray with hints of light brown and has an interesting porous matrix (obviously this has a low shock level). I have not seen another piece of this available for quite awhile.
40.0 gram slice – 63mm x 40mm x 6mm - $200
NWA 065: (H5). Found August 6, 2000. Tkw = 5094grams.
I have only three pieces of this. I had offered it a couple years (or more) ago and then promptly forgot about it after I set it aside with some other NWA material. This is an early NWA piece and is quite interesting in that it has a porous texture (like the above Mt. Tazerzait) and an interesting mixed reddish brown and gray matrix. The 23.6 gram piece has a Cottingham label to go with it.
a) 18.4 gram slice – 47mm x 33mm x 5mm - $45
b) 23.6 gram slice – 50mm x 35mm x 5mm - $55 – has label.
c) 25.4 gram slice – 50mm x 37mm x 6mm - $60
NWA (6355): (Lunar). Found 2009. Tkw = 760 grams.
This is the stuff that closely matches the composition of soils at the Apollo 16 landing site. There has been speculation (but no way to completely prove at this point, unfortunately) that this meteorite might have indeed originated from an impact in that area of the moon. This is a nice thumb-nail sized slice that shows some lighter colored angular clasts in a dark matrix. This is in a ready to show/ pass around display. It has an explanatory label that has both pictures of this actual specimen, the complete NWA (6355) meteorite before cutting and the Apollo 16 landing site – all in a membrane box. This is my last piece of this material set up this way.
.81 gram slice – 14mm x 11mm x 2mm - $690
SARATOV, Russia: (L4). Fell September 6, 1918. Tkw = 328 kilograms.
This is quite friable stuff. It likes to crumble a bit into fragments and chondrules if handled harshly. Because of this, most pieces of this material available have been fragments, blocks and thick slices. This is the case here. I may try having a block (or the large somewhat wedged slice) listed here cut with a gentle wire saw if I have them remaining later. Resulting pieces would be at a substantially higher price per gram though as wire cutting is an expensive process but the only that has much chance of making some slices of this without turning it all into a pile of gravel and mud. I do have one Lang Collection label that was for a 291g piece that I do not have – I'll send it with the 508g "slice" (numbers already changed on the weight space for this).
a) 4.4 grams fragment – 15mm x 14mm x 10mm - $26
b) 62.9 gram cut fragment – 38mm x 20mm x 26mm - $280
c) 114.6 gram block – 45mm x 35mm x 25mm - $500
d) 508.6 gram wedged slice – 110mm x 75mm x 20mm - $2000 – this has some nice crust along its thick edge.
TRAVIS COUNTY (a), Texas: (H5). Found 1889. Tkw = 175.4 kilograms.
41 of the 52 pieces of meteorite recovered in the area were found to represent one fall. These were found to be a shock blackened (H5) chondrite and was assigned the name Travis County (a). The pieces I have here are all small slices from the TCU Monig Collection and each has a Monig label to go with them.
a) 6.6 gram slice – 30mm x 20mm x 3mm - $12
b) 8.7 gram slice – 33mm x 21mm x 4mm - $15
c) 11.8 gram slice – 35mm x 31mm x 4mm - $20
TULIA (d), Texas: (H6). Found 1981. Tkw = 17.7 kilograms.
I received a small batch of small slices and end pieces of this meteorite recently (well, after Tucson anyway – I probably would have sold them out there if I had them then). These pieces each have a TCU, Monig Collection label with them.
a) 4.8 gram end piece – 30mm x 18mm x 5mm - $17
b) 6.2 gram slice – 27mm x 18mm x 3mm - $22
c) 9.0 gram slice – 28mm x 25mm x 4mm - $32
d) 14.5 gram slice – 46mm x 25mm x 6mm - $51
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 121 My rarest dollar and misc meteorites
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 121 My rarest dollar and misc meteorites
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 121
May 22, 2012
Dear Collectors,
I had to get back from the eclipse trip earlier than I had expected. It turns out that I had a big heating/cooling system job that got scheduled for starting today (or I could wait another few weeks for the next available time with the installers. With temperatures already hitting the 90's and soon to be 100's I want this system running as soon as possible). There is already a five foot deep trench across my driveway (barely had time to get my cars on the other side before they started digging this morning.
The eclipse was quite enjoyable. It was not the jaw dropping spectacle that a full eclipse is but it was still pretty cool to see the sun turn into a thin ring of light. It was really surprising how few people knew (or cared) what was going on. I guess they were all in a hurry to get back home to their bread and circuses.
As with the last list, there are quite a few specimens here that are Lang collection origin and labeled. There are also some that are TCU/ Monig collection labeled and some are Mike Farmer labeled. I'll make note of these in their descriptions.
CAMEL DONGA, Australia: Achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1984. Tkw = 30+kg.
Here are a few small pieces I picked up in Tucson and promptly forgot about. The "end piece" is highly polished and has a nice interior texture but no crust on the back side. The other 2 pieces are partial individuals that have around 50% or so crust coverage. These are somewhat weathered so I suspect that they are relatively recent recoveries but they do still flow lines and some shiny crust.
a) 2.7 gram end piece – 20mm x 11mm x 9mm - $40
b) 3.5 gram ½ stone – 20mm x 12mm x 10mm - $55
c) 4.7 gram ~ ½ stone – 21mm x 14mm x 11mm - $75
DAR al GANI (332), Libya: Carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 280 grams.
This is undoubtedly another piece (and my last one I believe) of the large number of DaG (CO3) meteorites that got many different numbers assigned to them but (many anyway) were likely from a strewn field formed during a single fall even long ago. This is an unpolished complete slice (and has a lighter color and more visible chondrules than the polished pieces I had earlier). This is in a Riker box and has a Lang Collection label.
26.8 gram complete slice – 48mm x 37mm x 6mm (a bit wedged actually) - $240
DAR al GANI (429),, Libya: Carbonaceous. (C3), ungrouped. Found 1998. Tkw = 253grams.
I really suspect that the total on this is really closer to 800grams as DaG (430) is also an ungrouped C3 meteorite. These are rare enough (I have only had a few over all the years) that I would really be surprised if these two were not paired. This is a Lang Collection labeled vial of fragments (small up to around 5mm x 10mm in size) in a glass bottle in a Riker mount. This looks very fresh as it is very light gray in color and the largest fragment has a small sanded area that shows lots of metal. Interesting and no doubt rare.
5.1 grams of fragments in vial - $175
NWA (801): Carbonaceous (CR2). Found 2001. Tkw = 5kg+.
This has always been one of my favorite meteorites texturally. This piece does not show quite as well as some as it has been highly polished. Polishing has made this a little darker overall but closer inspection reveals lots of metal hiding in this slice. Most of it is surrounding chondrules (lots of armored chondrules in this) but some is as round blebs or metal "chondrules" (I have seen them called such in some research work). This piece is in a nice plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
4.47 gram complete slice – 35mm x 17mm x 3mm - $100
NWA (1939): Achondrite (Howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = 100.4 grams.
At first glance, I thought that this was likely just another piece of the NWA (1929) howardite (probably the most commonly available NWA howardite, listed under many different numbers) with a miss-typed label. Closer inspection shows that this is very likely NOT the case. The natural edge (this is a complete slice) shows a texture and weathering rim different from any NWA (1929) pieces I have seen. More importantly, the internal texture is very different form NWA (1929). This has a similar light gray background matrix but the inclusions in this are far different. One roughly 1cm sized inclusion is really interesting. It is an almost microscopic mix of white and orange brown crystals – looking much like a shrunk down piece of Dhofar (007). This is in a plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
8.48 gram complete slice – 45mm x 27mm x 2mm - $150
NWA (2871): Achondrite (Lodranite). Found 2003. Tkw = 2.5kg.
This was originally classified as an Acapulcoite and was supposed to be switched to Lodranite due to its large grain size (slower cooling, deeper buried in their shared parent body). I have seen a note or paper on this (by Ted Bunch I believe). Unfortunately, it seems that this has not been officially changed in the Meteoritical Bulletin yet. This is a triangular shaped part slice that has one cut edge. It is a Lang Collection piece that is in a Riker mount and has the Lang label. The original price on this was $1345 and even that was not on the high end of prices I have seen on this material. I have a few pieces of this in my inventory but nothing nearly this large or nice.
16.4 gram slice – 40mm x 30mm x 3mm - $985
ROUND TOP (b), Texas: (H4). Found before 1939. Tkw = 7166 grams.
This is a stone that Oscar Monig turned up and these all come with a Monig Collection label. I have only a few pieces of this.
1) Slices; all have natural edges/ no cuts.
a) 4.8 grams – 35mm x 12mm x 4mm - $15
b) 8.0 grams – 35mm x 19mm x 4mm - $24
c) 11.1 grams – 40mm x 17mm x 5mm - $33
SaU (290), Oman: Carbonaceous (CH3). Found 2004. Tkw = 1.796kg.
Thanks to the Sutter's Mill fall in California (believed, at this point, to be some kind of odd carbonaceous chondrite), I have had collectors asking about other weird carbonaceous chondrites I have (the reason I am "re-listing" this now. I offered pieces on an e-mail offering a couple years ago). This does not look like much – some sparse fine metal grains in a dark brown matrix. But, this is only the second CH I have seen and the only one I have had to sell.
1) Slices:
a) .57 grams – 8mm x 7mm x 3mm - $60
b) .73 grams – 11mm x 7mm x 3mm - $75
c) 6.40 grams – 32mm x 25mm x 3mm - $690
SEYMCHAN, Russia: Stony-iron. (Pallasite). Found 1967.
This is a wonderful little end piece from a really pallasitic piece of this find and very rare as such. I have only seen a couple end pieces of this and they have all been quite large (I have 6.7kg one myself). Even better, this is really thin so you get the surface area of a slice but in the form of an end piece. This is definitely a piece that collectors of end pieces should consider.
25.1 gram end piece – 50mm x 40mm x 5mm - $200
1853 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR (US): Mintage – about 12 pieces.
This is, by far, the single most expensive coin I have ever owned. However it is also, by far, the rarest US coin I have ever owned (I have a few foreign coins that have slightly lower supposed mintage numbers). This is technically a "restrike" as the mint did not make any proof dollars in the actual year of 1853 (coin collecting was not at all an in thing then, there were virtually no collectors at that point). This was made a bit later – probably around 1862. At that point coin collecting in the US was beginning to take off and collectors began to notice that they needed an 1853 proof dollar to fill a hole in their collection. The mint director was only happy to oblige (often using such later made pieces to trade for "Washington Medals" to fill in holes in his collection of those). There are no clear records of exactly how many were made of these. Interestingly, proof coins in that era were not considered to be actual coins (money-wise anyway, but they were preferred by collectors) and did not have to be accounted for in mint records. There were some records thought that indicated that only "dozen" of these pieces were struck (and the number of pieces known of this coin do supports this). I have had a few people (potential buyers) complain that this is kind of not valid as it is a "restrike" (even after being told how and why this coin came into existence). However, this was indeed made at the Philadelphia mint, under direction of the mint director, using full mint equipment so this would really be better termed a "Novodel" – a term often used for the more famous 1804 dollars. Those super famous pieces which are worth, thanks to that fame, between $2 million and $4 million apiece now are actually a tiny bit more common than this coin (15 known versus around 12) all had their origin in later years as restrikes for collectors just as this coin did.
1853 PCGS slabbed Proof 55 silver dollar - $13,000
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 121
May 22, 2012
Dear Collectors,
I had to get back from the eclipse trip earlier than I had expected. It turns out that I had a big heating/cooling system job that got scheduled for starting today (or I could wait another few weeks for the next available time with the installers. With temperatures already hitting the 90's and soon to be 100's I want this system running as soon as possible). There is already a five foot deep trench across my driveway (barely had time to get my cars on the other side before they started digging this morning.
The eclipse was quite enjoyable. It was not the jaw dropping spectacle that a full eclipse is but it was still pretty cool to see the sun turn into a thin ring of light. It was really surprising how few people knew (or cared) what was going on. I guess they were all in a hurry to get back home to their bread and circuses.
As with the last list, there are quite a few specimens here that are Lang collection origin and labeled. There are also some that are TCU/ Monig collection labeled and some are Mike Farmer labeled. I'll make note of these in their descriptions.
CAMEL DONGA, Australia: Achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1984. Tkw = 30+kg.
Here are a few small pieces I picked up in Tucson and promptly forgot about. The "end piece" is highly polished and has a nice interior texture but no crust on the back side. The other 2 pieces are partial individuals that have around 50% or so crust coverage. These are somewhat weathered so I suspect that they are relatively recent recoveries but they do still flow lines and some shiny crust.
a) 2.7 gram end piece – 20mm x 11mm x 9mm - $40
b) 3.5 gram ½ stone – 20mm x 12mm x 10mm - $55
c) 4.7 gram ~ ½ stone – 21mm x 14mm x 11mm - $75
DAR al GANI (332), Libya: Carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 280 grams.
This is undoubtedly another piece (and my last one I believe) of the large number of DaG (CO3) meteorites that got many different numbers assigned to them but (many anyway) were likely from a strewn field formed during a single fall even long ago. This is an unpolished complete slice (and has a lighter color and more visible chondrules than the polished pieces I had earlier). This is in a Riker box and has a Lang Collection label.
26.8 gram complete slice – 48mm x 37mm x 6mm (a bit wedged actually) - $240
DAR al GANI (429),, Libya: Carbonaceous. (C3), ungrouped. Found 1998. Tkw = 253grams.
I really suspect that the total on this is really closer to 800grams as DaG (430) is also an ungrouped C3 meteorite. These are rare enough (I have only had a few over all the years) that I would really be surprised if these two were not paired. This is a Lang Collection labeled vial of fragments (small up to around 5mm x 10mm in size) in a glass bottle in a Riker mount. This looks very fresh as it is very light gray in color and the largest fragment has a small sanded area that shows lots of metal. Interesting and no doubt rare.
5.1 grams of fragments in vial - $175
NWA (801): Carbonaceous (CR2). Found 2001. Tkw = 5kg+.
This has always been one of my favorite meteorites texturally. This piece does not show quite as well as some as it has been highly polished. Polishing has made this a little darker overall but closer inspection reveals lots of metal hiding in this slice. Most of it is surrounding chondrules (lots of armored chondrules in this) but some is as round blebs or metal "chondrules" (I have seen them called such in some research work). This piece is in a nice plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
4.47 gram complete slice – 35mm x 17mm x 3mm - $100
NWA (1939): Achondrite (Howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = 100.4 grams.
At first glance, I thought that this was likely just another piece of the NWA (1929) howardite (probably the most commonly available NWA howardite, listed under many different numbers) with a miss-typed label. Closer inspection shows that this is very likely NOT the case. The natural edge (this is a complete slice) shows a texture and weathering rim different from any NWA (1929) pieces I have seen. More importantly, the internal texture is very different form NWA (1929). This has a similar light gray background matrix but the inclusions in this are far different. One roughly 1cm sized inclusion is really interesting. It is an almost microscopic mix of white and orange brown crystals – looking much like a shrunk down piece of Dhofar (007). This is in a plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
8.48 gram complete slice – 45mm x 27mm x 2mm - $150
NWA (2871): Achondrite (Lodranite). Found 2003. Tkw = 2.5kg.
This was originally classified as an Acapulcoite and was supposed to be switched to Lodranite due to its large grain size (slower cooling, deeper buried in their shared parent body). I have seen a note or paper on this (by Ted Bunch I believe). Unfortunately, it seems that this has not been officially changed in the Meteoritical Bulletin yet. This is a triangular shaped part slice that has one cut edge. It is a Lang Collection piece that is in a Riker mount and has the Lang label. The original price on this was $1345 and even that was not on the high end of prices I have seen on this material. I have a few pieces of this in my inventory but nothing nearly this large or nice.
16.4 gram slice – 40mm x 30mm x 3mm - $985
ROUND TOP (b), Texas: (H4). Found before 1939. Tkw = 7166 grams.
This is a stone that Oscar Monig turned up and these all come with a Monig Collection label. I have only a few pieces of this.
1) Slices; all have natural edges/ no cuts.
a) 4.8 grams – 35mm x 12mm x 4mm - $15
b) 8.0 grams – 35mm x 19mm x 4mm - $24
c) 11.1 grams – 40mm x 17mm x 5mm - $33
SaU (290), Oman: Carbonaceous (CH3). Found 2004. Tkw = 1.796kg.
Thanks to the Sutter's Mill fall in California (believed, at this point, to be some kind of odd carbonaceous chondrite), I have had collectors asking about other weird carbonaceous chondrites I have (the reason I am "re-listing" this now. I offered pieces on an e-mail offering a couple years ago). This does not look like much – some sparse fine metal grains in a dark brown matrix. But, this is only the second CH I have seen and the only one I have had to sell.
1) Slices:
a) .57 grams – 8mm x 7mm x 3mm - $60
b) .73 grams – 11mm x 7mm x 3mm - $75
c) 6.40 grams – 32mm x 25mm x 3mm - $690
SEYMCHAN, Russia: Stony-iron. (Pallasite). Found 1967.
This is a wonderful little end piece from a really pallasitic piece of this find and very rare as such. I have only seen a couple end pieces of this and they have all been quite large (I have 6.7kg one myself). Even better, this is really thin so you get the surface area of a slice but in the form of an end piece. This is definitely a piece that collectors of end pieces should consider.
25.1 gram end piece – 50mm x 40mm x 5mm - $200
1853 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR (US): Mintage – about 12 pieces.
This is, by far, the single most expensive coin I have ever owned. However it is also, by far, the rarest US coin I have ever owned (I have a few foreign coins that have slightly lower supposed mintage numbers). This is technically a "restrike" as the mint did not make any proof dollars in the actual year of 1853 (coin collecting was not at all an in thing then, there were virtually no collectors at that point). This was made a bit later – probably around 1862. At that point coin collecting in the US was beginning to take off and collectors began to notice that they needed an 1853 proof dollar to fill a hole in their collection. The mint director was only happy to oblige (often using such later made pieces to trade for "Washington Medals" to fill in holes in his collection of those). There are no clear records of exactly how many were made of these. Interestingly, proof coins in that era were not considered to be actual coins (money-wise anyway, but they were preferred by collectors) and did not have to be accounted for in mint records. There were some records thought that indicated that only "dozen" of these pieces were struck (and the number of pieces known of this coin do supports this). I have had a few people (potential buyers) complain that this is kind of not valid as it is a "restrike" (even after being told how and why this coin came into existence). However, this was indeed made at the Philadelphia mint, under direction of the mint director, using full mint equipment so this would really be better termed a "Novodel" – a term often used for the more famous 1804 dollars. Those super famous pieces which are worth, thanks to that fame, between $2 million and $4 million apiece now are actually a tiny bit more common than this coin (15 known versus around 12) all had their origin in later years as restrikes for collectors just as this coin did.
1853 PCGS slabbed Proof 55 silver dollar - $13,000
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 120 - Mostly Lang Collection pieces
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 120 - Mostly Lang Collection pieces
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 120
May 1, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a list that contains a mix of material from a couple different origins. However, most of these pieces are ex RA Langheinrich Collection (Alan Lang to many of us that have been collecting for a long time) pieces. These have collection labels and are nicely displayed in Riker mount boxes. I'll try to remember to make note of these collection pieces in their brief descriptions, so carefully read the descriptions if you are particularly interested collection pieces that have labels.
This may be the only list this month, thanks to the eclipse travel later (I will be leaving only a couple days after my next scheduled offering should be - which is May 15th). At the very least, any other offering this month would be delayed and on an odd day (I'm thinking Thursday the 24th perhaps, if post travel catch up work permits enough time).
DAR al GANI (331), Libya: (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 194 grams.
This is a nice complete slice of a stone that was one of the many that came out of the area (that all got their own number, rather than being grouped together as a strewn field). This shows lots of tiny chondrules in a dark brown matrix (these actually show a lot better on the back, which has not been polished so the overall coloration is much lighter). This has a complete edge of (wind polished) crust. The only down side to this piece is that it is quite wedged, but this is not visible when displayed in the Riker box (this is a Lang Collection piece).
24.1 gram complete slice – 58mm x 28mm x 5mm - $215
DAR al GANI (444), Libya: (LL4-5). Found May 1998, Tkw = 164 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a really nice end piece of a rare item as well (there are only 7 listed meteorites classified as LL4-5 in the most recent Meteorites A to Z. There are likely a couple more perhaps, but I did not have time to got through the 111 pages (!) of LL chondrites listed in the full Meteoritical Bulletin). This has a pleasing light orange-brown color with some dark clasts and chondrules visible. The back has nice black crust; some lightly wind-polished but some with its full original texture. Given the small total known for this meteorite, I suspect that this might be the "main mass" for this find.
19.2 gram end piece – 38mm x 37mm x 10mm - $135
DHOFAR (055), Oman: (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 235 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a nice end piece that has a nice brecciated texture (almost howardite like) on the cut face. The back is all natural, showing some wind-polished crust along with what looks to be late atmospheric break/ old impact break perhaps.
20.1 gram end piece – 30mm x 26mm x 15mm - $300
MARALINGA, Australia: (CK4): Found 1974. Tkw = 3.38kg.
This is a Lang collection piece (and likely a David New piece before that). It is a small part slice that has one cut edge and shows some dark chondrules in a mixed greenish gary and brown matrix. This had a price of $350 on it when I got it. I thought that was high but then I have not seen a piece of this material for a very long time (and anything Australia is always in high demand).
1.82 gram slice – 17mm x 13mm x 4mm - SOLD
NWA (1227): (LL3). Found 1999. Tkw = 1050 grams.
This is a piece that would likely make most collectors say "wow". It has lots of chondrules (of all sizes and colors) in a very light tan matrix (this reminds me a bit of Ragland and Wells this way). What is really interesting (to me anyway) is a 25mm x 18mm clast that is something completely different. It shows fewer chondrules (most being quite indistinct) in a mottled gray and brown matrix. I suspect that this is an LL5 clast, though it could be an L5 clast as it does seem to show distinctly stronger magnetic attraction than the main part of the slice. This is a Lang specimen as well.
72.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $450
NWA (1242): (Mesosiderite). Found 1985. Tkw = about 7kilograms.
This is another "wow" specimen. This really looks like a mesosiderite should. It has LOTS of metal that is mostly fine grained but a few larger nodules are present mixed with fragments of silicates of many sizes (including a couple cm sized fragments; one gray green in color and the other looking like an olivine crystal). This is not cheap but it is a superior display piece and much nicer than the NWA mesosiderites I have been offered the past couple years (at $10 to $12/g "out of the field" no less. Things are definitely getting more expensive out o the field these days). This is a Lang specimen as well.
75.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $750
NWA (3100): (LL7). Found 2003. Tkw = 136 grams.
I know I am risking getting some people upset over this one. Many researchers feel that there is no such thing as a "type 7" and insist that they be called "primitive achondrite", "meta-chondrites" or such. Personally, if the link to a particular family/ parent body is clear, I prefer the "type 7" myself. This gives an easy identity to the thing. Example – "oh, LL7, OK. That means that it has been metamorphosed to the point of no chondrules remaining but it is a rock from the LL parent body". Simply labeling these things "primitive" or "meta-chondrite" does not tell you anything other than that the thing has been metamorphosed to the point of loosing its chondrules. You then have to locate and dig into the official classification reports to find the parent body connection (If there is one. Things that don't match up to a known parent would obviously have to remain "primitive" or "meta-chondrite"). Regardless of what you want to call these, this is a rare type meteorite and only a handful of (generally small) pieces of this type are known.
2.17 gram slice – 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $70
PLAINVIEW (a), Texas: (H5), breccia. Found 1917. Tkw = about 700kilograms.
This famous meteorite likely fell in early spring of 1903. A large fireball was seen in the area then and a large stone (that perfectly matched later "Plainveiw" finds) was found in a horse coral near Cotton Center the next morning. These are a few odd (some a bit wedged) slices I picked up years ago and let set aside forgotten. These show lots of metal and plenty of breccia texture/ fragments (this meteorite is a regolith breccia). The large piece has only one cut edge with the remainder being nice dark brown to black crust
1) Slices:
a) 5.3 gram – 20mm x 14mm 5mm - $16
b) 11.3 grams – 40mm x 35mm x 2mm - $34
c) 54.9 grams – 55mm x 52mm x 6mm - $165
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 120
May 1, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is a list that contains a mix of material from a couple different origins. However, most of these pieces are ex RA Langheinrich Collection (Alan Lang to many of us that have been collecting for a long time) pieces. These have collection labels and are nicely displayed in Riker mount boxes. I'll try to remember to make note of these collection pieces in their brief descriptions, so carefully read the descriptions if you are particularly interested collection pieces that have labels.
This may be the only list this month, thanks to the eclipse travel later (I will be leaving only a couple days after my next scheduled offering should be - which is May 15th). At the very least, any other offering this month would be delayed and on an odd day (I'm thinking Thursday the 24th perhaps, if post travel catch up work permits enough time).
DAR al GANI (331), Libya: (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 194 grams.
This is a nice complete slice of a stone that was one of the many that came out of the area (that all got their own number, rather than being grouped together as a strewn field). This shows lots of tiny chondrules in a dark brown matrix (these actually show a lot better on the back, which has not been polished so the overall coloration is much lighter). This has a complete edge of (wind polished) crust. The only down side to this piece is that it is quite wedged, but this is not visible when displayed in the Riker box (this is a Lang Collection piece).
24.1 gram complete slice – 58mm x 28mm x 5mm - $215
DAR al GANI (444), Libya: (LL4-5). Found May 1998, Tkw = 164 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a really nice end piece of a rare item as well (there are only 7 listed meteorites classified as LL4-5 in the most recent Meteorites A to Z. There are likely a couple more perhaps, but I did not have time to got through the 111 pages (!) of LL chondrites listed in the full Meteoritical Bulletin). This has a pleasing light orange-brown color with some dark clasts and chondrules visible. The back has nice black crust; some lightly wind-polished but some with its full original texture. Given the small total known for this meteorite, I suspect that this might be the "main mass" for this find.
19.2 gram end piece – 38mm x 37mm x 10mm - $135
DHOFAR (055), Oman: (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 235 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a nice end piece that has a nice brecciated texture (almost howardite like) on the cut face. The back is all natural, showing some wind-polished crust along with what looks to be late atmospheric break/ old impact break perhaps.
20.1 gram end piece – 30mm x 26mm x 15mm - $300
MARALINGA, Australia: (CK4): Found 1974. Tkw = 3.38kg.
This is a Lang collection piece (and likely a David New piece before that). It is a small part slice that has one cut edge and shows some dark chondrules in a mixed greenish gary and brown matrix. This had a price of $350 on it when I got it. I thought that was high but then I have not seen a piece of this material for a very long time (and anything Australia is always in high demand).
1.82 gram slice – 17mm x 13mm x 4mm - SOLD
NWA (1227): (LL3). Found 1999. Tkw = 1050 grams.
This is a piece that would likely make most collectors say "wow". It has lots of chondrules (of all sizes and colors) in a very light tan matrix (this reminds me a bit of Ragland and Wells this way). What is really interesting (to me anyway) is a 25mm x 18mm clast that is something completely different. It shows fewer chondrules (most being quite indistinct) in a mottled gray and brown matrix. I suspect that this is an LL5 clast, though it could be an L5 clast as it does seem to show distinctly stronger magnetic attraction than the main part of the slice. This is a Lang specimen as well.
72.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $450
NWA (1242): (Mesosiderite). Found 1985. Tkw = about 7kilograms.
This is another "wow" specimen. This really looks like a mesosiderite should. It has LOTS of metal that is mostly fine grained but a few larger nodules are present mixed with fragments of silicates of many sizes (including a couple cm sized fragments; one gray green in color and the other looking like an olivine crystal). This is not cheap but it is a superior display piece and much nicer than the NWA mesosiderites I have been offered the past couple years (at $10 to $12/g "out of the field" no less. Things are definitely getting more expensive out o the field these days). This is a Lang specimen as well.
75.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $750
NWA (3100): (LL7). Found 2003. Tkw = 136 grams.
I know I am risking getting some people upset over this one. Many researchers feel that there is no such thing as a "type 7" and insist that they be called "primitive achondrite", "meta-chondrites" or such. Personally, if the link to a particular family/ parent body is clear, I prefer the "type 7" myself. This gives an easy identity to the thing. Example – "oh, LL7, OK. That means that it has been metamorphosed to the point of no chondrules remaining but it is a rock from the LL parent body". Simply labeling these things "primitive" or "meta-chondrite" does not tell you anything other than that the thing has been metamorphosed to the point of loosing its chondrules. You then have to locate and dig into the official classification reports to find the parent body connection (If there is one. Things that don't match up to a known parent would obviously have to remain "primitive" or "meta-chondrite"). Regardless of what you want to call these, this is a rare type meteorite and only a handful of (generally small) pieces of this type are known.
2.17 gram slice – 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $70
PLAINVIEW (a), Texas: (H5), breccia. Found 1917. Tkw = about 700kilograms.
This famous meteorite likely fell in early spring of 1903. A large fireball was seen in the area then and a large stone (that perfectly matched later "Plainveiw" finds) was found in a horse coral near Cotton Center the next morning. These are a few odd (some a bit wedged) slices I picked up years ago and let set aside forgotten. These show lots of metal and plenty of breccia texture/ fragments (this meteorite is a regolith breccia). The large piece has only one cut edge with the remainder being nice dark brown to black crust
1) Slices:
a) 5.3 gram – 20mm x 14mm 5mm - $16
b) 11.3 grams – 40mm x 35mm x 2mm - $34
c) 54.9 grams – 55mm x 52mm x 6mm - $165
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 119 5April2012
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 119
April 5, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is the e-mail version of my mailed list that is now landing in the hands of many collectors (including many of you) as I send this. This is going out a bit delayed from when it should have as I was hit with the stomach-flu going around here. This knocked me back for a couple days.
I plan to go to the Denver spring show to visit (will be gone April 19th through the 23rd). Anyone that wants to me to bring anything from this list (or any list for that matter), let me know and I'll pack it along.
I will also be out of town from around May 17th through May 22nd or 23rd. We have an annular eclipse coming to the area (actually a bit South of me) and I hope to travel to some prime spot to see it.
Please note the slightly higher postage amounts: Shipping costs (and overseas shipping regulations) drastically changed January 22nd. This has forced me to increase my rates a bit and has limited overseas shipping options quite a bit (forcing me into either express or a large "flat rate" box (both expensive) for anything with a customs value over $400 – for which registration or insurance is no longer possible. Disturbing; high value now means you can get no real protection).
TAZA (NWA 859), Morocco: Plessitic Octahedrite (ungrouped). Found 2001. Tkw = about 75 kilograms.
I picked up some nice little individuals and a couple "large" (for this stuff anyway) slices of this in Tucson. The small pieces show atmospherically sculpted shapes and most show a fair amount of fusion crust. The slices are etched. BUT the large one is really special. This has a 18mm x 7mm crystal (looks like olivine!) that transmits light through it. This piece is certainly not cheap, but it is positively special.
1) Individuals as found:
a) 1.3 grams - 10mm x 9mm x 2mm - $10.00
b) 2.3 grams - 14mm x 8mm x 5mm - $17.00
c) 4.5 grams - 20mm x 9mm x 5mm - $32.00
d) 10.9 grams - 17mm x 15mm x 8mm - $76.00
2) Slices: etched both sides:
a) 33.2 grams - 50mm x 42mm x 2mm - $265.00
b) 134.5 grams - 150mm x 70mm x 2mm - $2350.00 – has 17mm x 8mm olivine!
CASILDA, Argentina: (H5). Found 1937. Tkw = 18.35 kilograms.
Here is something I picked up at the Denver spring show last year. A rhodochrosite dealer had a couple rough cut hunks of this hiding at the back of one of his tables labeled simply as "stone meteorite". I asked a bit about it and was told that it was from the Rosario area of Argentina. He had the thing sitting in his basement for over 10 years, or not long since after it was found in 2000. A bit of research (and a great deal of luck in locating a couple comparison specimens – thank you Paul Sipiera) showed that this material was another piece of the Casilda meteorite – a barely distributed (H5) that a 5.25kg sample was first found in 1937. This is really nice material. It shows lots of metal in a really interesting mottled dark green and bluish(!) gray matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 6.0 grams - 25mm x 21mm x 4mm - $27.00
b) 12.3 grams - 37mm x 32mm x 4mm - $55.00
c) 24.1 grams - 45mm x 37mm x 5mm - $106.00
d) 53.3 grams - 89mm x 45mm x 4mm - $232.00
e) 100.3 grams - 103mm x 70mm x 4mm - $425.00
f) 223.6 grams - 160mm x 90mm x 4mm - $925.00
g) 452.9 grams - 163mm x 148mm x 5mm - $1800.00 – nice complete slice!
NWA (7019): (L5). Found before September 2011. Tkw = 1440.5 grams.
This is an item that looked promising when I got it at the last Denver show. It showed a good number of large chondrules and a fair number of obvious clasts. I was hoping it might be an LL4 or 5 but it turned out to be an (L5). This shows good number of light gray chondrules (and a fair amount of metal) in a mottled light tan to brown matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 17.2 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 5mm - $17.00
b) 34.7 grams - 50mm x 45mm x 5mm - $34.00
c) 71.0 grams - 70mm x 64mm x 5mm - $70.00 – nice complete slice.
NWA (5515): Carbonaceous chondrite (CK4). Found before November 2007. Tkw = 13.7 kilograms.
This is currently the second largest known CK by weight (only the 26.5kg HaH (280) is larger) and the largest slices here are very likely the largest CK slices (by surface area) in the world (the HaH (280) was found broken into 20 pieces). Regardless, these are all very nice representative and affordable pieces of this very rare meteorite type. I have sizes to fit all collections. These show the typical CK texture of sparse dark gray chondrules in a light gray matrix.
NWA (5515) continued:
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 16mm x 11mm x 5mm - $30.00
b) 5.1 grams - 21mm x 18mm x 4mm - $60.00
c) 9.9 grams - 36mm x 21mm x 4mm - $110.00
d) 18.6 grams - 43mm x 36mm x 5mm - $200.00
e) 38.3 grams - 68mm x 54mm x 4mm - $400.00
f) 66.3 grams - 95mm x 68mm x 4mm - $665.00
g) 141.2 grams - 145mm x 105mm x 3mm - $1350.00 – nice complete slice.
h) 270.5 grams - 55mm x 140mm x 5mm - $2500.00 – the largest complete slice.
NORTON COUNTY, Kansas: (Aubrite). Fell February 18, 1947. Tkw = 1175+ kilograms.
Here are some nice fragments that came from the Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. They are all "natural" fragments that show the brecciated texture typical for this meteorite (large white clasts in a very light gray back-ground). All of these have a museum number painted on them and come with an Institute of Meteoritics label. Don't wait to long if you are interested in a sample of this. I had a pretty good hand full of these in Tucson and rapidly sold out.
1) Fragments with museum number:
a) 3.3 grams - 16mm x 13mm x 10mm - $115.00
b) 7.2 grams - 24mm x 15mm x 13mm - $250.00
c) 15.0 grams - 30mm x 22mm x 13mm - $525.00
d) 25.8 grams - 30mm x 28mm x 16mm - $850.00
e) 66.3 grams - 52mm x 32mm x 22mm - $2000.00
TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
This is the stuff that has been in the news a lot lately. It came out right before we could get to Tucson (and pulled a LOT of money out of the show accordingly). I saw nothing but really high prices on what little of this was available at the show. I was not willing to risk huge sums of money to purchase a substantial amount of this new Mars rock. So, I purchased a small lot of nice (but, admittedly expensive) little fragments to offer here. These are for the person who does not want to invest a fortune in a larger piece or for the person (like me) that just wants to own a specimen now and hopes that the cost will come down a bit so we can upgrade to a larger chunk later. These are in a 55mm x 35mm x 15mm plastic box and, generally, are larger in appearance than their small weights would suggest.
1) Fragments:
a) .0132 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 1.5mm - $21.00
b) .0208 grams - 4mm x 2mm x 2mm - $33.00
c) .0318 grams - 4mm x 3mm x 2mm - $51.00
d) .21 grams - 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $150.00 – sold but getting more.
e) .28 grams - 8mm x 7mm x 4mm - $200.00 – sold but trying to get more.
2) Fragments that have melt pockets/ veins:
a) .0156 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 2mm - $27.00
b) .0218 grams - 3.5mm x 2.5mm x 3mm - $38.00
c) .0260 grams - 3.5mm x 3mm x 3mm - $46.00
BRENHAM, Kansas: (Pallasite). Found 1882. Tkw = several tons.
Actually, the piece that these were cut from was recovered in the NW ¼ of Section 28, Brenham Township in 2006. This was a really nice pallisitic sample weighing 351 pounds. I have sold a good number of beautiful complete slices of this the past year and a half (I bought one myself), but these are the first small pieces I have had. So far, this has proven to be very stable material. My piece (a 2200g range complete slice) has not developed a speck of rust in the 1 year 8 months that I have had it and I have given it no special care or storage what so ever! (a "bad" Brenham would have long since fallen apart in that amount of time). I even made this one my main collection pallasite display piece.
1) Slices:
a) 14.2 grams - 30mm x 15mm x 6mm - $57.00
b) 27.8 grams - 31mm x 29mm x 6mm - $110.00
c) 56.3 grams - 64mm x 32mm x 6mm - $220.00
d) 78.5 grams - 60mm x 50mm x 6mm - $300.00
e) 215.0 grams - 75mm x 73mm x 7mm - $800.00
f) 1691 grams - 410mm x 290mm x 3mm - $5900.00 – passes light through many crystals.
g) 3282 grams - 540mm x 290mm x 4mm - $10,500.00 – complete slice, 10cm diameter Chromite!
Please include postage: $3 on small U.S. orders and $11 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more important overseas shipments - an extra $12.00.
If you are sending a fax, simply begin transmitting when my line is answered. My fax will turn on automatically to receive (or I will start it if I answer) when you begin transmitting.
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 119
April 5, 2012
Dear Collectors,
Here is the e-mail version of my mailed list that is now landing in the hands of many collectors (including many of you) as I send this. This is going out a bit delayed from when it should have as I was hit with the stomach-flu going around here. This knocked me back for a couple days.
I plan to go to the Denver spring show to visit (will be gone April 19th through the 23rd). Anyone that wants to me to bring anything from this list (or any list for that matter), let me know and I'll pack it along.
I will also be out of town from around May 17th through May 22nd or 23rd. We have an annular eclipse coming to the area (actually a bit South of me) and I hope to travel to some prime spot to see it.
Please note the slightly higher postage amounts: Shipping costs (and overseas shipping regulations) drastically changed January 22nd. This has forced me to increase my rates a bit and has limited overseas shipping options quite a bit (forcing me into either express or a large "flat rate" box (both expensive) for anything with a customs value over $400 – for which registration or insurance is no longer possible. Disturbing; high value now means you can get no real protection).
TAZA (NWA 859), Morocco: Plessitic Octahedrite (ungrouped). Found 2001. Tkw = about 75 kilograms.
I picked up some nice little individuals and a couple "large" (for this stuff anyway) slices of this in Tucson. The small pieces show atmospherically sculpted shapes and most show a fair amount of fusion crust. The slices are etched. BUT the large one is really special. This has a 18mm x 7mm crystal (looks like olivine!) that transmits light through it. This piece is certainly not cheap, but it is positively special.
1) Individuals as found:
a) 1.3 grams - 10mm x 9mm x 2mm - $10.00
b) 2.3 grams - 14mm x 8mm x 5mm - $17.00
c) 4.5 grams - 20mm x 9mm x 5mm - $32.00
d) 10.9 grams - 17mm x 15mm x 8mm - $76.00
2) Slices: etched both sides:
a) 33.2 grams - 50mm x 42mm x 2mm - $265.00
b) 134.5 grams - 150mm x 70mm x 2mm - $2350.00 – has 17mm x 8mm olivine!
CASILDA, Argentina: (H5). Found 1937. Tkw = 18.35 kilograms.
Here is something I picked up at the Denver spring show last year. A rhodochrosite dealer had a couple rough cut hunks of this hiding at the back of one of his tables labeled simply as "stone meteorite". I asked a bit about it and was told that it was from the Rosario area of Argentina. He had the thing sitting in his basement for over 10 years, or not long since after it was found in 2000. A bit of research (and a great deal of luck in locating a couple comparison specimens – thank you Paul Sipiera) showed that this material was another piece of the Casilda meteorite – a barely distributed (H5) that a 5.25kg sample was first found in 1937. This is really nice material. It shows lots of metal in a really interesting mottled dark green and bluish(!) gray matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 6.0 grams - 25mm x 21mm x 4mm - $27.00
b) 12.3 grams - 37mm x 32mm x 4mm - $55.00
c) 24.1 grams - 45mm x 37mm x 5mm - $106.00
d) 53.3 grams - 89mm x 45mm x 4mm - $232.00
e) 100.3 grams - 103mm x 70mm x 4mm - $425.00
f) 223.6 grams - 160mm x 90mm x 4mm - $925.00
g) 452.9 grams - 163mm x 148mm x 5mm - $1800.00 – nice complete slice!
NWA (7019): (L5). Found before September 2011. Tkw = 1440.5 grams.
This is an item that looked promising when I got it at the last Denver show. It showed a good number of large chondrules and a fair number of obvious clasts. I was hoping it might be an LL4 or 5 but it turned out to be an (L5). This shows good number of light gray chondrules (and a fair amount of metal) in a mottled light tan to brown matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 17.2 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 5mm - $17.00
b) 34.7 grams - 50mm x 45mm x 5mm - $34.00
c) 71.0 grams - 70mm x 64mm x 5mm - $70.00 – nice complete slice.
NWA (5515): Carbonaceous chondrite (CK4). Found before November 2007. Tkw = 13.7 kilograms.
This is currently the second largest known CK by weight (only the 26.5kg HaH (280) is larger) and the largest slices here are very likely the largest CK slices (by surface area) in the world (the HaH (280) was found broken into 20 pieces). Regardless, these are all very nice representative and affordable pieces of this very rare meteorite type. I have sizes to fit all collections. These show the typical CK texture of sparse dark gray chondrules in a light gray matrix.
NWA (5515) continued:
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 16mm x 11mm x 5mm - $30.00
b) 5.1 grams - 21mm x 18mm x 4mm - $60.00
c) 9.9 grams - 36mm x 21mm x 4mm - $110.00
d) 18.6 grams - 43mm x 36mm x 5mm - $200.00
e) 38.3 grams - 68mm x 54mm x 4mm - $400.00
f) 66.3 grams - 95mm x 68mm x 4mm - $665.00
g) 141.2 grams - 145mm x 105mm x 3mm - $1350.00 – nice complete slice.
h) 270.5 grams - 55mm x 140mm x 5mm - $2500.00 – the largest complete slice.
NORTON COUNTY, Kansas: (Aubrite). Fell February 18, 1947. Tkw = 1175+ kilograms.
Here are some nice fragments that came from the Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. They are all "natural" fragments that show the brecciated texture typical for this meteorite (large white clasts in a very light gray back-ground). All of these have a museum number painted on them and come with an Institute of Meteoritics label. Don't wait to long if you are interested in a sample of this. I had a pretty good hand full of these in Tucson and rapidly sold out.
1) Fragments with museum number:
a) 3.3 grams - 16mm x 13mm x 10mm - $115.00
b) 7.2 grams - 24mm x 15mm x 13mm - $250.00
c) 15.0 grams - 30mm x 22mm x 13mm - $525.00
d) 25.8 grams - 30mm x 28mm x 16mm - $850.00
e) 66.3 grams - 52mm x 32mm x 22mm - $2000.00
TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
This is the stuff that has been in the news a lot lately. It came out right before we could get to Tucson (and pulled a LOT of money out of the show accordingly). I saw nothing but really high prices on what little of this was available at the show. I was not willing to risk huge sums of money to purchase a substantial amount of this new Mars rock. So, I purchased a small lot of nice (but, admittedly expensive) little fragments to offer here. These are for the person who does not want to invest a fortune in a larger piece or for the person (like me) that just wants to own a specimen now and hopes that the cost will come down a bit so we can upgrade to a larger chunk later. These are in a 55mm x 35mm x 15mm plastic box and, generally, are larger in appearance than their small weights would suggest.
1) Fragments:
a) .0132 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 1.5mm - $21.00
b) .0208 grams - 4mm x 2mm x 2mm - $33.00
c) .0318 grams - 4mm x 3mm x 2mm - $51.00
d) .21 grams - 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $150.00 – sold but getting more.
e) .28 grams - 8mm x 7mm x 4mm - $200.00 – sold but trying to get more.
2) Fragments that have melt pockets/ veins:
a) .0156 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 2mm - $27.00
b) .0218 grams - 3.5mm x 2.5mm x 3mm - $38.00
c) .0260 grams - 3.5mm x 3mm x 3mm - $46.00
BRENHAM, Kansas: (Pallasite). Found 1882. Tkw = several tons.
Actually, the piece that these were cut from was recovered in the NW ¼ of Section 28, Brenham Township in 2006. This was a really nice pallisitic sample weighing 351 pounds. I have sold a good number of beautiful complete slices of this the past year and a half (I bought one myself), but these are the first small pieces I have had. So far, this has proven to be very stable material. My piece (a 2200g range complete slice) has not developed a speck of rust in the 1 year 8 months that I have had it and I have given it no special care or storage what so ever! (a "bad" Brenham would have long since fallen apart in that amount of time). I even made this one my main collection pallasite display piece.
1) Slices:
a) 14.2 grams - 30mm x 15mm x 6mm - $57.00
b) 27.8 grams - 31mm x 29mm x 6mm - $110.00
c) 56.3 grams - 64mm x 32mm x 6mm - $220.00
d) 78.5 grams - 60mm x 50mm x 6mm - $300.00
e) 215.0 grams - 75mm x 73mm x 7mm - $800.00
f) 1691 grams - 410mm x 290mm x 3mm - $5900.00 – passes light through many crystals.
g) 3282 grams - 540mm x 290mm x 4mm - $10,500.00 – complete slice, 10cm diameter Chromite!
Please include postage: $3 on small U.S. orders and $11 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more important overseas shipments - an extra $12.00.
If you are sending a fax, simply begin transmitting when my line is answered. My fax will turn on automatically to receive (or I will start it if I answer) when you begin transmitting.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 118 - more after Tucson stuff
Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 118 - more after Tucson stuff
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
………………………………………………………LIST 118
March 9, 2011
Dear Collectors,
Here is a quasi "emergency" list. I was out of town last Tuesday and will be out of town yet again next Tuesday (until the 17th). So, I made the decision to send out an offering now, while I still had a couple days left to pack and ship orders. Blake is out of town until tomorrow as well, so any needed photos my not be able to out until Saturday evening or Sunday (but I will keep the specimens on hold until you get a chance to see a photo if you really are serious about wanting it (I get a lot of "just curios to see what it looks like requests that I sometimes can't oblige quickly) to – even I that means waiting until I get back on Friday).
DAR al GANI (303), Libya: carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 365 grams.
I remember back when CO3s first started coming out of Libya. It was not long after that I learned that the finders were putting new numbers on every piece they were recovering (a thought initially "wow, I had only one CO3 before (Colony, OK), now I have 5 or 6 new ones in a couple months!"). Looking more carefully though, I started to realize what was going on. Looking carefully at this piece though it seems that there is a fairly good chance that it is NOT part of that series of CO3s. This has lots of chondrules in a nearly black matrix (the others were more medium brown in color from what I recall). This also still shows some pretty nice fusion crust along about half of the edge (which has one 32mm long cut and the rest being natural). This is a thick slice but comes in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. This could easily be cut into several thinner slices.
21.5 gram slice – 32mm x 21mm x 10mm - $215
DAR al GANI (472), Libya: (LL6). Found 1998. Tkw = 422 grams.
This is a part slice that has one cut edge that is about 40mm long. The remaining edges are natural exterior (mostly the typical wind-polished desert texture, no distinct crust). The interior is a mottled light tan to medium brown and shows numerous fine shock veins. This is in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. Probably a very hard to come by specimen these days.
18.3 gram slice – 47mm x 27mm x 5mm - $100
DHOFAR (007), Oman; achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 21.27 kilograms.
This is a nice complete slice of this strange material. Most of it is a nice "salt and pepper" texture (like much of the Millbillillie) BUT it is un diffierent colors – a mix of greenish brown and snow-white instead of black and white. About ¼ of the slice has a nice brecciated texture to it. This is the biggest surface area piece I have ever had of this material (I am tempted to hang on to it for myself if it does not sell here). It is believed that this is not from Vesta, as most eucrites are, but more likely from the mesosidserite parent-body.
69.2 gram complete slice – 107mm x 65mm x 4.5mm - $800
DHOFAR (132), Oman: achondrite (Ureilite). Ound March 18, 2000. Tkw = 5kilograms.
Here are a couple thick slices of this rare stone (this is the first I have had this particular meteorite even though there was a substantial amount recovered). I would guess that, like many ureilites, this has silicon carbides and/ or diamonds in it and was very hard to cut (not really wanting to try and split these in half myself. I made that mistake a few years ago when I had a different NWA ureilite that I obtained in similarly thick slices. It took over 2 hours per square inch (plus a number of saw blades) to split the stuff. It left my fingers numb (the pieces had to be hand-held for cutting) for many weeks afterwards as well). These, however, have been nicely polished (certainly not an easy job to do with most ureilites), are displayed in Riker mounts and have a Lang collection label.
a) 3.1 gram slice – 19mm x 8mm x 6mm - $85
b) 5.2 gram slice – 20mm x 15mm x 6mm - $140
ESTHERVILLE, Iowa: (Mesosiderite). Fell May 10, 1879. Tkw = 318+ kilograms.
I have two pieces of this really nice mesosiderite. Both look pretty much identical when only one side is viewed (as is normal as these are in Riker boxes). The back sides of these though are a bit rough (the lighter a bit less so and the larger is wedged – hence the lower price per gram). Whoever cut these originally did not know what they were doing or were trying to (mistakenly) use a saw that was too small for the job. Regardless, the visible (as displayed) polished side of each is really nice with a really good even amounts mix of metal and silicates.
a)) 126 gram lice – 140mm x 97mm x 3mm - $2500
b) 245 gram slice – 140 x 100 x 5 - $3500
SOMERVELLE COUNTY, Texas: (Pallasite). Found 1919. Tkw = 11.8 kilograms.
This is actually a nice end piece that could probably have several nice slices taken off o the front yet (if one was careful. The cut face shows several nice crystals in fresh metal. The back is a bit shrapnel like, but clearly shows lots of fresh quite large and fairly gemmy crystals. I am really surprised that this did not sell at the show (but then it was in a display case that was stuffed full of material)
54.4 gram end piece – 28mm x 25mm x 20mm - $750
TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
Here are a couple pieces of the one that has been in the news a lot lately (came out right before the show. Unfortunately for us dealers this had the effect of pulling a LOT of money out of the buyer's pockets before we could offer our stuff to them at the show). These are nice fragments (no crust, unfortunately) in nice plastic display boxes that have a picture of the fall area. These are taped shut (with the label that has their weight), so I have had to do a rough guess on their thickness measurement (the last number).
a) .21 gram fragment – 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $145
b) .28 gram fragment – 8mm x 6.5mm x 4mm - $195
WILLAMETTE, Oregon: Medium octahedrite (IIIAB). Found 1902. Tkw = 14.1 tones.
Here are a couple thin slices of this super famous and controversial iron. It seems that the controversy (of the native Americans in the find area claiming ownership and demanding its return) has only made this material more famous and valuable. I am REALLY reluctant to offer any iron in the hundreds (!) of dollars per gram pricing. But, I did sell several pieces in a big hurry when I put them out on display at the show.
a) .93 gram slice – 11mm x 7mm x 1.5mm - $190
b) 6.181 gram slice – 34mm x 19mm x 1.5mm - $1250 – about 2/3 edge is natural!
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
………………………………………………………LIST 118
March 9, 2011
Dear Collectors,
Here is a quasi "emergency" list. I was out of town last Tuesday and will be out of town yet again next Tuesday (until the 17th). So, I made the decision to send out an offering now, while I still had a couple days left to pack and ship orders. Blake is out of town until tomorrow as well, so any needed photos my not be able to out until Saturday evening or Sunday (but I will keep the specimens on hold until you get a chance to see a photo if you really are serious about wanting it (I get a lot of "just curios to see what it looks like requests that I sometimes can't oblige quickly) to – even I that means waiting until I get back on Friday).
DAR al GANI (303), Libya: carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 365 grams.
I remember back when CO3s first started coming out of Libya. It was not long after that I learned that the finders were putting new numbers on every piece they were recovering (a thought initially "wow, I had only one CO3 before (Colony, OK), now I have 5 or 6 new ones in a couple months!"). Looking more carefully though, I started to realize what was going on. Looking carefully at this piece though it seems that there is a fairly good chance that it is NOT part of that series of CO3s. This has lots of chondrules in a nearly black matrix (the others were more medium brown in color from what I recall). This also still shows some pretty nice fusion crust along about half of the edge (which has one 32mm long cut and the rest being natural). This is a thick slice but comes in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. This could easily be cut into several thinner slices.
21.5 gram slice – 32mm x 21mm x 10mm - $215
DAR al GANI (472), Libya: (LL6). Found 1998. Tkw = 422 grams.
This is a part slice that has one cut edge that is about 40mm long. The remaining edges are natural exterior (mostly the typical wind-polished desert texture, no distinct crust). The interior is a mottled light tan to medium brown and shows numerous fine shock veins. This is in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. Probably a very hard to come by specimen these days.
18.3 gram slice – 47mm x 27mm x 5mm - $100
DHOFAR (007), Oman; achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 21.27 kilograms.
This is a nice complete slice of this strange material. Most of it is a nice "salt and pepper" texture (like much of the Millbillillie) BUT it is un diffierent colors – a mix of greenish brown and snow-white instead of black and white. About ¼ of the slice has a nice brecciated texture to it. This is the biggest surface area piece I have ever had of this material (I am tempted to hang on to it for myself if it does not sell here). It is believed that this is not from Vesta, as most eucrites are, but more likely from the mesosidserite parent-body.
69.2 gram complete slice – 107mm x 65mm x 4.5mm - $800
DHOFAR (132), Oman: achondrite (Ureilite). Ound March 18, 2000. Tkw = 5kilograms.
Here are a couple thick slices of this rare stone (this is the first I have had this particular meteorite even though there was a substantial amount recovered). I would guess that, like many ureilites, this has silicon carbides and/ or diamonds in it and was very hard to cut (not really wanting to try and split these in half myself. I made that mistake a few years ago when I had a different NWA ureilite that I obtained in similarly thick slices. It took over 2 hours per square inch (plus a number of saw blades) to split the stuff. It left my fingers numb (the pieces had to be hand-held for cutting) for many weeks afterwards as well). These, however, have been nicely polished (certainly not an easy job to do with most ureilites), are displayed in Riker mounts and have a Lang collection label.
a) 3.1 gram slice – 19mm x 8mm x 6mm - $85
b) 5.2 gram slice – 20mm x 15mm x 6mm - $140
ESTHERVILLE, Iowa: (Mesosiderite). Fell May 10, 1879. Tkw = 318+ kilograms.
I have two pieces of this really nice mesosiderite. Both look pretty much identical when only one side is viewed (as is normal as these are in Riker boxes). The back sides of these though are a bit rough (the lighter a bit less so and the larger is wedged – hence the lower price per gram). Whoever cut these originally did not know what they were doing or were trying to (mistakenly) use a saw that was too small for the job. Regardless, the visible (as displayed) polished side of each is really nice with a really good even amounts mix of metal and silicates.
a)) 126 gram lice – 140mm x 97mm x 3mm - $2500
b) 245 gram slice – 140 x 100 x 5 - $3500
SOMERVELLE COUNTY, Texas: (Pallasite). Found 1919. Tkw = 11.8 kilograms.
This is actually a nice end piece that could probably have several nice slices taken off o the front yet (if one was careful. The cut face shows several nice crystals in fresh metal. The back is a bit shrapnel like, but clearly shows lots of fresh quite large and fairly gemmy crystals. I am really surprised that this did not sell at the show (but then it was in a display case that was stuffed full of material)
54.4 gram end piece – 28mm x 25mm x 20mm - $750
TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
Here are a couple pieces of the one that has been in the news a lot lately (came out right before the show. Unfortunately for us dealers this had the effect of pulling a LOT of money out of the buyer's pockets before we could offer our stuff to them at the show). These are nice fragments (no crust, unfortunately) in nice plastic display boxes that have a picture of the fall area. These are taped shut (with the label that has their weight), so I have had to do a rough guess on their thickness measurement (the last number).
a) .21 gram fragment – 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $145
b) .28 gram fragment – 8mm x 6.5mm x 4mm - $195
WILLAMETTE, Oregon: Medium octahedrite (IIIAB). Found 1902. Tkw = 14.1 tones.
Here are a couple thin slices of this super famous and controversial iron. It seems that the controversy (of the native Americans in the find area claiming ownership and demanding its return) has only made this material more famous and valuable. I am REALLY reluctant to offer any iron in the hundreds (!) of dollars per gram pricing. But, I did sell several pieces in a big hurry when I put them out on display at the show.
a) .93 gram slice – 11mm x 7mm x 1.5mm - $190
b) 6.181 gram slice – 34mm x 19mm x 1.5mm - $1250 – about 2/3 edge is natural!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
