Showing posts with label AUSTRALITE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AUSTRALITE. Show all posts

Saturday 3 October 2020

Blaine Reed Meteorites For Sale - List 239

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
October 2, 2020

LIST 239

Dear Collectors,
Here is the e-mail version of my just mailed “after Denver” list. Yep, we did manage to have a show. It was shorter than normal (by about half) and we had a fairly light amount of foot traffic. None the less, I still managed to sell a lot more than I expected. Assuming no one ends up getting sick from doing the show, it was a solid win in my books. Now I just have to worry about Tucson. This is NOT a small worry. The hotel and show was taken over by a new owner just as we left this year’s show. He was scheduled to do a major re-model (I never like hearing that. I barely fit in the room the way things currently are. ¼” change in the length of the TV/ dresser cabinet means my current tables and layout no longer fit). Given this and the fact that the hotel was likely shut down right after we left, I would not be surprised to find the place closed in bankruptcy upon arrival next year. Also there is the issue of “social distancing”. I was able to do this given the much larger space I have in Denver (and by changing the table layout) but there is no chance of pulling something similar off in a small motel room (so will CDC guidelines prevent us from having the show in the normal fashion anyway). I’ll try to keep folks posted on this as I learn more.
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
(click on image to enlarge)

SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
These are all actually slices of the much more common iron portion of this meteorite. I got these to cut down into smaller squares to satisfy the needs for some educational science kits I needed to pull together for an institute. Thankfully, I got lucky and was able to trade a collector for the smaller etched squares of this meteorite that I needed (this material has gotten quite hard to get and expensive to buy recently. Apparently, no more new pieces are being found). The two smaller pieces here are really, really cool almost complete slices (each has a 50mm cut edge that is not terribly noticeable). These were cut from a piece that had a large elongate natural hole in the center (likely from a Screibersite or Cohenite burning or weathering out). The largest piece is a complete slice. This has the earlier, deeper style etch on it (the etch on the holed pieces is lighter). This piece is somewhat warped (the saw obviously had some trouble getting through this piece) but has been polished and etched properly so this is not really noticeable.
1) Etched slices/ part slices:
a) 134.4 grams - 120mm x 75mm x 3mm - $250 – neat natural hole.
b) 168.1 grams - 130mm x 70mm x 3mm - $310 – neat natural hole.
c) 283.1 grams - 130mm x 80mm x 5mm - $400 – complete slice.

KATOL, India: Ordinary chondrite (L6). Fell May 22, 2012.
(click on image to enlarge)

KATOL, India: Ordinary chondrite (L6). Fell May 22, 2012. Tkw = around 13kg.
Here is something that I found waaay back in deep storage while doing inventory work that somehow I never got around to offering. This was an interesting and exciting meteorite when it fell. Several pieces hit/ fell through roofs. Many pieces also had a weird achondritic texture to them. I think this meteorite was considered to be an L7 or such for some time and recent papers are suggesting that this has been miss-classified and really is the first known L7 fall. I have very little of this (it was VERY expensive when I was finally able to get some through trades). All of these are fragments and all, but the smallest, are one of a kind (no replacements pieces available, unfortunately). All but the smallest piece have fusion crust. The 3.6g has secondary crust, the next two have large areas of primary crust and the largest piece, though very slightly weathered (the others are pristine fresh) is actually a complete individual with around 70% primary crust with the remainder being a very, very light secondary crust. These are being sold here for less (substantially less) than I paid for them years ago.
1) Fragments:
a) 1.7 grams - 12mm x 8mm x 7mm - $60
b) 2.5 grams - 12mm x 12mm x 5mm - $85 – 10mm x 5mm secondary crust.. NOT in group photo.
c) 10.6 grams - 22mm x 20mm x 7mm - sold
d) 22.9 grams - 32mm x 22mm x 17mm - sold
e) 35.1 grams - 29mm x 25mm x 22mm - $1000 – complete individual.
NWA (13384): Ordinary chondrite (L5). Found 2018. 
(Click on image to enlarge.)

NWA (13384): Ordinary chondrite (L5). Found 2018. Tkw = 465.3 grams
Here is a meteorite I accidentally ended up with when I purchased a batch of the NWA (11669) (offered on my last list). It indeed looked very much like the other pieces and liked to break apart (like the NWA 11669) upon cutting and polishing as well. As a result of this second part, I have numerous pieces of only a couple sizes to offer. As I had already cut/ polished this stone before fully realizing it was a different meteorite. The relatively chondrule poor mottled gray, brown, and orange interior should have been obvious had this not been the first piece of the batch I cut. The next piece was the proper chondrule rich texture for an LL3. I decided to keep it (got a bit of a refund on the original cost) and put it through research.
1) Slices:
a) 5.1 grams - 45mm x 15mm x 3mm - $8
b) 10.5 grams - 60mm x 20mm x 3mm - $16
2) End piece:
a) 156.3 grams - 60mm x 45mm x 30mm - sold

NWA (845): Rumurutiite (R4), W1. Found March 5, 2001.
(Click on image to enlarge.)

NWA (845): Rumurutiite (R4), W1. Found March 5, 2001. Tkw = 36g+
I am not certain where/ when I got this. I found a small Riker of slices of this hidden deep in a box of miscellaneous things while digging out stuff for the 2020 Denver show. The Riker had a few basic info cards that gave some detailed info (weathering grade, find coordinates, Faylite/ Ferrosillite numbers) but no name as to who made it up. I think that this is a “dealer lot” that I picked up in a collection somewhere and “set aside for the future”. Well, as the folks (Bunson Honeydew and Beaker) at Muppet Labs (from the old Muppet show in the 1970’s) used to say “the future is now”. These show the typical lack of metal (or magnetic attraction), lots of chondrules in a brown/orange matrix. I have less than 35g of this available.
1) Slices/ part slices:
a) .52 grams - 17mm x 6mm x 2mm - $10
b) .93 grams - 16mm x 9mm x 2mm - $18
c) 2.7 grams - 38mm x 12mm x 2mm - $40 – wedged, NOT in group photo..
d) 3.6 grams - 35mm x 26mm x 1mm - sold
e) 8.1 grams - 38mm x 30mm x 2mm - $150

NWA (8345): Carbonaceous chondrite. (CO3.2).
(Click on image to enlarge.)

NWA (8345): Carbonaceous chondrite. (CO3.2). Found before 2013. Tkw = 986..1 grams.
I got the main mass of this meteorite at the COMETS auction/ dinner event during the 2018 Denver show. I finally (over a year later) got around to cutting it up for sale. This was purchased as three pieces that fit together. The interior has many small chondrules, some small CAI’s in a dark brown matrix that makes up around 30% of this meteorite. Research work showed this to be a sub-type 3.2 stone – one of only 13 known (at the time of typing of this) CO3.2 meteorites world wide. This stone had a couple fractures that made it impossible to get full-sized large slices from it (I probably should have “stabilized” (glued it) before doing the cutting work). However, this did make it such that I ended up with more end pieces, cut fragments than I normally would have (I listed these, for space sake, as only by weight as each is a one of a kind weight).
1) Slices:
a) 1.9 grams - 15mm x 12mm x 3mm - $23
b) 3.9 grams - 21mm x 15mm x 3mm - $46
c) 8.6 grams - 35mm x 25mm x 3mm - $100
d) 16.6 grams - 60mm x 20mm x 3mm - $190
e) 33.3 grams - 70mm x 32mm x 4mm - $365
2) End pieces/ cut fragments: $10/g
Weights available: 5.5g, 12.2g, 20.3g, 52.2g, (73.3g sold)

NWA (13383): Achondrite. (Ureilite).
(Click on image to enlarge.)

NWA (13383): Achondrite. (Ureilite). Found before 2019. Tkw = 866.4 grams..
Here is something I really wanted to offer in smaller pieces. Try as I might, I was barely able to get the required material for research work removed (it took me something like an hour and a half to cut a 1” x 1 ½” surface area). Ureilites are interesting and still not really understood. They seem to be from a large parent body (one paper I saw recently suggests it was somewhere between the size of Mercury and Mars) that got smashed apart and then partially re-consolidated. This mixed things where things that were cooling slowly (deep inside) suddenly cooled quickly and the opposite, things that were solid/ cooled quickly became heated and cooled slowly. This piece I am leaving (for now) as the mostly natural main mass (I may try to get it cut in the future but the resulting slices likely won’t be cheap due to the extensive labor and destroyed saw blades that will result). A really nice solid specimen that is a great desk piece at a price likely lower than it would cost direct from Morocco these days.
820.3 gram fragment/ individual – 75mm x 70mm x 65mm - $3500

AUSTRALITE
(Click on image to enlarge.)

AUSTRALITE: Tektite from Australia.
It has been quite a number of years since I was able to get a handful of these. I just got these from a friend that has recently retired from the mineral business. He had these labeled as being from South Australia (I do have a few (6) more special/ interesting pieces from the Lake Torrens strewnfield, Lyndhurst, SA) but that was all. These are the usual round, egg shaped and button cores (nope, I didn’t get any flanged buttons in this lot). As I got a good deal on these, I am pricing these substantially cheaper than I usually ask for Australites for the time being.
1) Individuals as found:
a) 2.4 grams - 18mm x 13mm x 7mm - $7
b) 5.0 grams - 20mm x 19mm x 10mm - $15
c) 7.1 grams - 24mm x 18mm x 11mm - $21
d) 10.0 grams - 24mm x 22mm x 14mm - $30

Please note:
Shipping: For small US orders $5 is needed now. Rates have gone up yet more this tear and now the very cheapest I can send anything is right at $4. Add $ for the padded envelope or box, jewelry boxes, etc and, in most cases, I am still loosing a little even at $5. Larger orders are now $8 to $15 (insurance is extra if desired – I’ll look it up if you want it). Overseas prices have gone up A LOT the past couple years. Now small overseas orders are around $15 (Canada seems to be right around $11). I’ll have to custom quote any larger items/ orders (both local and overseas). Registration (recommended on more valuable overseas orders) is $16.
I do have a fax machine that seems to work (but I have to answer it and manually turn it on), so overseas people can contact me that way if they must.. However, for overseas orders, it probably is best to go ahead and use my brmeteorites@yahoo.com e-mail when possible.

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Blaine Reed Meteorites For Sale - List 162 - American Meteorite Lab specimens

Blaine Reed Meteorites For Sale  -  List 162 - American Meteorite Lab specimens

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………….LIST 162
October 20, 2014

Dear Collectors,

Note: I am sending this out a day early as I just realized that I will be leaving town Thursday afternoon through Sunday.  

Here is an amazing batch of old American Meteorite Lab specimens that I recently received. I had planned on offering these over a couple lists. However, I will not be doing an early November list (as I will be off to Socorro for the Mineral Symposium and its associated show the day after that should be sent out). So, rather than stretch this out into late November and early December (I usually put 7 or 8 items on a typical list, so this lot would normally cover 3 offerings) I decided to simply let it all fly now. I hope this rather large offering does not overwhelm too many (financially, if they want specimens or the extra long length for those that might simply read it). Anyway, These are all American Meteorite Lab pieces with their original labels! Most of these are Nininger labeled pieces but some of these are the later Huss labeled specimens. When Glenn (Nininger’s son in law) took over, he changed to a “new” numbering system for AML specimens such that they would have an H at the start, showing that they were “Huss” specimens. In the list of specimens and their descriptions I’ll make note of what number is on the specimen. Strait numbers are Nininger pieces and those that are H and then a number are Huss pieces. It is a very rare day anymore that I get even one AML specimen (and usually the paper label that is supposed to be with it is missing ) but it is truly special to end up with close to 20 different to offer now. Note, the “find” dates on some of these are slightly different than what is officially reported in the Catalog of Meteorites. I am using the dates and TKW that are on the cards (prepared by Dr. Nininger or Glenn Huss) that are with the specimen. So don’t freak out if, while doing a little research on some of these, you see dates or total knowns that are a bit different, these are indeed the ones listed in the catalog, Met Bulletin.

BONDOC, Philippines: (Mesosiderite). Found 1957, recognized 1959. Tkw = 888.6kilograms.
This piece is one of the mostly silicate specimens, though there are a couple metal flakes visible in it. This has a little bit of surface rusting, mostly on the “natural” edges. I left it alone for fear that in trying to clean up this tiny bit of stuff I might accidentally end up damaging the Nininger number painted on this thing which is  (2)684.223. I don’t know what the (2) is for but the 684 is certainly the right number for Bondoc.
    11.1 gram slice – 25mm x 15mm x 10mm - $100SOLD

BLEDSOE, Texas: (H4). Found 1970. Tkw = 30.56 kilograms.
I remember getting a few pieces of this one from Mr. Huss, likely back around the time I first met him. This isn’t real pretty, unfortunately. It doesn’t show any metal but it does have some chondrules and fragments visible (best on the unpolished side that also has the specimen number – H121.15 on it). This is a complete slice of a fragment – no cut edges.
    12.8 grams slice – 50mm x 19mm x 6mm - $125  SOLD

BRENHAM, Kansas: (pallasite). Found 1885. Tkw = 4400 kilograms.
Not surprisingly, this one is a bit of a mess. It still shows quite a lot of bright metal but some of the (surprisingly clear and colorful) crystals have popped out (I think they are all still in the box). This is a Huss piece and is numbered 49.76, though the number is not completely clear as there is some rusting hiding the last part a bit. Based on its fairly low number (for a meteorite that I know he had LOTS of) this is one of Glenn’s early Brenham specimens.
    26.9 gram slice – 42mm x 20mm x 8mm - $100SOLD

BROWNFIELD (1937), Texas: (H3.7). Found 1937. Tkw = 22 kilograms.
The total weight is a bit higher in reality (around 44kg now I think). I know I had a several kilo piece of this stuff I bought from a farmer years ago. This is a “complete” slice (no cut edges) but it does look like it was a natural fragments as only around ½ of the edge of this looks like a crusted surface. This is an early Huss piece and numbered 15.25.
    17.8 gram slice – 42mm x 30mm x 4mm - $200SOLD

CALLIHAM, Texas: (L6). Found 1958. Tkw = 40.1 kilograms.
This is a long, skinny slice of a natural fragment. Its quite weathered (no fresh metal visible) but it is solid (no cracking). A fairly big piece of this was found, but I have not seen a lot of this one available over the years. This is a Nininger piece and is numbered 670.70.
    21.5 gram slice – 85mm x 17mm x 5mm - $225 SOLD

EDMONSON, Texas: (L6). Found 1955, recognized 1965. Tkw = 12kilograms.
This one came to me broken apart unfortunately. It arrived in 3 large pieces and a couple small fragments. Thankfully, the largest piece (which weighs 6.6 grams and measures 33mm x 14mm x 5mm) is the one that has the Huss number (H31.19) on it.
    9.1 gram broken slice - $100SOLD

GRASSLAND, Texas: (L4). Found 1964. Tkw = 4.4 kilograms.
This one, like the Edmonson, arrived in pieces. This one is quite a bit more broken up though. It came as 4 or 5 “larger” pieces and a bunch of small fragments. Thankfully, like the Edmonson, the largest piece (3.0 grams – 18mm x 18mm x 4mm) is the one that has the Huss number (H23.55) on it. I have had pieces of this in the distant past, but not many. It seems the bulk of this one is tied up in museum collections.
    9.1 gram broken slice - $100SOLD

HUGHOTON, Kansas: (H5). Found 1935. Tkw = 325 kilograms.
Interesting, the first piece I have had of this in years (a 9.2 g piece) I just offered a month or so ago. Now I suddenly have another! I sold the last one (really quickly) at $250. I had several people wanting that one. I suspect that this one may be the same, though it is a bit more expensive overall. This is numbered 280.336. 
    20.8 gram cut fragment – 28mm x 15mm x 25mm - $400 SOLD

LADDER CREEK, Kansas: (L6). Found 1935. Tkw = 35.0 kilograms.
Weathered fragment with cut and polished face (and a much smaller polished area at the other end). Some metal is still visible on the polished faces. Nininger specimen number 280.336
    16.4 gram cut fragment – 25mm x 20mm x 13mm - $200SOLD

LAKEWOOD, New Mexico: (L6). Found 1955, recognized 1966. Tkw = 46.5 kilograms.
This is an end piece or really a cut fragment (it doesn’t have anything I would call a crusted surface on the back side). It is weathered and shows some cracks but it seems to be quite solid. This is a Huss piece and is numbered H53.121.
    38.1 gram cut fragment – 60mm x 40mm x 8mm - $250SOLD

LITTLE RIVER, Kansas: (H6). Found 1965, recognized 1968. Tkw = 4.4 kilograms.
The card with this says tkw = 16.1 kilograms. Two pieces were found and it seems that they were really two different meteorites. The smaller one, the 4.4kg Little River (a) stone is an H6 and the larger Little River (b) is an H4/5. This piece is pretty clearly an H6 (no visible chondrules, a crystalline almost achondritic look) so this is a piece of the Little River (a) stone. About half of this is locked up in museum collections so there is not much of this meteorite available. I can’t recall ever having a piece. This is a Huss specimen and is numbered H83.30.
    8.1 gram slice – 25mm x 20mm x 5mm - $200SOLD

NORCATUR, Kansas: (L6). Recognized 1948. Tkw = 3.2 kilograms.
Unfortunately, this one is the ONLY specimen that came in this collection that didn’t have a specimen card for it. This (to me) is REALLY unfortunate as, after digging through my old Nininger Collection catalog to figure out what this little piece was, I think it is probably the rarest (hardest to get a sample of, certainly not classification) piece in the entire lot. I don’t recall ever having a piece. The list of museum collection pieces seems to show that the weight in collections is indeed pretty much the total weight known. This “rarity” may also be supported by its specimen number (525.9). Being such a small piece and having a low number, being the 9th piece “cataloged” there may indeed be very little in private hands. This is a small fragment that has one (largest) side with obvious fusion crust (but brown from minor weathering).
    1.9 gram crusted fragment - $100 SOLD
    

PLAINVIEW (1917), Texas: (H5) brecciated. Found 1917. Tkw = 700 kilograms.
This is a Nininger specimen (numbered 92.1291). It is a part slice (one cut edge) of a slightly weathered stone. It still shows quite a bit of metal but is a darker brown than some of the Plainview slices I have had recently (but none of those had a number and card).
    34.3 grams slice – 50mm x 32mm x 6mm - $275SOLD

POTTER, Nebraska: (L6). Found 1941. Tkw = 261 kilograms.
This is a complete slice of a very weathered fragment. No metal left in this but a few obvious chondrules are visible in the light brownish gray matrix. Nininger specimen number 476.229.
    33.3 gram slice – 60mm x 30mm x 7mm - $200SOLD

SHIELDS, Kansas: (H5). Found 1968. Tkw = 9.8 kilograms.
I know I have had a piece or two of this one in the past but it seems that most of it (a bit over 7kg) is in museum collections so there probably isn’t a lot of this one floating around. This is a complete slice of a fragment (no cut edges. It is a Huss piece and is numbered H90.57.
    9.0 gram slice – 28mm x 17mm x 8mm - $100SOLD

TEKTITES:
I don’t recall ever buying tektites from the AML (I don’t recall Glenn ever really having any to offer for some reason), so I am unfamiliar with their numbering. The numbering on these is definitely different than the meteorite cataloging. These have letters (abbreviations really) indicating what kind of tektite it is and then a number (so I suppose it might be possible to accidentally confuse a AML labeled Moldavite for a Monig piece if one were not paying attention). Thankfully, these all have the likely Nininger AML label with them so there is no chance of confusion.SOLD

AUSTRALITE
This elongate core has the label AU375 painted on it. The AML card that comes with gives the locality as “Williams Creek, South Australia”.
    7,0 grams – 25mm x 17mm x 12mm - $100SOLD

BEDIASITE: Tektite from Texas.
The label that comes with this piece has the locality as “Somerville, Texas”. The number on this individual is B95.
    4.0 grams – 22mm x 12mm x 11mm - $100 _SOLD

INDOCHINITE:
The label for this piece gives the locality as Dalat, Vietnam. The specimen is numbered IC513.
    3.5 grams – 32mm x 10mm x 7mm - $75SOLD
SOLD
MOLDAVITE
This piece is labeled M43 and the card gives the locality as “Lhenice, Sudbohmen”. 
    7.1 grams – 23mm x 20mm x 10mm - $100SOLD

PHILIPPINITE:
This small round piece is labeled R1194. The card gives the locality as Luzon, Philippines and the “class” as Tektite (rizalite). 
    7.3 grams – 21mm x 18mm x 14mm - $100SOLD

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 136. Chelyabinsk and more

Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 136. Chelyabinsk and more

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 136
April 30, 2013

Dear Collectors,
Here is the e-mail version of my mailed list that many of you are just now receiving. As you can see, I was serious when I sent out the "have patience" note concerning the new Russian fall above one of my recent e-mail small lists. I had no idea how fast and how affordable I was going to be able to pick up Chelyabinsk. I had already had a full "mailed list" typed in and ready to go (had planned on having the envelopes stuffed and stamped before I left for Denver). Thankfully, I found out about the Cehlyabinsk's availability and delayed everything a few days. I have to admit that there is a chance that having yet further patience may mean you may be able to pick up a piece even a bit cheaper yet sometime down the road. However, the ones I have now are pristine as they were picked up right after the fall. Later pieces are likely to be quite rusty as there was a lot of snow in the area that has turned into small lakes and mud as things warmed up (Not good for meteorite preservation). Anyway, I worked pretty hard to have a selection of other interesting items so please do have a look at them as well. Enjoy!

BENDEGO, Brazil: Iron. Coarse octahedrite (IC). Found 1784. Tkw = over 5300 kilograms.
A single large mass was found near the rivulet called the Bendego. This was loaded up for a move to Rio de Janeiro, a move that took nearly 100 years as the meteorite (according some info I found on line) collapsed a bridge on the way and was left stuck in a stream bed for decades until it was retrieved. The piece ultimately made the some 900kilometer journey and is currently on display in Rio. Recently, some oxide fragments have turned up, presumably from the original find area of the meteorite. I have not seen much of this material available, so I don't think a lot was recovered. Most pieces are much like the fairly small flatish specimens I have here. One specimen I got though is really quite surprising for its size (I only have the one).
1) Oxide fragments as found:
a) 9.5 grams - 28mm x 25mm x 5mm - $20
b) 18.2 grams - 35mm x 30mm x 6mm - $36
c) 24.2 grams - 55mm x 23mm x 7mm - $48
d) 38.9 grams - 45mm x 40mm x 10mm - $75
e) 146.6 grams - 87mm x 50mm x 17mm - $275

CHELYABINSK, Russia: (LL5). Fell February 15, 2013.
Well, here it is! The new fall that created a 300 kilo- ton explosion that blew out windows, damaged buildings and injured over 1000 people. I recently made a yahoo groups e-mail comment saying "have patience" on this one (pieces of this were selling for low hundereds of dollars per gram at the time). I had no idea that I would be able to come up with pieces so quickly and at such a great price. These are all nice little individuals. They are stones as found. They are very fresh and have only moderate areas of chipping and broken areas that are mostly secondary crust. None are really absolutely complete (very few pieces from this fall are and those command a pretty large premium) but I guarantee you will really like these pieces.
1) Fresh individuals as found:
a) 1.4 grams - 11mm x 11mm x 5mm - $35
b) 2.7 grams - 14mm x 11mm x 9mm - $67
c) 5.1 grams - 20mm x 15mm x 9mm - $125
d) 10.8 grams - 25mm x 19mm x 11mm - $260
e) 25.0 grams - 45mm x 22mm x 17mm - $600
f) 48.6 grams - 35mm x 28mm x 27mm - $1070
g) 78.6 grams - 50mm x 33mm x 27mm - $1570

NWA (7046): Ordinary chondrite (H4), W2. Found before September 2011. Tkw = 1819 grams.
One stone that showed lots of chondrules on its surface was purchased at the 2011 Denver show. Cutting and analysis showed "a dense population of chondrules" inside. These features led both the buyer and researchers to believe that this was likely a type 3 stone. There was indeed a fair amount of spread in the iron contents of the olivine and pyroxene (as well as some residual glass) in this stone that tended to support the type 3 belief. Unfortunately, the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee concluded that this meteorite was indeed not unequilibrated enough to qualify as a true H3. Regardless, the chondrules (and there are a lot of them) show very nicely in this stone (as good as any H3s I've had).
1) Slices, all have natural edges:
a) 8.3 grams - 32mm x 18mm x 5mm - $13
b) 14.2 grams - 35mm x 28mm x 4mm - $22
c) 30.5 grams - 52mm x 38mm x 4mm - $46
d) 47.0 grams - 60mm x 45mm x 4mm - $71
e) 73.1 grams - 70mm x 63mm x 5mm - $110
2)End piece: has 95mm x 35mm area of crust on back.
194.8 grams - 95mm x 73mm x 12mm - $290 – Main mass.

NWA (7428): Ordinary chondrite (L6), W2, melt breccia. Found before February 2012. Tkw = 1380 grams.
The Meteoritcal Bulletin has this as 1830 grams total, but all of Matt's records (I got this from him) show it as 1380 grams. Obviously, a digit got swapped somewhere along the line. Anyway, when I first saw this I was certain that it was an H melt as it looks very much like one I had years ago. This has large (up to 5cm wide) dark melt veins containing partially melted oval shaped chondritic fragments all set in an L-chondrite matrix. What made me think that this was an H melt is that this meteorite is mostly light tan to brown with dark gray melt veins whereas pretty much all of the other L-melts I have seen are green.
1) Slices, all have natural edges:
a) 3.8 grams - 20mm x 20mm x 3mm - 19
b) 8.2 grams - 30mm x 19mm x 4mm - $40
c) 13.1 grams - 32mm x 22mm x 5mm - $60
d) 22.1 grams - 55mm x 28mm x 4mm - $100
e) 56.1 grams - 80mm x 48mm x 5mm - $250

UVALDE, Texas: Ordinary chondrite (H5). Found 1915. Tkw = 8.2 kilograms.
I got a handful of slices from TCU just before Tucson. I didn't show them there as I wanted to put them on this list (it has been a number of years since I have had any of this material, there is not a lot of this available). According to the Catalog of Meteorites (yep, I still have and use the old book version from time to time) this was originally reported by Nininger as one mass and fragments totaling 7.5kg in 1939 (Monig likely got this material from Nininger). This is a fairly weathered stone (as
many Texas finds are) showing little metal in a mostly brown matrix on cut surfaces. These pieces are all slices and cut fragments and each comes with a TCU Monig Collection label.
1) Slices:
a) 18.3 grams - 33mm x 28mm x 6mm - $55
b) 33.1 grams - 60mm x 35mm x 5mm - $100
2) Cut fragments:
a) 6.2 grams - 28mm x 18mm x 4mm - $19
b) 13.5 grams - 25mm x 25mm x 9mm - $41
c) 48.0 grams - 65mm x 40mm x 8mm - $140

NWA (7397): Martian meteorite (Shegottite). Found before June 2012. Tkw = 2130+ grams.
A 2130 gram individual was found near Smara, Morocco (I had a huge 48g slice of this piece for $16k in Tucson. I likely can get it back if anyone is interested). Intense fieldwork recovered numerous additional small fragments (it is these I have here). The interior of this meteorite shows large ovoid crystals of low Ca pyroxene (surrounded by a rim of olivine and chromite) in a matrix that is primarily pyroxene (both low and high Ca), maskleynite and olivine. These ovoids don't show all that well in these natural fragments. None the less this is interesting stuff and, by far the cheapest Mars rock that I am aware of.
1) Fragments as found:
a) .20 grams - 8mm x 5mm x 3mm - $50
b) .38 grams - 9mm x 6mm x 4mm - $95
c) .53 grams - 9mm x 7mm x 5mm - $135 - has some crust.
d) .83 grams - 12mm x 7mm x 6mm - $205
e) 1.30 grams - 14mm x 10mm x 5mm - $320
f) 2.24 grams - 13mm x 10mm x 8mm - $545
g) 6.32 grams - 25mm x 13mm x 11mm - $1500

AUSTRALITES: Tektites from Australia.
I generally don't like to offer something that I have offered so recently (I had the partial flanged buttons on my October 2012 list). However, these are really neat and I am certain that they would sell out rapidly before they made it to a list if I showed them around much (I sold a number of them in Tucson already). These are not fancy pieces, just nice intact (no fresh chipping) natural round and elongate "cores" (sorry no flanges on these pieces). These are quite unusual in their size. I don't recall having (or really ever seeing any quantity of) Australites this size before (the rest of mine are the typical 2 to 4 or 5g size range). Better yet, these actually have some locality info with them (fairly rare for tektites, generally).
1) Kalgoorlie, Western Australia:
a) 10.7 grams - 25mm x 23mm x 13mm - $50
b) 12.7 grams - 22mm x 21mm x 20mm - $60
c) 15.4 grams - 28mm x 25mm x 17mm - $100 – only one this size.
d) 32.3 grams - 50mm x 23mm x 17mm - $300 – my largest and only this size.
2) Finke River, South Australia:
a) 10.7 grams - 22mm x 22mm x 18mm - $50
b) 15.2 grams - 25mm x 24mm x 18mm - $100
c) 19.3 grams - 30mm x 27mm x 16mm - $145

Please note:
The post office drastically increased most shipping rates since my last list. For small US orders $3 should still be fine. Larger orders are now $12 (insurance is extra if desired – I'll look it up if you want it). The real increases came in overseas (even Canada) shipping. These prices pretty much doubled and more from what they were before (and they say we have no inflation). Now small overseas orders are around $9 (I'll have to custom quote any larger items/ orders). Thankfully, it seems that the rate for registration (recommended on more valuable overseas orders) is still $12 (for now).
My fax machine has pretty much blown up on me. I can nurse it to work if I must (but often lose the incoming fax if I am not really careful). For overseas orders, it probably is best to go ahead and use my brmeteorites@yahoo.com e-mail. I generally get/ deal with phone calls quicker but I will try to keep up on checking e-mail this time.

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