brmeteorites_list] List 101 - more after Tucson stuff
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
LIST 101
April 5, 2011
Dear Collectors,
I am back from Phoenix and helping my uncle. Blake and I worked very hard to get a few things done around his house (cleaning up, moving 200lb ham radio equipment, installing ceiling fans, I fixed a couple dozen wrist watches). We Got 7 of his 9 cars back in running order as well so he can start selling off the many extras (any body want a Mercedes?).
Anyway, here is another "brought it back from Tucson" offering. There will be more as time allows.
BARRATTA, Australia: (L3.8). Found 1845. Tkw = 202.9kg.
Now this is a nice display specimen. It is a triangular shaped ½ slice and has 2/3 of its edge showing clearly thumb-print textured dark chocolate brown to black crust. The interior is also very fresh, showing lots of chondrules and metal in a mixed brown and light gray matrix. I remember years ago (when this was still classified as an L4), I had the chance to pick up a fairly large amount of slices of this for a really low price (couple bucks a gram perhaps). I stupidly passed on them. To add insult to that idiocy, the stuff was re-classified as an L3 shortly after. Ooops!
74.5 gram ½ slice – 75mm x 45mm x 6mm - $450
CACHARI, Argentina: (Eucrite), monomict breccia. Found 1916. Tkw = 23.5kg.
These are a couple small fragments in a capsule. I have not seen any of this material in a long time. I have only this sample.
.08grams fragments (2pcs) in a capsule - $20
DAR AL GANI (319), Libya: (Ureilite), polymict breccia. Found 1997. Tkw = 740 grams.
This is a small natural fragment in a membrane box. This comes with a Swiss Meteorite Lab label.
.36 gram fragment in membrane box and SML label - 9mm x 6mm x 2mm - $20
GIBEON, Namibia: Fine octahedrite (IVA).
This is a large uncut individual (52.4kg). It apparently was used as an anvil in some village in Namibia at some time as both the top and bottom surfaces are quite flat and show a texture that looks similar to a hand-hammered silver bowl. I have seen a few similar pieces that the flat areas were really considered to be from impacts with other pieces as they came through the atmosphere though, and this may indeed have formed that way as well. This thing looks EXACTLY like an alligator head! I even, as a joke, put a "cats eye" marble in the divot that is located perfectly for an eye socket. So far, everyone that has shown interest in this wants it for cutting into little jewelry pieces. Someone polished a spot on the bottom and tried to etch it. It did show some etch, but as this is a hammered (or impacted) surface it was distorted and indistinct. I really do suspect though that if an area in between (that shows the nice typical thumb-printed surfaces) were polished and etched, the pattern would be fine (and I may very well end up giving that a try soon). This would still mean a loss of useful etch area along two of the edges of slices cut from this thing for jewelry people, but might yield the neat contorted edge etch pieces I have seen command a premium from collectors.
52.4kg brushed individual – 450mm x 230mm x 110mm - $12,500
NWA 801: Carbonaceous chondrite (CR2). Found 2000.
This is one of my favorite meteorites and this is a really nice thin slice of it. This piece is some of the slightly fresher stuff (some of the (801) was really dark hematite red and showed no metal). This is a pleasing yellow-brown and still shows lots of metal surrounding many of the chondrules and as rounded blebs (metal chondrules).
3.1 gram slice in Riker mount – 60mm x 25mm x 1mm - $100
NWA 2737: Martian (Chassignite). Found 2000. Tkw = 611 grams.
This is a small thin slice in a membrane box.
5mm x 4mm slice in membrane box - $50
NWA 3118: Carbonaceous chondrite (CV3). Found 2003. Tkw = 5895grams.
I suspect this is paired with my favorite CV NWA (2086). This has a super chondrule-rich texture and looks very similar to the popular (and expensive) Axtell. These are super thin slices in a membrane box.
a) 17mm x 13mm - $ 15
b) 25mm x 19mm - $20
NWA 5717: ungrouped chondrite (3.05). Found 2006. Tkw = 7.31kg.
One fresh stone of this strange material was found. Research work on this showed that it did not match with any known parent body (similar to H's in some respects and similar to LL's in others, with oxygen isotopes and other features matching neither). This material is further enhanced by being one of the most primitive "ordinary" chondrites available. Only 18 meteorites out of all known ordinary chondrites (some 40,000 now, this includes Antarctic recoveries) have a petrographic subtype below 3.10! I traded for a bit of this (with a bit extra) for my collection. I have very little, so contact me soon if you want any. These are all thin part slices.
a) .43 grams – 14mm x 6mm x 1mm - $26
b) .74 grams – 19mm x 7mm x 1mm - $44 – has large (5mm) chondrule.
c) 2.08 grams – 28mm x 16mm x 1mm - $120 – nice mix of light and dark zones.
d) 4.72 grams – 35mm x 27mm x 1mm - $250
NORTON COUNTY, Kansas: (Aubrite). Fell February 18, 1948. Tkw = 1175+ Kg.
This is a really interesting piece. It appears to be a piece of thick (4mm) black slaggy crust (plenty of gas bubbles) with a few bright white angular fragments of enstatite sticking out of one side. This black material from Norton County is quite scarce.
.36 gram fragment in membrane box – 11mm x 7mm x 5mm - $25
SAHARA 97072: Enstatite chondrite (EH3). Found 1997. Tkw = 1270 grams.
Actually, the TKW on this stuff is a lot higher as every stone seems to have gotten its own number. Regardless, any fresh enstatite chondrite is really rare (this has the added benefit of being a type 3) and quite hard to come these days. This is really nice complete slice that shows complete brown edge (likely weathered fusion crust along most of it) and a fresh interior with lots of fine-grained metal and chondrules visible.
5.9 gram complete slice – 34mm x 17mm x 2.5mm - $250
TATAHOUINE, Tunisia: (Diogenite). Fell June 27, 1931. Tkw = 13.5+ kg.
This is a super thin slice (shows a bit of light through some areas) in a membrane box.
Slice (10mm x 9mm) in membrane box - $15
DAMASCUS METEORITE KNIFE:
Actually, this might be better used as a letter opener. It is completely hand made by someone experimenting with the damascus process and meteorite metal. This is definitely a bit crude, but folksy artistic none the less. It has an interesting artistic shape overall. The handle is wood with several small hematite beads inset on each side. A lot of work went into this for someone just learning the process (I got two of these, but I will likely hang onto one to use as my regular letter opener).
Small meteorite knife - $95
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
LIST 101
April 5, 2011
Dear Collectors,
I am back from Phoenix and helping my uncle. Blake and I worked very hard to get a few things done around his house (cleaning up, moving 200lb ham radio equipment, installing ceiling fans, I fixed a couple dozen wrist watches). We Got 7 of his 9 cars back in running order as well so he can start selling off the many extras (any body want a Mercedes?).
Anyway, here is another "brought it back from Tucson" offering. There will be more as time allows.
BARRATTA, Australia: (L3.8). Found 1845. Tkw = 202.9kg.
Now this is a nice display specimen. It is a triangular shaped ½ slice and has 2/3 of its edge showing clearly thumb-print textured dark chocolate brown to black crust. The interior is also very fresh, showing lots of chondrules and metal in a mixed brown and light gray matrix. I remember years ago (when this was still classified as an L4), I had the chance to pick up a fairly large amount of slices of this for a really low price (couple bucks a gram perhaps). I stupidly passed on them. To add insult to that idiocy, the stuff was re-classified as an L3 shortly after. Ooops!
74.5 gram ½ slice – 75mm x 45mm x 6mm - $450
CACHARI, Argentina: (Eucrite), monomict breccia. Found 1916. Tkw = 23.5kg.
These are a couple small fragments in a capsule. I have not seen any of this material in a long time. I have only this sample.
.08grams fragments (2pcs) in a capsule - $20
DAR AL GANI (319), Libya: (Ureilite), polymict breccia. Found 1997. Tkw = 740 grams.
This is a small natural fragment in a membrane box. This comes with a Swiss Meteorite Lab label.
.36 gram fragment in membrane box and SML label - 9mm x 6mm x 2mm - $20
GIBEON, Namibia: Fine octahedrite (IVA).
This is a large uncut individual (52.4kg). It apparently was used as an anvil in some village in Namibia at some time as both the top and bottom surfaces are quite flat and show a texture that looks similar to a hand-hammered silver bowl. I have seen a few similar pieces that the flat areas were really considered to be from impacts with other pieces as they came through the atmosphere though, and this may indeed have formed that way as well. This thing looks EXACTLY like an alligator head! I even, as a joke, put a "cats eye" marble in the divot that is located perfectly for an eye socket. So far, everyone that has shown interest in this wants it for cutting into little jewelry pieces. Someone polished a spot on the bottom and tried to etch it. It did show some etch, but as this is a hammered (or impacted) surface it was distorted and indistinct. I really do suspect though that if an area in between (that shows the nice typical thumb-printed surfaces) were polished and etched, the pattern would be fine (and I may very well end up giving that a try soon). This would still mean a loss of useful etch area along two of the edges of slices cut from this thing for jewelry people, but might yield the neat contorted edge etch pieces I have seen command a premium from collectors.
52.4kg brushed individual – 450mm x 230mm x 110mm - $12,500
NWA 801: Carbonaceous chondrite (CR2). Found 2000.
This is one of my favorite meteorites and this is a really nice thin slice of it. This piece is some of the slightly fresher stuff (some of the (801) was really dark hematite red and showed no metal). This is a pleasing yellow-brown and still shows lots of metal surrounding many of the chondrules and as rounded blebs (metal chondrules).
3.1 gram slice in Riker mount – 60mm x 25mm x 1mm - $100
NWA 2737: Martian (Chassignite). Found 2000. Tkw = 611 grams.
This is a small thin slice in a membrane box.
5mm x 4mm slice in membrane box - $50
NWA 3118: Carbonaceous chondrite (CV3). Found 2003. Tkw = 5895grams.
I suspect this is paired with my favorite CV NWA (2086). This has a super chondrule-rich texture and looks very similar to the popular (and expensive) Axtell. These are super thin slices in a membrane box.
a) 17mm x 13mm - $ 15
b) 25mm x 19mm - $20
NWA 5717: ungrouped chondrite (3.05). Found 2006. Tkw = 7.31kg.
One fresh stone of this strange material was found. Research work on this showed that it did not match with any known parent body (similar to H's in some respects and similar to LL's in others, with oxygen isotopes and other features matching neither). This material is further enhanced by being one of the most primitive "ordinary" chondrites available. Only 18 meteorites out of all known ordinary chondrites (some 40,000 now, this includes Antarctic recoveries) have a petrographic subtype below 3.10! I traded for a bit of this (with a bit extra) for my collection. I have very little, so contact me soon if you want any. These are all thin part slices.
a) .43 grams – 14mm x 6mm x 1mm - $26
b) .74 grams – 19mm x 7mm x 1mm - $44 – has large (5mm) chondrule.
c) 2.08 grams – 28mm x 16mm x 1mm - $120 – nice mix of light and dark zones.
d) 4.72 grams – 35mm x 27mm x 1mm - $250
NORTON COUNTY, Kansas: (Aubrite). Fell February 18, 1948. Tkw = 1175+ Kg.
This is a really interesting piece. It appears to be a piece of thick (4mm) black slaggy crust (plenty of gas bubbles) with a few bright white angular fragments of enstatite sticking out of one side. This black material from Norton County is quite scarce.
.36 gram fragment in membrane box – 11mm x 7mm x 5mm - $25
SAHARA 97072: Enstatite chondrite (EH3). Found 1997. Tkw = 1270 grams.
Actually, the TKW on this stuff is a lot higher as every stone seems to have gotten its own number. Regardless, any fresh enstatite chondrite is really rare (this has the added benefit of being a type 3) and quite hard to come these days. This is really nice complete slice that shows complete brown edge (likely weathered fusion crust along most of it) and a fresh interior with lots of fine-grained metal and chondrules visible.
5.9 gram complete slice – 34mm x 17mm x 2.5mm - $250
TATAHOUINE, Tunisia: (Diogenite). Fell June 27, 1931. Tkw = 13.5+ kg.
This is a super thin slice (shows a bit of light through some areas) in a membrane box.
Slice (10mm x 9mm) in membrane box - $15
DAMASCUS METEORITE KNIFE:
Actually, this might be better used as a letter opener. It is completely hand made by someone experimenting with the damascus process and meteorite metal. This is definitely a bit crude, but folksy artistic none the less. It has an interesting artistic shape overall. The handle is wood with several small hematite beads inset on each side. A lot of work went into this for someone just learning the process (I got two of these, but I will likely hang onto one to use as my regular letter opener).
Small meteorite knife - $95
