Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………………………………LIST 87
May 4, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is an e-mail version of my recently mailed paper list (those of you on my mailing list should be receiving this today).
I have been out of touch a lot as I have been a bit pre-occupied with other issues lately. My mother just passed away after a difficult battle with cancer (as if there really is any other kind). Last minutes visiting and now dealing with cleaning up an estate (my second in the last few months now - I lost my Aunt in December and got done with her estate mere days before leaving for the Tucson show) has left little time for the usual stuff lately. This list (that should have gone out a couple weeks ago) may seem a bit "thrown together" because it kind of is. I generally have a lot of things sitting around in various stages of readiness to sell. Unfortunately I found, on closer inspection, that many were not as ready as I had imagined (and I had no time to get them ready either). Anyway, I think that I was able to pull together a fairly nice selection of things (mostly named no less!) to offer none the less. Please be patient if you do not hear back form me right away if you call (please: leave a message if I don't answer. I will set aside things you ask for and call back as soon as I can). I will be needing to make many trips to Denver over the next couple months so there may be some delays in my usual response times from time to time. But I will respond when I get the chance (and ship specimens as soon as possible).
CAMPO DEL CIELO: Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
I generally try to have a selection of the various major types of meteorites on my lists, but could not come up with anything for an iron this time. Linda came up with it for me. She asked if I had ever offered any of my Campo nuggets. I have been offering them for years at shows (where they have proven to be very popular) but I don't recall ever putting them on a list to collectors. These are shiny, angular metal chunks that are created by freezing a large Campo piece in liquid nitrogen and then breaking it apart. It generally breaks apart along the crystal structure making for an unnatural but interesting quasi - 3D view of Widmanstatten (Thomson) structure (I say quasi as this meteorite's structure is coarse enough to not show real clear in these relatively small pieces). These have also been tumbled to remove sharp edges. Not natural, but these make great little carry in your pocket or gift specimens. I also have these as pendants. These have a small loop soldered to them so they can be easily hung on a chain for wearing.
1) Fragments "as formed":
a) 4.1 grams - 12mm x 8mm x 5mm - $4.00
b) 8.3 grams - 22mm x 12mm x 6mm - $8.00
c) 15.1 grams - 25mm x 13mm x 11mm - $15.00
d) 25.2 grams - 26mm x 18mm x 15mm - $23.00
e) 34.7 grams - 25mm x 25mm x 14mm - $30.00
2) Pendants:
a) about 3grams (about 15mm x 10mm x 6mm) - $5.00
b) about 6 grams (about 17mm x 13mm x 10mm) - $10.00
c) 14.7 grams - 20mm x 14mm x 13mm - $20.00
d) 26.9 grams - 28mm x 23mm x 13mm - $30.00
HOWE, Texas: (H5). Found 1938. Tkw = 8.63kg.
A single stone was recovered, as reported by A.D. Nininger in 1940. Most of this (about 7.2kg according to my old Catalogue of Meteorites) ended up in museum and research institute collections. These few pieces (and I do mean few - I have only a little over 100g total of this available) were cut from a specimen in the Monig Collection at TCU. I have been told that there are no intentions to cut any more of this, so get it while you can. This is somewhat weathered material (has some cracks) but is still fresh enough to show lots of fine metal grains in a dark gray/ green matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 4.6 grams - 26mm x 17mm x 4mm - $37.00
b) 10.3 grams - 36mm x 19mm x 5mm - $82.00
c) 18.7 grams - 50mm x 27mm x 5mm - $145.00
d) 23.3 grams - 52mm x 30mm x 5mm - $175.00
JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997. Tkw = about 100 kilograms.
This is one of those super popular "hammer stones" as one piece of this fall fell through a roof and landed in a pot on a stove. I thought all I had were broken fragments of this remaining. I came across a small bag of beautiful individuals while doing inventory in December. Actually, they were individuals that had adhering dirt and such until Mike Martinez did a truly wonderful job of giving them a GENTLE air blasting for me (it is very easy to mess up a good stone by over doing this or using the wrong cleaning material). These are all complete (there are some very minor natural dings and areas of secondary crust on some) stones showing fresh fully textured (this is a big part of the proper cleaning) black fusion crust.
1) Complete individuals:
a) 4.0 grams - 15mm x 14mm x 10mm - $20.00
b) 8.5 grams - 22mm x 17mm x 12mm - $40.00
c) 16.1 grams - 24mm x 20mm x 15mm - $75.00
d) 25.0 grams - 31mm x 23mm x 18mm - $110.00
NWA (2970): (H6). Found before September 2005. Tkw = several hundred kilos ?.
This is some stuff I have had sitting in a couple buckets for many years. Adam Hupe and I both got a good amount of this when we both decided to buy up fairly large quantities of "cheap" Moroccan stuff while it could still be acquired. We noticed that a bunch of the boxes we got looked to be the same material. Cutting open numerous pieces (along with the confirmation from the seller that it did come from one source and likely one strewn field) also showed that it was all likely one fall. Later research showed that it was all an (H6) regolith breccia. Unfortunately, this is fairly weathered stuff (most pieces are relatively solid but fairly cracked, the reason I have not cut any yet, but I do hope to offer some cut pieces of this in the future), but it is very cheap for a studied meteorite. Definitely not real pretty, but quite interesting scientifically.
1) Fragments as found:
a) 21.0 grams - 38mm x 27mm x 16mm - $5.00
b) 48.5 grams - 50mm x 30mm x 17mm - $10.00
c) 111.5 grams - 43mm x 41mm x 29mm - $22.00
d) 205.4 grams - 77mm x 52mm x 26mm - $40.00
e) 476.5 grams - 90mm x 75mm x 40mm - $90.00
f) 857.0 grams - 110mm x 80mm x 80mm - $150.00
g) 1365.6 grams - 120mm x 110mm x 60mm - $225.00
ZAG, Morocco: (H3-6). Fell August 4 or 5, 1998. Tkw = about 175kg.
I got these wonderful pieces from Al Mitterling during the last Denver show. He had been cutting up a couple blocks and brought slices for me to sell on consignment (I ended up buying them). These are very nice. Most (larger specimens in particular) show both the light (H6) and dark (H3) textures to varying degrees. Many of these pieces also have some black fusion crust along parts of their edge as well. This is very special stuff scientifically. It is the second meteorite (after Monahans, Texas which fell in March of 1998) that was found to contain crystals of Halite (salt) that show liquid water was present at some point on the parent body of these meteorites. A highly important meteorite at a really low price.
1) Part slices:
a) 8.4 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 4mm - $21.00
b) 12.9 grams - 31mm x 24mm x 4mm - $32.00
c) 26.3 grams - 41mm x 33mm x 6mm - $65.00
d) 54.8 grams - 64mm x 56mm x 5mm - $130.00
e) 89.1 grams - 92mm x 70mm x 4mm - $200.00
NWA (2824): (Diogenite, Ibitira parent body). Found 2005. Tkw = 485 grams.
This was one that took some work to even show it really was a meteorite. It was a smooth, rounded dark gray/brown lump that even showed a few milky white blobs (that really looked like quartz) on its exterior. I hacked (hard to get a good smooth cut with too small of a saw while holding, by hand, such a round rock) a piece off and sent it off for a look. It did turn out to be a meteorite! It took many years to nail down just what it was though. It is primarily orthopyoroxene (making it a "Diogenite") , but yet the rest of its chemistry (including the large plagioclase crystals - the things that superficially looked like quartz) was all wrong for this being a diogenite. Oxygen isotope work was eventually done on this strange rock. It revealed that its origin was not Vesta but likely from the same parent body as the strange vesiculated Ibitira "eucrite". Further work revealed that this also contains (though rare) vesicles that are lined with vapor phase deposited mineral crystals.
1) Slices:
a) .12 grams - 7mm x 4mm x 1.5mm - $20.00
b) .25 grams - 9mm x 7.5mm x 1mm - $40.00
c) .56 grams - 13mm x 8mm x 1.5mm - $85.00
d) 1.2 grams - 15mm x 15mm x 1.5mm - $180.00
e) 2.4 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 1.5mm - $400.00 - shows light through 2 plagioclase crystals!
f) 4.8 grams - 37mm x 28mm x 1.5mm - $700.00
g) 9.9 grams - 63mm x 42mm x 1.5mm - $1350.00
h) 13.4 grams - 55mm x 52mm x 1.5mm - $1900.00 - complete, several light passing crystals!
Please include postage: a couple dollars on small U.S. orders and $10 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $3 to $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more valuable 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.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
brmeteorites_list] List 86 - even more "after Tucson" stuff
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:20 AM
From:
"brmeteorites"
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 86
March 9, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is my last consigned items from the show list (I think, more might turn up as I dig around a bit more later). I know that this is supposed to go out next week, but I plan on being on the road next week. I may be leaving as early as Tuesday (but more likely Wednesday) so, obviously, I would not have any time to take and ship orders. I don't know exactly how long I will be gone (I hope to schedule a short meteorite hunting trip along the way) but I should be home by the 24th.
CALDWELL, Kansas: (L - impact melt breccia). Found 1961. Tkw = 12.9kg.
I got this from Steve Arnold of "Meteorite Men" fame. He said that Nininger and Monig (I think, it might have been Dupont) tried for years to get this from the finder. They had no luck as was the case with Steve and I (we had tried to buy it a couple times over the years). The family finally decided to let it go a couple years ago (under consignment, I believe). I have a few small slices here. I don't know who cut these, but they are a bit wedged, unfortunately. They are fairly nondescript in appearance; a mottled mix of dark green and brown matrix with no real visible metal. Interesting though in its history and the fact that L-melts are generally quite rare (particularly named ones) and expensive (I have heard that this stuff has been offered typically for $12+/g).
a) 2.1 gram part slice - 28mm x 17mm x 1.5mm - $15
b) 3.0 gram part slice - 30mm x 14mm x 3mm - $21
c) 4.5 gram part slice - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $31
d) 6.7 gram part slice - 34mm x 17mm x 4mm - $45
NOYAN BOGDO, Mongolia: (L6). Fell September 1, 1933. Tkw = 250 grams +.
The total known weight of this is officially reported as only 250grams. I know that this is wrong as I have nearly that much sitting right here. These slices were obviously cut from a fairly large stone. They are quite fresh. The interior is mostly white with some pale brown/ orange spotting. The crust along the edges of these is black and fresh (and the largest piece has a small spot where it is also bubbly, leaving me to wonder if this large stone was not oriented). The large slice showed up with a small amount of shipping damage. A small corner got broken off in transit too me. I put it back with a small spot of glue (that could be easily removed if someone absolutely could not live with a "repaired" specimen) as the specimen is too nice a display piece to risk having these two pieces not remain together.
a) 86.8 gram 1/4 slice - 70mm x 60mm x 6mm - $600 - crust along 2 sides.
b) 147.9 gram 1/2 slice - 120mm x 70mm x 6mm - $1000 - only 1 cut edge (remainder crusted).
NWA (1906): (R4). Found 2003. Tkw = 560 grams.
One stone was recovered and, judging by the shape of these pieces, must have been nearly as round as a marble. This could not have been easy to cut (and this may show in the fact that both of these are slightly wedged, but nicer than some of the results I have gotten when trying to cut nearly round meteorites). This is fairly dark (unlike the other R - chondrites I have had), showing lots of chondrules in a dark brown and gray mottled matrix. Both slices are complete and show crust around the whole edge (aside from a couple minor chipped areas).
a) 22.7 gram complete slice - 55mm x 50mm x 2.5mm - $230
b) 28.5 gram complete slice - 60mm x 58mm x 3mm - $285
MOAPA VALLEY, Nevada: Carbonaceous (CM1). Found 2004. Tkw = 699grams.
A single black stone was found. After cutting it revealed a nearly featureless (to the naked eye) dark black interior, almost resembling a charcoal brickette (both internally and externally). Many (including the finder) wondered if it really was a meteorite at all. However, it does show some really obvious (to me anyway) fusion crust on some pieces (the 4.18g piece below has a nice 15mm x 6mm patch along its edge, for example). I was told that this is the second known (CM1) from outside of Antarctica, but I could find no records of another officially reported (it may be that the supposed other - a small 30g or so NWA stone, has not made it through reporting yet). This is an important opportunity for those of you collecting all the different meteorite types (the owner is not sure if and how much of the remaining material he will cut. He is hoping the bulk of it will go to a museum). I know I got my piece.
a) .012 grams of small fragments (each 1mm to 2mm in size) - $12
b) .093 gram cut fragment - 5mm x 4mm x 2mm - $75
c) .127 gram cut fragment - 6mm x 5mm x 3mm - $100
d) 4.18 gram slice - 28mm x 12mm x 6mm - $3150 (some crust along edge).
From:
"brmeteorites"
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 86
March 9, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is my last consigned items from the show list (I think, more might turn up as I dig around a bit more later). I know that this is supposed to go out next week, but I plan on being on the road next week. I may be leaving as early as Tuesday (but more likely Wednesday) so, obviously, I would not have any time to take and ship orders. I don't know exactly how long I will be gone (I hope to schedule a short meteorite hunting trip along the way) but I should be home by the 24th.
CALDWELL, Kansas: (L - impact melt breccia). Found 1961. Tkw = 12.9kg.
I got this from Steve Arnold of "Meteorite Men" fame. He said that Nininger and Monig (I think, it might have been Dupont) tried for years to get this from the finder. They had no luck as was the case with Steve and I (we had tried to buy it a couple times over the years). The family finally decided to let it go a couple years ago (under consignment, I believe). I have a few small slices here. I don't know who cut these, but they are a bit wedged, unfortunately. They are fairly nondescript in appearance; a mottled mix of dark green and brown matrix with no real visible metal. Interesting though in its history and the fact that L-melts are generally quite rare (particularly named ones) and expensive (I have heard that this stuff has been offered typically for $12+/g).
a) 2.1 gram part slice - 28mm x 17mm x 1.5mm - $15
b) 3.0 gram part slice - 30mm x 14mm x 3mm - $21
c) 4.5 gram part slice - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $31
d) 6.7 gram part slice - 34mm x 17mm x 4mm - $45
NOYAN BOGDO, Mongolia: (L6). Fell September 1, 1933. Tkw = 250 grams +.
The total known weight of this is officially reported as only 250grams. I know that this is wrong as I have nearly that much sitting right here. These slices were obviously cut from a fairly large stone. They are quite fresh. The interior is mostly white with some pale brown/ orange spotting. The crust along the edges of these is black and fresh (and the largest piece has a small spot where it is also bubbly, leaving me to wonder if this large stone was not oriented). The large slice showed up with a small amount of shipping damage. A small corner got broken off in transit too me. I put it back with a small spot of glue (that could be easily removed if someone absolutely could not live with a "repaired" specimen) as the specimen is too nice a display piece to risk having these two pieces not remain together.
a) 86.8 gram 1/4 slice - 70mm x 60mm x 6mm - $600 - crust along 2 sides.
b) 147.9 gram 1/2 slice - 120mm x 70mm x 6mm - $1000 - only 1 cut edge (remainder crusted).
NWA (1906): (R4). Found 2003. Tkw = 560 grams.
One stone was recovered and, judging by the shape of these pieces, must have been nearly as round as a marble. This could not have been easy to cut (and this may show in the fact that both of these are slightly wedged, but nicer than some of the results I have gotten when trying to cut nearly round meteorites). This is fairly dark (unlike the other R - chondrites I have had), showing lots of chondrules in a dark brown and gray mottled matrix. Both slices are complete and show crust around the whole edge (aside from a couple minor chipped areas).
a) 22.7 gram complete slice - 55mm x 50mm x 2.5mm - $230
b) 28.5 gram complete slice - 60mm x 58mm x 3mm - $285
MOAPA VALLEY, Nevada: Carbonaceous (CM1). Found 2004. Tkw = 699grams.
A single black stone was found. After cutting it revealed a nearly featureless (to the naked eye) dark black interior, almost resembling a charcoal brickette (both internally and externally). Many (including the finder) wondered if it really was a meteorite at all. However, it does show some really obvious (to me anyway) fusion crust on some pieces (the 4.18g piece below has a nice 15mm x 6mm patch along its edge, for example). I was told that this is the second known (CM1) from outside of Antarctica, but I could find no records of another officially reported (it may be that the supposed other - a small 30g or so NWA stone, has not made it through reporting yet). This is an important opportunity for those of you collecting all the different meteorite types (the owner is not sure if and how much of the remaining material he will cut. He is hoping the bulk of it will go to a museum). I know I got my piece.
a) .012 grams of small fragments (each 1mm to 2mm in size) - $12
b) .093 gram cut fragment - 5mm x 4mm x 2mm - $75
c) .127 gram cut fragment - 6mm x 5mm x 3mm - $100
d) 4.18 gram slice - 28mm x 12mm x 6mm - $3150 (some crust along edge).
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 85
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 85
March 2, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is another batch of "after Tucson" material. Please let me know fairly soon if you would like to have anything from this offering (or the last one for that matter) as I do need to start returning some of these things to their owners (not a problem to set things aside for a later if you need, so don't hesitate to ask).
CANYON DIABLO, Arizona. Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
Here is a beautiful complete slice that is etched on both sides and shows a really large roughly tear-drop shaped troilite inclusion (about 60mm x 20mm). I don't get many slices of Diablo as few people like to risk more saw blades on cutting it (anybody that has cut much of this stuff eventually ends up trashing an expensive blade or two on the occasional diamond found in this meteorite). This is a particularly nice piece.
518.4 gram complete slice - 190mm x 120mm x 4mm - $500
GLORIETTA MOUNTAIN, New Mexico: (Pallasite). Found 1884. Tkw = about 300kg.
This is a beautiful complete slice from the 135 kilogram main mass that was found May 19th, 2007. It is etched on both sides and shows one of the strongest and best etch patterns available. This is a real museum quality specimen.
1252.3 gram complete slice - 300mm x 185mm x 3mm - $4000
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
Now here is a real museum piece. It is a 110 kilogram (roughly - it is way too heavy for any of my scales, and this is the weight that it was originally sold as and I have no reason to doubt it) complete slice! This is a thick piece so it could be cut into many nice thinner gigantic slices if one has the right equipment (which I definitely do not, unfortunately) . It is currently in Phoenix with its owner (who bought it a few years ago when such huge pieces could be found - no more of these are available from the sources now). It is simply (probably not so "simply" done in reality) polished on both sides at this point, but I have never seen a piece of this stuff that does not etch up beautifully. I will have a couple photos available of this monster soon for those of you interested.
110kg complete slice - 56cm x 35cm x 11cm - $25,000
HOLBROOK, Arizona: (L/LL6). Fell July 19, 1912.
Here is a nice complete individual that was a relatively recent find. Even though it has been on the ground for nearly 100 years now, it still looks quite fresh. The crust (completely covering the specimen) is still black with some mixed dark chocolate brown spots and shows some nice super fine contraction cracks.
2.36 gram complete individual - 17mm x 10mm x 7mm - $80
NUEVO MERCURIO, Mexico: (H5). Fell December 15, 1978.
Here is an assortment of the more typical fragments and chipped edge individuals (though a couple of these are quite complete) from this popular fall. These were picked up a bit after the fall (as the majority were) so they show some very minor brown spotting, but still have predominantly black crust. I do still have the unusually large and nice specimen offered last week if anyone out there has decided that they want something a bit larger than today's offerings.
a) 9.7 gram complete individual - 30mm x 16mm x 10mm - $65 - truly complete but shows lots of secondary crust - interesting!
b) 10.6 gram individual with broken end - 20mm x 15mm x 14mm - $70 - Thick crust except 20mm x 15mm natural break at one end.
c) 18.4 gram individual - 27mm x 20mm x 15mm - $120 - has the usual chipped edges (very Allende like).
d) 21.3 gram individual - 30mm x 22mm x15mm - $140 - Nice thick crust except a roughly 25mm x 6mm chipped edge. A very nice piece.
NWA (2086): (CV3). Found November 2003. Tkw = about 33kilograms.
This is one of my favorite meteorites (and one of my customer's favorites as I have quickly sold out of all the pieces of any meaningful size I had). This material shows one of the best chondrule-rich CV3 structures available at any price. It has loads of chondrules and CAIs in a generally light background. This looks very similar to Axtell, but at 1/10th the price! This is a fantastic thin complete slice.
48.2 gram complete slice - 135mm x 75mm x 2mm - $500
DHOFAR (007), Oman: (Eucrite). Found December 4, 1999. Tkw = 21.2 kilograms.
This is a fantastic display piece of this strange meteorite (I am getting one prepared to keep for my collection). It is a complete slice from a large mass. It shows lots of fragments of varying textures and a good number of fine black shock veins between many of them. This looks generally similar to other eucrites but the chemistry of this thing indicates that it is not from Vesta (as are most eucrites), but possibly from the parent body of mesosiderites.
33.6 gram complete slice - 125mm x 110mm x 1mm - $750
NWA (5000): Lunar feldspathic leucogabbroic breccia. Found July 2007. Tkw = 11,528 grams.
Here is a nice 1/4 slice (2 cut edges others are natural) that has the classic moon rock look (lots of angular white to light tan fragments of all sizes up to about 5mm in a dark gray matrix. This is in a fancy glass topped display box (that looks to be black leather) and comes with a folder full of info about the meteorite in general and this specimen in particular.
1.73 gram part slice - 22mm x 16mm x 2mm - $1700
DALGARANGA, Australia: (Mesosiderite) . Found 1923. Tkw = 10+ kilograms.
I have not seen any of this stuff in a long time. These are "typical" specimens of this meteorite from what I remember. They are generally angular fragments that are orange to dark brown colored. They stick to a magnet very well, but my recollection is that most of this material did not show a lot of metal when cut (the reason, aside from the fact that these are not mine, that I didn't make end pieces out of some of these). Anyway, this is a good chance to add a rare (but affordable) mesosiderite to your collection.
a) 4.3 gram fragment - 20mm x 11mm x 9mm - $17
b) 6.2 gram fragment - 19mm x 15mm x 14mm - $25
c) 9.4 gram fragment - 21mm x 19mm x 12mm - $38
d) 40.5 gram fragment - 40mm x 35mm x 15mm - $150
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 85
March 2, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is another batch of "after Tucson" material. Please let me know fairly soon if you would like to have anything from this offering (or the last one for that matter) as I do need to start returning some of these things to their owners (not a problem to set things aside for a later if you need, so don't hesitate to ask).
CANYON DIABLO, Arizona. Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
Here is a beautiful complete slice that is etched on both sides and shows a really large roughly tear-drop shaped troilite inclusion (about 60mm x 20mm). I don't get many slices of Diablo as few people like to risk more saw blades on cutting it (anybody that has cut much of this stuff eventually ends up trashing an expensive blade or two on the occasional diamond found in this meteorite). This is a particularly nice piece.
518.4 gram complete slice - 190mm x 120mm x 4mm - $500
GLORIETTA MOUNTAIN, New Mexico: (Pallasite). Found 1884. Tkw = about 300kg.
This is a beautiful complete slice from the 135 kilogram main mass that was found May 19th, 2007. It is etched on both sides and shows one of the strongest and best etch patterns available. This is a real museum quality specimen.
1252.3 gram complete slice - 300mm x 185mm x 3mm - $4000
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
Now here is a real museum piece. It is a 110 kilogram (roughly - it is way too heavy for any of my scales, and this is the weight that it was originally sold as and I have no reason to doubt it) complete slice! This is a thick piece so it could be cut into many nice thinner gigantic slices if one has the right equipment (which I definitely do not, unfortunately) . It is currently in Phoenix with its owner (who bought it a few years ago when such huge pieces could be found - no more of these are available from the sources now). It is simply (probably not so "simply" done in reality) polished on both sides at this point, but I have never seen a piece of this stuff that does not etch up beautifully. I will have a couple photos available of this monster soon for those of you interested.
110kg complete slice - 56cm x 35cm x 11cm - $25,000
HOLBROOK, Arizona: (L/LL6). Fell July 19, 1912.
Here is a nice complete individual that was a relatively recent find. Even though it has been on the ground for nearly 100 years now, it still looks quite fresh. The crust (completely covering the specimen) is still black with some mixed dark chocolate brown spots and shows some nice super fine contraction cracks.
2.36 gram complete individual - 17mm x 10mm x 7mm - $80
NUEVO MERCURIO, Mexico: (H5). Fell December 15, 1978.
Here is an assortment of the more typical fragments and chipped edge individuals (though a couple of these are quite complete) from this popular fall. These were picked up a bit after the fall (as the majority were) so they show some very minor brown spotting, but still have predominantly black crust. I do still have the unusually large and nice specimen offered last week if anyone out there has decided that they want something a bit larger than today's offerings.
a) 9.7 gram complete individual - 30mm x 16mm x 10mm - $65 - truly complete but shows lots of secondary crust - interesting!
b) 10.6 gram individual with broken end - 20mm x 15mm x 14mm - $70 - Thick crust except 20mm x 15mm natural break at one end.
c) 18.4 gram individual - 27mm x 20mm x 15mm - $120 - has the usual chipped edges (very Allende like).
d) 21.3 gram individual - 30mm x 22mm x15mm - $140 - Nice thick crust except a roughly 25mm x 6mm chipped edge. A very nice piece.
NWA (2086): (CV3). Found November 2003. Tkw = about 33kilograms.
This is one of my favorite meteorites (and one of my customer's favorites as I have quickly sold out of all the pieces of any meaningful size I had). This material shows one of the best chondrule-rich CV3 structures available at any price. It has loads of chondrules and CAIs in a generally light background. This looks very similar to Axtell, but at 1/10th the price! This is a fantastic thin complete slice.
48.2 gram complete slice - 135mm x 75mm x 2mm - $500
DHOFAR (007), Oman: (Eucrite). Found December 4, 1999. Tkw = 21.2 kilograms.
This is a fantastic display piece of this strange meteorite (I am getting one prepared to keep for my collection). It is a complete slice from a large mass. It shows lots of fragments of varying textures and a good number of fine black shock veins between many of them. This looks generally similar to other eucrites but the chemistry of this thing indicates that it is not from Vesta (as are most eucrites), but possibly from the parent body of mesosiderites.
33.6 gram complete slice - 125mm x 110mm x 1mm - $750
NWA (5000): Lunar feldspathic leucogabbroic breccia. Found July 2007. Tkw = 11,528 grams.
Here is a nice 1/4 slice (2 cut edges others are natural) that has the classic moon rock look (lots of angular white to light tan fragments of all sizes up to about 5mm in a dark gray matrix. This is in a fancy glass topped display box (that looks to be black leather) and comes with a folder full of info about the meteorite in general and this specimen in particular.
1.73 gram part slice - 22mm x 16mm x 2mm - $1700
DALGARANGA, Australia: (Mesosiderite) . Found 1923. Tkw = 10+ kilograms.
I have not seen any of this stuff in a long time. These are "typical" specimens of this meteorite from what I remember. They are generally angular fragments that are orange to dark brown colored. They stick to a magnet very well, but my recollection is that most of this material did not show a lot of metal when cut (the reason, aside from the fact that these are not mine, that I didn't make end pieces out of some of these). Anyway, this is a good chance to add a rare (but affordable) mesosiderite to your collection.
a) 4.3 gram fragment - 20mm x 11mm x 9mm - $17
b) 6.2 gram fragment - 19mm x 15mm x 14mm - $25
c) 9.4 gram fragment - 21mm x 19mm x 12mm - $38
d) 40.5 gram fragment - 40mm x 35mm x 15mm - $150
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Blaine Reed Meteorites List #84
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 84
February 23, 2010
Dear Collectors,
I am back from the show and attempting to get caught up (being gone for nearly three weeks leaves a LOT of work to be caught up on). Having huge amounts (for Delta anyway) of wet heavy snow that has required many, many hours out shoveling (the down side of having acreage and a 500 foot long driveway has become exhaustingly clear lately) has not helped any either.
Anyway, the show went quite well. Visitor traffic was quite slow (similar to last year, maybe a bit higher), but then those that came were serious about spending money. I made the rent and then some (better than I expected anyway). None the less, I managed to come home material rich and cash poor from doing my own bit of stimulating the show economy (as if $3350 JUST for the room wasn't stimulating enough for the Tucson economy) - a pretty typical situation with shows for me. The items below (and for the next few lists) are a combination of things I picked up at the show and consignments that were left with me that I would prefer to find a home for rather than simply send back to their owners.
FRANCONIA, Arizona: (H5). Found October 31, 2002. Tkw = about 100kg.
This is a nice little individual that has a small window polished into it to show the chondrules and fresh metal inside.
25.8 gram individual - 26mm x 24mm x 18mm - $40
NWA (5717): Anomalous chondrite (type 3.05). Found 2006. Tkw = 7.31kg.
A single fresh crusted stone was found of this strange meteorite. This almost made the hallowed 3.00 mark and is the lowest petrographic numbered meteorite I recall ever offering. It shows lots of chondrules of all sizes, from very tiny and hard to see (there is almost no real matrix in this thing - just ever smaller chondrules) up to 4 or 5mm in size. Though it has a look similar to many H3 meteorites (aside from the low amount of metal but high amount of sulfides often found surrounding the chondrules as armor rims), its oxygen isotopes show that it is really from a different and new parent body.
a) 2.782 gram part slice - 34mm x 8mm x 3mm - $280 - small 1/2 slice.
b) 6.078 gram part slice - 26mm x 22mm x 3mm - $600
c) 8.204 gram part slice - 39mm x 20mm x 3mm - $820 - 20mm edge crusted.
d) 16.37 gram part slice - 57mm x 33mm x 2mm - $1600 - 40mm of edge crusted.
NWA (unstudied stones). These are a couple nice stones that were left with me at the show. I sold pretty much all I put out for sale at the show from this batch, but forgot that these two were still lurking in the drawer.
a) 64.8 gram 1/2 individual - 45mm x 32mm x 29mm - $65.
Even though it does not show distinct flow lines, I have no problem calling this one oriented. It has an almost perfect 1/2 of a charcoal brickette shape. It has really thick crust (over about 60% or so of the specimen) that is a mix of black and dark brown in color, shows contraction cracks and lots of bubbling (particularly strong on one side - likely the back side of the mass as it fell).
b) 171.1 gram complete individual - 48mm x 39mm x 38mm - $150.
This is completely covered with dark brown crust that is lightly shiny (wind-polished a bit). This piece is interesting in that it shows many levels of crust development; from smooth primary to rough tertiary, and everything in between.
NUEVO MERCURIO, Mexico: (H5). Fell December 15, 1978.
This is a nice complete (except for a small roughly 7mm x 15mm end break that likely happened when it hit the ground) individual. It has thick, highly textured crust that is mostly black with some dark brown patches. This piece is particularly nice for its unusual size (most Nuevos were quite small) and completeness (most Neuvos were quite chipped up).
59.7 gram individual - 45mm x 33mm x 25mm - $450
MILLBILLILLIE, Australia: (Eucrite). Fell October 1960. Tkw = 330kg.
This is a complete individual and rare as such. After the Calcalong Creek moon rock was found in a batch of Millbillillies, every one that did not already have a natural broken area large enough to reveal a white eucrite interior (instead of the dark gray lunar interior) had an opening ground into it. This never suffered either fate. It is completely covered with crust. Much of it does have the usual orange coloration from the soil it fell in, but there is a good amount (30% or more) that is still fresh shiny black. This stone more than makes up for any loss there by having lots of heavy flow lines and ridges completely surrounding it
59.6 gram complete individual - 50mm x 35mm x 28mm - $750.
NWA (1929): (Howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = 15+kg.
This is a beautiful super thin slice that shows lots of breccia inclusions of different textures and colors (including one orange/brown one about 12mm x 15mm or so that appears to be a large hypersthene (diogenite) crystal). This (like Seymchan below) may look "expensive" on a price per gram level, but is a fantastic deal on a price per surface area calculation. A great display piece!
24.3 gram complete slice - 135mm x 87mm x 1mm - $480
HUCKITTA, Australia: (Pallasite). Found 1937.
Here are a couple nice, solid, large slices of the oxidized material from this find (pretty much all that is available from this meteorite). These show lots of angular dark yellow-brown olivine crystals in a blue-gray hematite/magnetite matrix. These are polished on both sides and are guaranteed not to rust (try and find another pallasite at this price range you can say that about!). Neat display pieces!
a) 84.8 gram complete slice - 90mm x 76mm x 4mm - $200
b) 215.0 gram complete slice - 155mm x 90mm x 5mm - $475
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
Here is a fantastic super thin slice of the all metal portion of this meteorite. This is basically rectangular (cut on all edges) but shows a wonderful etch on both sides. Knowing a bit about the losses and costs of preparing things like this, I find it difficult to call this anything but a real bargain. Even if the "cost per gram" seems a bit high, the cost per surface area is incredibly cheap..
25.6 gram etched slice - 82mm x 53mm x 1mm - $70
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 84
February 23, 2010
Dear Collectors,
I am back from the show and attempting to get caught up (being gone for nearly three weeks leaves a LOT of work to be caught up on). Having huge amounts (for Delta anyway) of wet heavy snow that has required many, many hours out shoveling (the down side of having acreage and a 500 foot long driveway has become exhaustingly clear lately) has not helped any either.
Anyway, the show went quite well. Visitor traffic was quite slow (similar to last year, maybe a bit higher), but then those that came were serious about spending money. I made the rent and then some (better than I expected anyway). None the less, I managed to come home material rich and cash poor from doing my own bit of stimulating the show economy (as if $3350 JUST for the room wasn't stimulating enough for the Tucson economy) - a pretty typical situation with shows for me. The items below (and for the next few lists) are a combination of things I picked up at the show and consignments that were left with me that I would prefer to find a home for rather than simply send back to their owners.
FRANCONIA, Arizona: (H5). Found October 31, 2002. Tkw = about 100kg.
This is a nice little individual that has a small window polished into it to show the chondrules and fresh metal inside.
25.8 gram individual - 26mm x 24mm x 18mm - $40
NWA (5717): Anomalous chondrite (type 3.05). Found 2006. Tkw = 7.31kg.
A single fresh crusted stone was found of this strange meteorite. This almost made the hallowed 3.00 mark and is the lowest petrographic numbered meteorite I recall ever offering. It shows lots of chondrules of all sizes, from very tiny and hard to see (there is almost no real matrix in this thing - just ever smaller chondrules) up to 4 or 5mm in size. Though it has a look similar to many H3 meteorites (aside from the low amount of metal but high amount of sulfides often found surrounding the chondrules as armor rims), its oxygen isotopes show that it is really from a different and new parent body.
a) 2.782 gram part slice - 34mm x 8mm x 3mm - $280 - small 1/2 slice.
b) 6.078 gram part slice - 26mm x 22mm x 3mm - $600
c) 8.204 gram part slice - 39mm x 20mm x 3mm - $820 - 20mm edge crusted.
d) 16.37 gram part slice - 57mm x 33mm x 2mm - $1600 - 40mm of edge crusted.
NWA (unstudied stones). These are a couple nice stones that were left with me at the show. I sold pretty much all I put out for sale at the show from this batch, but forgot that these two were still lurking in the drawer.
a) 64.8 gram 1/2 individual - 45mm x 32mm x 29mm - $65.
Even though it does not show distinct flow lines, I have no problem calling this one oriented. It has an almost perfect 1/2 of a charcoal brickette shape. It has really thick crust (over about 60% or so of the specimen) that is a mix of black and dark brown in color, shows contraction cracks and lots of bubbling (particularly strong on one side - likely the back side of the mass as it fell).
b) 171.1 gram complete individual - 48mm x 39mm x 38mm - $150.
This is completely covered with dark brown crust that is lightly shiny (wind-polished a bit). This piece is interesting in that it shows many levels of crust development; from smooth primary to rough tertiary, and everything in between.
NUEVO MERCURIO, Mexico: (H5). Fell December 15, 1978.
This is a nice complete (except for a small roughly 7mm x 15mm end break that likely happened when it hit the ground) individual. It has thick, highly textured crust that is mostly black with some dark brown patches. This piece is particularly nice for its unusual size (most Nuevos were quite small) and completeness (most Neuvos were quite chipped up).
59.7 gram individual - 45mm x 33mm x 25mm - $450
MILLBILLILLIE, Australia: (Eucrite). Fell October 1960. Tkw = 330kg.
This is a complete individual and rare as such. After the Calcalong Creek moon rock was found in a batch of Millbillillies, every one that did not already have a natural broken area large enough to reveal a white eucrite interior (instead of the dark gray lunar interior) had an opening ground into it. This never suffered either fate. It is completely covered with crust. Much of it does have the usual orange coloration from the soil it fell in, but there is a good amount (30% or more) that is still fresh shiny black. This stone more than makes up for any loss there by having lots of heavy flow lines and ridges completely surrounding it
59.6 gram complete individual - 50mm x 35mm x 28mm - $750.
NWA (1929): (Howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = 15+kg.
This is a beautiful super thin slice that shows lots of breccia inclusions of different textures and colors (including one orange/brown one about 12mm x 15mm or so that appears to be a large hypersthene (diogenite) crystal). This (like Seymchan below) may look "expensive" on a price per gram level, but is a fantastic deal on a price per surface area calculation. A great display piece!
24.3 gram complete slice - 135mm x 87mm x 1mm - $480
HUCKITTA, Australia: (Pallasite). Found 1937.
Here are a couple nice, solid, large slices of the oxidized material from this find (pretty much all that is available from this meteorite). These show lots of angular dark yellow-brown olivine crystals in a blue-gray hematite/magnetite matrix. These are polished on both sides and are guaranteed not to rust (try and find another pallasite at this price range you can say that about!). Neat display pieces!
a) 84.8 gram complete slice - 90mm x 76mm x 4mm - $200
b) 215.0 gram complete slice - 155mm x 90mm x 5mm - $475
SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1967.
Here is a fantastic super thin slice of the all metal portion of this meteorite. This is basically rectangular (cut on all edges) but shows a wonderful etch on both sides. Knowing a bit about the losses and costs of preparing things like this, I find it difficult to call this anything but a real bargain. Even if the "cost per gram" seems a bit high, the cost per surface area is incredibly cheap..
25.6 gram etched slice - 82mm x 53mm x 1mm - $70
Monday, 11 January 2010
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 83 12JAN2010
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 83
January 12, 2010
Dear Collectors,
This is a copy of my just sent out mailed list. I know that this was supposed to go out last Tuesday, but I was in Denver once again. This will likely be my last posting until after the Tucson show (and my last chance to give out the info for those of you that might be coming). Contact me if you have any questions on thee items or the show. Happy New Year!
Show info: I will be gone from home from about January 27th until about February 18th (a couple days longer than usual, as a recently developed family issue will have me needing to haul and deliver a bunch of stuff from my recently departed Aunt's estate in Denver to my uncle in Phoenix). I will be at my usual show location : Ramada Limited, room 134. This is at St Marys and the interstate (next to Denny's) - just 1/4 mile or so strait West of the Inn Suites (where many of the other meteorite dealers are).My room is about mid-way down the length of the motel (right next to the walk through actually) on the west side of the building (right by the parking lot - and there is often parking available right in front of my room) I should be open the afternoon of January 30th through the afternoon of February 13th (but there is always the chance I may leave a couple days early if things get really slow, though I have not done this the past few years, but notify me if you plan to see me those last couple days so I will be extra sure to stick around). I will be open every day in between - generally from 10AM until - ?. Usually this means at least 7pm if I am going out to eat (delivery pizza and Burger King get quite old after awhile) and often until 10pm or so other nights).
DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942, recognized 1950. Tkw= about 200 kilograms.
I am running low on this interesting meteorite. I used to have some individuals of this, but am now out (as is my source). I was able to acquire these slices recently though. The interior is not all that exciting to look at (a moderate amount of metal and chondrules in a dark brown matrix) but this is scientifically a very interesting meteorite. It is a regolith breccia from the surface of the H parent body that contains fragments of many different kinds of meteorites (carbonaceous, LL, and more) as well as microscopic diamonds. At around $2/g this is a real bargain for such a special (and named) meteorite!
1) Slices:
a) 3.9 grams - 30mm x 16mm x 4mm - $8.00
b) 9.5 grams - 30mm x 25mm x 4mm - $18.00
c) 20.8 grams - 54mm x 32mm x 4mm - $39.00
d) 34.0 grams - 55mm x 50mm x 4mm - $63.00
NWA (5425): (H4). Found May 2006. Tkw=995 grams.
Here is yet another H that looked very much like an acapulcoite (shows nice porosity). The last "common" chondrite I offered on a list (the most recent actually) sold out in short order. These common NWAs seem to be quite popular if priced affordably. I may have to look into getting more studied and recorded if this continues to be the case. This one shows a good number of chondrules and faint metal grains in a mixed brown and gray matrix.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 18.8 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 7mm - $16.00
b) 36.8 grams - 62mm x 40mm x 7mm - $30.00
c) 48.0 grams - 75mm x 45mm x 10mm - $38.00
d) 64.2 grams - 65mm x 47mm x 10mm - $50.00
e) 229.8 grams - 125mm x 70mm x 11mm - $170.00 - Main Mass!
NWA (4540): Carbonaceous chondrite (CO3.5). Found 2006. Tkw = about 1.3 kilograms.
I had not realized how long it has been since I offered a CO3 meteorite. It was a bit over 9 years ago since I had one on a mailed list (my October 2000 list, I believe). This material shows lots of the typical tiny chondrules and some tiny grains of metal in a medium to dark brown matrix. Overall, this is really representative of a "typical" CO3 meteorite. These are all thin cut fragments, but I do have a few (generally small) slices available as well.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 1.9 grams - 17mm x 13mm x 5mm - $21.00
b) 4.4 grams - 22mm x 10mm x 7mm - $48.00
c) 6.8 grams - 25mm x 14mm x 5mm - $73.00
d) 13.2 grams - 30mm x 20mm x 10mm - $138.00
e) 23.9 grams - 35mm x 25mm x 9mm - $240.00
f) 55.2 grams - 58mm x 45mm x 11mm - $550.00
DHOFAR (1286), Oman: (polymict Eucrite). Found December 2005. Tkw = 898 grams.
Two pieces were found about 30 meters apart. They fit together to form an almost complete stone. This material looks very much like a howardite with clasts and zones of varying shades from white to gray. This is a breccia of basalts of varying compositions, but it lacks hypoersthene (at least in high enough quantity) so it is a "polymict" eucrite instead of a howardite. I don't have much of this material, so let me know as soon as possible if you want me to set aside a piece for you.
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $29.00
b) 5.2 grams - 30mm x 26mm x 3mm - $62.00
c) 8.4 grams - 37mm x 21mm x 3mm - $99.00
d) 28.1 grams - 75mm x 58mm x 3mm - $300.00
2) Cut fragment:
a) 44.0 grams - 60mm x 36mm x 12mm - $450.00
TOUFASSOUR, Morocco: (Mesosiderite). Found November 16, 2007. Tkw = 73.3 kilograms.
Numerous small pieces of this meteorite were found and sold since 2003 (unidentified, unfortunately). In November 2007 a small impact pit was discovered. Moroccan researchers recovered a 70kg piece and more small fragments during their investigation of this impact feature (and hence, the bulk of this named mesosiderite, a true rarity in the collecting world these days, is beyond the reach of collectors). The specimens I have here are some more of the small bits that were found by a meteorite hunter that came in after the research work was done. They are very fresh internally and show LOTS of metal.
1) Cut fragments:
a) .8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 3mm - $10.00
b) 1.2 grams - 18mm x 9mm x 4mm - $15.00
c) 2.4 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 4mm - $29.00
d) 3.5 grams - 24mm x 14mm x 4mm - $42.00
e) 4.4 grams - 23mm x 17mm x 4mm - $52.00
NWA (4734): Lunar basalt. Found 2001. Tkw = 1372 grams.
A number of crusted fragments of this Moon rock have been found over the past couple years, but little has been available to collectors until quite recently. It has been listed as a "Monzo-gabbro" (an intrusive rock) but it is really a surface cooled basalt. This stuff has a crystal texture that shows that it is a surface cooled (extruded volcanic rock) and not a slower cooled sub-surface (intrusive) rock. Its overall chemistry also shows that this cannot be properly called a gabbro either. The appearance of this material is surprisingly similar to Zagami - a Mars surface cooled basalt rock. About the only differences are that this has a bit more tan coloration to it and generally shows more fine black shock lines on the cut faces.
1) Slices:
a) .04 grams - 4mm x 2.5mm x 1.5mm - $34.00
b) .10 grams - 9mm x 3mm x 2mm - $85.00
c) .21 grams - 10mm x 5mm x 2mm - $179.00
d) .32 grams - 10mm x 7mm x 2mm - $270.00
e) .63 grams - 18mm x 7mm x 2mm - $532.00
f) 1.32 grams - 20mm x 14mm x 2mm - $1100.00 - about 12mm along edge crusted.
g) 2.73 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $2225.00 - about 30% of edge crusted.
h) 5.86 grams - 37mm x 30mm x 2mm - $4700.00 - about 40% of edge crusted.
TRINITITE: Nuclear blast formed glass. Near Socorro New Mexico. July 16, 1945.
I know, this is not meteorite related (though current theory of formation for these little blobs of glass says the sand was sucked up into the expanding blast fire-ball of the world's first nuclear explosion and then FELL to the ground as molten blobs), but I have had a number of people ask for this stuff lately. I have had this sitting around for awhile (so those that asked, got), and decided to finally offer it on a list. These are generally complete rounded blobs of green glass that have light gray sand stuck to the bottom (as they re-hit the ground still partially molten). Interesting little specimens and getting quite hard to come by.
1) Individual blobs as found:
a) .9 grams 14mm x 10mm x 5mm $5.00
b) 1.8 grams 20mm x 18mm x 6mm $10.00
c) 2.9 grams 23mm x 20mm x 7mm $15.00
Please include postage: a couple dollars on small U.S. orders and $10 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $3 to $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more valuable 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 83
January 12, 2010
Dear Collectors,
This is a copy of my just sent out mailed list. I know that this was supposed to go out last Tuesday, but I was in Denver once again. This will likely be my last posting until after the Tucson show (and my last chance to give out the info for those of you that might be coming). Contact me if you have any questions on thee items or the show. Happy New Year!
Show info: I will be gone from home from about January 27th until about February 18th (a couple days longer than usual, as a recently developed family issue will have me needing to haul and deliver a bunch of stuff from my recently departed Aunt's estate in Denver to my uncle in Phoenix). I will be at my usual show location : Ramada Limited, room 134. This is at St Marys and the interstate (next to Denny's) - just 1/4 mile or so strait West of the Inn Suites (where many of the other meteorite dealers are).My room is about mid-way down the length of the motel (right next to the walk through actually) on the west side of the building (right by the parking lot - and there is often parking available right in front of my room) I should be open the afternoon of January 30th through the afternoon of February 13th (but there is always the chance I may leave a couple days early if things get really slow, though I have not done this the past few years, but notify me if you plan to see me those last couple days so I will be extra sure to stick around). I will be open every day in between - generally from 10AM until - ?. Usually this means at least 7pm if I am going out to eat (delivery pizza and Burger King get quite old after awhile) and often until 10pm or so other nights).
DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942, recognized 1950. Tkw= about 200 kilograms.
I am running low on this interesting meteorite. I used to have some individuals of this, but am now out (as is my source). I was able to acquire these slices recently though. The interior is not all that exciting to look at (a moderate amount of metal and chondrules in a dark brown matrix) but this is scientifically a very interesting meteorite. It is a regolith breccia from the surface of the H parent body that contains fragments of many different kinds of meteorites (carbonaceous, LL, and more) as well as microscopic diamonds. At around $2/g this is a real bargain for such a special (and named) meteorite!
1) Slices:
a) 3.9 grams - 30mm x 16mm x 4mm - $8.00
b) 9.5 grams - 30mm x 25mm x 4mm - $18.00
c) 20.8 grams - 54mm x 32mm x 4mm - $39.00
d) 34.0 grams - 55mm x 50mm x 4mm - $63.00
NWA (5425): (H4). Found May 2006. Tkw=995 grams.
Here is yet another H that looked very much like an acapulcoite (shows nice porosity). The last "common" chondrite I offered on a list (the most recent actually) sold out in short order. These common NWAs seem to be quite popular if priced affordably. I may have to look into getting more studied and recorded if this continues to be the case. This one shows a good number of chondrules and faint metal grains in a mixed brown and gray matrix.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 18.8 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 7mm - $16.00
b) 36.8 grams - 62mm x 40mm x 7mm - $30.00
c) 48.0 grams - 75mm x 45mm x 10mm - $38.00
d) 64.2 grams - 65mm x 47mm x 10mm - $50.00
e) 229.8 grams - 125mm x 70mm x 11mm - $170.00 - Main Mass!
NWA (4540): Carbonaceous chondrite (CO3.5). Found 2006. Tkw = about 1.3 kilograms.
I had not realized how long it has been since I offered a CO3 meteorite. It was a bit over 9 years ago since I had one on a mailed list (my October 2000 list, I believe). This material shows lots of the typical tiny chondrules and some tiny grains of metal in a medium to dark brown matrix. Overall, this is really representative of a "typical" CO3 meteorite. These are all thin cut fragments, but I do have a few (generally small) slices available as well.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 1.9 grams - 17mm x 13mm x 5mm - $21.00
b) 4.4 grams - 22mm x 10mm x 7mm - $48.00
c) 6.8 grams - 25mm x 14mm x 5mm - $73.00
d) 13.2 grams - 30mm x 20mm x 10mm - $138.00
e) 23.9 grams - 35mm x 25mm x 9mm - $240.00
f) 55.2 grams - 58mm x 45mm x 11mm - $550.00
DHOFAR (1286), Oman: (polymict Eucrite). Found December 2005. Tkw = 898 grams.
Two pieces were found about 30 meters apart. They fit together to form an almost complete stone. This material looks very much like a howardite with clasts and zones of varying shades from white to gray. This is a breccia of basalts of varying compositions, but it lacks hypoersthene (at least in high enough quantity) so it is a "polymict" eucrite instead of a howardite. I don't have much of this material, so let me know as soon as possible if you want me to set aside a piece for you.
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $29.00
b) 5.2 grams - 30mm x 26mm x 3mm - $62.00
c) 8.4 grams - 37mm x 21mm x 3mm - $99.00
d) 28.1 grams - 75mm x 58mm x 3mm - $300.00
2) Cut fragment:
a) 44.0 grams - 60mm x 36mm x 12mm - $450.00
TOUFASSOUR, Morocco: (Mesosiderite). Found November 16, 2007. Tkw = 73.3 kilograms.
Numerous small pieces of this meteorite were found and sold since 2003 (unidentified, unfortunately). In November 2007 a small impact pit was discovered. Moroccan researchers recovered a 70kg piece and more small fragments during their investigation of this impact feature (and hence, the bulk of this named mesosiderite, a true rarity in the collecting world these days, is beyond the reach of collectors). The specimens I have here are some more of the small bits that were found by a meteorite hunter that came in after the research work was done. They are very fresh internally and show LOTS of metal.
1) Cut fragments:
a) .8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 3mm - $10.00
b) 1.2 grams - 18mm x 9mm x 4mm - $15.00
c) 2.4 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 4mm - $29.00
d) 3.5 grams - 24mm x 14mm x 4mm - $42.00
e) 4.4 grams - 23mm x 17mm x 4mm - $52.00
NWA (4734): Lunar basalt. Found 2001. Tkw = 1372 grams.
A number of crusted fragments of this Moon rock have been found over the past couple years, but little has been available to collectors until quite recently. It has been listed as a "Monzo-gabbro" (an intrusive rock) but it is really a surface cooled basalt. This stuff has a crystal texture that shows that it is a surface cooled (extruded volcanic rock) and not a slower cooled sub-surface (intrusive) rock. Its overall chemistry also shows that this cannot be properly called a gabbro either. The appearance of this material is surprisingly similar to Zagami - a Mars surface cooled basalt rock. About the only differences are that this has a bit more tan coloration to it and generally shows more fine black shock lines on the cut faces.
1) Slices:
a) .04 grams - 4mm x 2.5mm x 1.5mm - $34.00
b) .10 grams - 9mm x 3mm x 2mm - $85.00
c) .21 grams - 10mm x 5mm x 2mm - $179.00
d) .32 grams - 10mm x 7mm x 2mm - $270.00
e) .63 grams - 18mm x 7mm x 2mm - $532.00
f) 1.32 grams - 20mm x 14mm x 2mm - $1100.00 - about 12mm along edge crusted.
g) 2.73 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $2225.00 - about 30% of edge crusted.
h) 5.86 grams - 37mm x 30mm x 2mm - $4700.00 - about 40% of edge crusted.
TRINITITE: Nuclear blast formed glass. Near Socorro New Mexico. July 16, 1945.
I know, this is not meteorite related (though current theory of formation for these little blobs of glass says the sand was sucked up into the expanding blast fire-ball of the world's first nuclear explosion and then FELL to the ground as molten blobs), but I have had a number of people ask for this stuff lately. I have had this sitting around for awhile (so those that asked, got), and decided to finally offer it on a list. These are generally complete rounded blobs of green glass that have light gray sand stuck to the bottom (as they re-hit the ground still partially molten). Interesting little specimens and getting quite hard to come by.
1) Individual blobs as found:
a) .9 grams 14mm x 10mm x 5mm $5.00
b) 1.8 grams 20mm x 18mm x 6mm $10.00
c) 2.9 grams 23mm x 20mm x 7mm $15.00
Please include postage: a couple dollars on small U.S. orders and $10 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $3 to $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more valuable 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..
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Blaine Reed Meteorites- List 82 - end 2009 offering
List 82 - end 2009 offering
Blaine ReedP.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 82
December 14, 2009
Dear Collectors,
This will likely be my last offering of 2009. I have done a bit of my inventory work over the past couple weeks. So far it has resulted in the "only one or 2 pieces left" offering below. Unfortunately, I have not had time (and likely will not have time until VERY late in the month) to complete this work due to a family issue. My aunt passed away December 1st and left my brothers and I executors of the estate. We have accomplished much in cleaning up and preparing for the many "estate sales" we will have to host but this has already put me on two trips over the mountains (at the worst possible times so far - horrible icy roads, blowing snow and such) to Denver twice already and many more trips are yet to come (including maybe even leaving again in a few days). Any way, things are a bit overwhelming right now but I will try to keep tabs while on the road (retrieving phone messages from Linda and checking e-mail on my aunt's computer while we still have service at her house), but I will apologize in advance for any delays that (likely) will happen during this time.
These items are all "only ones remaining" so I have priced them to move and no substitutions are available, so contact me as soon as possible if you would like any of these.
I hope everyone has a great Christmas, Hanukah, holiday season and a great new year!
ZARAGOZA, Spain: Fine octahedrite (IVA), anomalous. Found 1950's. Tkw = 162kg.
This is my last bit of this odd material (though I do have a 27g slice that was sent off to a charity auction for Cascadia Meteorite Lab that I have not heard back yet as to whether or not it sold - so it may be available a bit later). This has a strange medium gray color with a weak, re-crystallized etch structure (due to being heated at some point in its past - likely while in space by impact or an orbit pass very close to the sun).
4.9 gram slice - 15mm x 10mm x 5mm - $20
DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942.
This is an end piece (my only one) that I got from the Monig collection some years ago. The back side is all natural but it is roughly half natural break and half crusted and thumb-printed. This sits nice to display well naturally. This is probably the cheapest named H3 available (and even cheap for NWA type 3's).
244.5 gram end piece - 60mm x 43mm x 35mm - $230
ETTER, Texas: (L5). Found 1965. Tkw = about 340kg.
I thought I was completely sold out of this, but found this fantastic slice hiding in with some other slices (Northbranch I think). Any way, this piece has all the features that make Etter so popular. It has the nice dark jade-green color, lots of metal and troilite and a couple nice metal veins (one particularly clear for this meteorite). This was cut from a 180 pound piece that I bought (with a bank loan) back in 1993. Robert Haag bought and owned a 115 pound end piece for years. He sold this too Matt Morgan and I a few years ago and we cut this into some great large slices. This is my last piece and a great display specimen.
322.3 gram complete slice - 170mm x 110mm x 6mm - $480
NWA (543): (LL4). Found January 2000. Tkw = 105 grams.
This is a nice quite fresh complete slice. It is light gray (with some hints of browning in a couple areas) and shows lots of chondrules of various shades of generally darker gray. This looks very much like a piece of the Tuxtuac fall rather than an NWA find.
24.6 gram compete slice - 43mm x 38mm x 6mm - $99
NWA (736): (H3.7). Found January 2000. Tkw = 2766grams.
This is quite nice and fresh. It shows lots of small chondrules and metal in a light gray and tan matrix. These are the last two pieces of this.
a) 2.3 gram end piece - 19mm x 14mm x 3mm - $7
b) 3.4 gram end piece - 19mm x 19mm x 4mm - $10
NWA (1930): (LL3). Found 2003. Tkw = 7.5kg.
This is my last specimen of this and priced at less than half of my usual price. It is a nice end piece that displays nicely naturally. It has lots of chondrules in a mottled light gray in spots and brown in others matrix.
29.5 gram end piece - 32mm x 25mm x 21mm - $120
OUM DREYGA, Western Sahara: (H3-5). Fell October 16, 2003.
This is what originally was being offered years ago as "Amgala". These are my last two pieces of this. They are both complete individuals with fresh black crust covering most of their exteriors with the remainder being a very thin secondary crust covering a late atmospheric break (each look like they roughly broke in half late in their fall). Nice pieces!
a) 30.7 gram individual - 43mm x 26mm x 14mm - $105
b) 73.3 gram individual - 50mm x 31mm x 20mm - $250
RENFROW, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1986, recognized 1995. Tkw = 81.7kg.
Here is a nice little piece that would be perfect for making tin-sections. This has a uniform dark gray (nearly black) color with a good amount of metal and sulfides scattered through out. My last piece (though I do have a nice 689 gram complete slice on consignment right now for $990).
7.4 gram slice - 22mm x 15mm x 6mm - $12
NWA (2932): (Mesosiderite) . Found 2005. Tkw = 15+kg.
This is probably the nicest msosiderite I have ever had. I do have a few of the metal nodule end pieces from this meteorite, but this is my last nice true mesosiderite looking specimen (though I am trying to locate more of this stuff). This piece has lots of metal, including a few metal nodules. A great specimen!
36.5 gram end piece - 39mm x 31mm x 15mm - $165
PUTORANA, Russia. (Mesosiderwrong) terrestrial nickel iron in basalt.
This is fantastically interesting stuff. It looks like a meteorite, has nickel (in the form of Kamacite - the low nickel allow in meteorites), Troilite and more. I had oxygen isotope work done by NASA that said "not of this Earth". Unfortunately, they saw native copper (and re-did oxygen work that resulted in it still being very strange but possibly within earth rock ranges after all) and decide that it MUST be terrestrial (then why is the obvious copper grains in Franconia not a problem?). Any way, this has been extremely popular over the years (and is even rarer than a mesosiderite as a terrestrial "iron in basalt") and I now have only these 3 small pieces remaining out of the nearly 30kg I purchased years ago (when I got that first "not of this earth" notification on the original oxygen work).
a) 3.6 gram slice - 15mm x 14mm x 5mm - $5
b) 12.6 gram slice - 25mm x 20mm x 6mm - $16
c) 13.2 gram slice - 27mm x 20mm x 6mm - $16.50
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Blaine Reed Meteorites … LIST 81
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 81
December 1, 2009
Dear Collectors,
Here is a list of items that might be good for gifts for Christmas. These are mostly items that should appeal to the average person (non- meteorite collectors) and even the meteorite collector as well (though most of you will already have pieces of most of this stuff).
Contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in any of these things. I want to be sure to get them too you in time for them to be re-packed and shipped as gifts if that is what is going to happen to them. Due to a rapidly developing family emergency, I may have to leave town for a few days (multiple times over the next few weeks actually) so that may cause some delays (hence the hope that I can get as many orders lined up and packed quickly as possible). Don't be afraid to contact me later and ask about any of these things (or things on earlier lists for that manner) though. I realize that it sometimes takes time to make purchase decisions (particularly for gifts). I will do my best to be sure that you get it in time regardless of the delays on your or my part.
CAMPO del CIELO, Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
These are neat little pendants that have been made from the polished angular fragments of this meteorite that have had a small loop soldered to the top so they can easily be hung on a chain (neck or key). These are hugely popular at my shows and I often sell out what I bring (I did in Socorro). Unfortunately, I do not have the chains for these. Years ago I used to try and carry various chains for such things. It seemed that no matter how many different ones I had, I never had the right style (gold vs. silver etc. proper thickness or length). So I made the (possibly poor) decision to let the customers find what suits them best (these things can be easily found at Wal-Mart, Michael's or such for surprisingly cheap). Sizes (weights and dimensions) are approximate, as I have many pieces (except for the extra large) in each size range to pick from for you.
A) Small: about 3 grams each - 12mm x 10mm x 7mm - $3
B) Medium: about 8 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 9mm - $8
C) Large: about 13 grams each - 22mm x 18mm x 9mm - $13
D) Extra large: about 25 grams each - 20mm x 20mm x 19mm - $25 - good key-chain size.
E) Small gold plated piece: 1.8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 5mm. This thing really looks like a nice little gold nugget (aesy to tell it is not with a magnet) - $5
F) Extra special piece: This is a neat little (8.6 grams - 17mm x 17mm x 6mm) piece that is a "puzzle piece" it has two interlocked pieces that are held together naturally. This stuff is broken apart along its natural Widmanstatten structure. This piece managed to partially separate along one band so there are now two halves that, though they wiggle, they are still firmly connected to each other. Really cool and the only piece like it I have ever found in this material - $50
SIKHOTE-ALIN: Russia. Coarsest octahedrite (IIAB). Fell Feb. 12, 1947.
Here are two different pendant options. One is basic and simple (bet yet has its own "chain" and looks quite nice) and the other quite elegant (professionally wire-rapped in sterling silver, but no chain).
a) Nice dark (not wire-brushed too an extreme) flat shrapnel piece (about 12 grams - 25mm x 25mm x 5mm) that has had a hole drilled in it (that must have taken some work), a loop put through that and hung on a dark leather-looking (though it is a synthetic material I am sure) "chain". Actually quite nice! I need to remember where I got this and make it a regular inventory item - $25
b) Nice quasi- heart shaped shrapnel piece (around 16 grams - 22mm x 26mm x 8mm) that has been wire wrapped in sterling silver. The meteorite has been cleaned such that parts (the edges) are still dark but the center is a medium gray metallic. Very nice piece! - $50
NWA (482): Lunar dust pendant.
These (all 2 of them I have left) are really nice. They are small (about 15mm long, 10mm diameter) teardrop glass vials that have a good amount of dust saved from the cutting of the famous NWA (482) lunar meteorite inside. These have been fully sealed (so no dust will escape) and capped with a 14k gold bell cap. They are ready to hang on any chain. - $100
INDOCHINITE PENDANT:
These are pendants made from a small (about 5g about 2 or 3cm across) tektite individuals (mostly flat or elongate) from Thailand. They have had a small loop attached at the top. These have been cleaned so they have a nice shiny black color (except some are thin enough to show the dark olive-green real color of the glass when a bit of light passes through them) and have the nice classic pitted surface features. Nice little jewelry pieces, but not suggested for use banging around on a key chain (the keys will likely ultimately win the battle) - $4 each.
CARVED MOLDAVITE PENDANTS:
I got a few of these neat carved moldavites a few years ago. They are nice individual moldavite specimens that have been carefully carved such that they have a beautiful lady's face in the center with the surrounding natural moldavite surface features looking like her hair. These are very nicely done and no two are alike. I had been selling these simply as "specimens". I recently decided to get a couple professionally wire-wrapped for pendant use. The results = WOW. I went ahead and got them all wrapped. I got one done in silver and the rest done in gold (the gold seems to work a bit better visually with the green of the moldavite).
a) Carving wire wrapped in sterling sliver. Specimen is roughly 16mm x 15mm x 10mm and overall pendant is 27mm x 22mm x 12mm - $100
b) Carving wrapped in 14k gold filled wire. Moldavite is roughly 20mm x 18mm x 8mm and overall pendant is 30mm x 18mm x 10mm - $100
MOON/ MARS BOXES:
These are neat little 55mm x 35mm plastic boxes that have a picture from either the Moon or Mars (depending, obviously, on what type rock it contains) with a 1cm round window cut out to one side that has a small (roughly 1mm x 2mm or so) piece of moon or mars rock in the center. These are neat little items and a huge hit at my retail shows and are a fantastic gift for kids or anybody interested in rocks, astronomy, meteorites or anything out of the ordinary..
a) Moon box - $25
b) Mars box - $25
c) One of each - $40
METEORITE POCKET WATCH:
I think this is the thing that got me started into pocket watches (many of you may not know that I have taught myself how to fix old watches and have built up quite a collection of antique pocket watches. I even have some for sale; ranging from $20 for a 40 or 50 year old "dollar watch" to a $1500 for a 270 year old specimen and everything in between. So, let me if you have a watch collector or antique collector on your list and I will see if I can come up with something for you). This is a "skeleton" watch that has front and back crystals so you can see through it (and the cut out movement plates) to see all of the gears and such doing their thing. What is special about this though is its case. It is completely (including the winding crown, bow, stem and all) machined out of a piece of Gibeon meteorite! It was then etched and gold plated. This has a plate inside labeled "S. Racine" (the maker) 001/100. This was the first one of what was to be a run of 100 meteorite watches. I don't think more than a handful were ever made (and they were all different in case style and decoration, so no two are alike as far as I am aware). A truly special and unique item - $3500
METEORITE COINS:
These are roughly 2" (50mm) diameter medallions that have a small piece (around 5mm size in the case of the Campo and NWA (869) coins, a small fragment or pinch of fragments and dust in the case of the moon or mars coins). Each is individually serial numbered as part of a limited (nearly sold out in some cases) run. The Campo and NWA (869) coins each come with a serial numbered "certificate of authenticity" as well (I
Did not get these for the moon/mars ones though).
a) Campo del Cielo or NWA (869 ) coins - $30 each
b) Moon or Mars coins - $70 each
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 81
December 1, 2009
Dear Collectors,
Here is a list of items that might be good for gifts for Christmas. These are mostly items that should appeal to the average person (non- meteorite collectors) and even the meteorite collector as well (though most of you will already have pieces of most of this stuff).
Contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in any of these things. I want to be sure to get them too you in time for them to be re-packed and shipped as gifts if that is what is going to happen to them. Due to a rapidly developing family emergency, I may have to leave town for a few days (multiple times over the next few weeks actually) so that may cause some delays (hence the hope that I can get as many orders lined up and packed quickly as possible). Don't be afraid to contact me later and ask about any of these things (or things on earlier lists for that manner) though. I realize that it sometimes takes time to make purchase decisions (particularly for gifts). I will do my best to be sure that you get it in time regardless of the delays on your or my part.
CAMPO del CIELO, Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
These are neat little pendants that have been made from the polished angular fragments of this meteorite that have had a small loop soldered to the top so they can easily be hung on a chain (neck or key). These are hugely popular at my shows and I often sell out what I bring (I did in Socorro). Unfortunately, I do not have the chains for these. Years ago I used to try and carry various chains for such things. It seemed that no matter how many different ones I had, I never had the right style (gold vs. silver etc. proper thickness or length). So I made the (possibly poor) decision to let the customers find what suits them best (these things can be easily found at Wal-Mart, Michael's or such for surprisingly cheap). Sizes (weights and dimensions) are approximate, as I have many pieces (except for the extra large) in each size range to pick from for you.
A) Small: about 3 grams each - 12mm x 10mm x 7mm - $3
B) Medium: about 8 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 9mm - $8
C) Large: about 13 grams each - 22mm x 18mm x 9mm - $13
D) Extra large: about 25 grams each - 20mm x 20mm x 19mm - $25 - good key-chain size.
E) Small gold plated piece: 1.8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 5mm. This thing really looks like a nice little gold nugget (aesy to tell it is not with a magnet) - $5
F) Extra special piece: This is a neat little (8.6 grams - 17mm x 17mm x 6mm) piece that is a "puzzle piece" it has two interlocked pieces that are held together naturally. This stuff is broken apart along its natural Widmanstatten structure. This piece managed to partially separate along one band so there are now two halves that, though they wiggle, they are still firmly connected to each other. Really cool and the only piece like it I have ever found in this material - $50
SIKHOTE-ALIN: Russia. Coarsest octahedrite (IIAB). Fell Feb. 12, 1947.
Here are two different pendant options. One is basic and simple (bet yet has its own "chain" and looks quite nice) and the other quite elegant (professionally wire-rapped in sterling silver, but no chain).
a) Nice dark (not wire-brushed too an extreme) flat shrapnel piece (about 12 grams - 25mm x 25mm x 5mm) that has had a hole drilled in it (that must have taken some work), a loop put through that and hung on a dark leather-looking (though it is a synthetic material I am sure) "chain". Actually quite nice! I need to remember where I got this and make it a regular inventory item - $25
b) Nice quasi- heart shaped shrapnel piece (around 16 grams - 22mm x 26mm x 8mm) that has been wire wrapped in sterling silver. The meteorite has been cleaned such that parts (the edges) are still dark but the center is a medium gray metallic. Very nice piece! - $50
NWA (482): Lunar dust pendant.
These (all 2 of them I have left) are really nice. They are small (about 15mm long, 10mm diameter) teardrop glass vials that have a good amount of dust saved from the cutting of the famous NWA (482) lunar meteorite inside. These have been fully sealed (so no dust will escape) and capped with a 14k gold bell cap. They are ready to hang on any chain. - $100
INDOCHINITE PENDANT:
These are pendants made from a small (about 5g about 2 or 3cm across) tektite individuals (mostly flat or elongate) from Thailand. They have had a small loop attached at the top. These have been cleaned so they have a nice shiny black color (except some are thin enough to show the dark olive-green real color of the glass when a bit of light passes through them) and have the nice classic pitted surface features. Nice little jewelry pieces, but not suggested for use banging around on a key chain (the keys will likely ultimately win the battle) - $4 each.
CARVED MOLDAVITE PENDANTS:
I got a few of these neat carved moldavites a few years ago. They are nice individual moldavite specimens that have been carefully carved such that they have a beautiful lady's face in the center with the surrounding natural moldavite surface features looking like her hair. These are very nicely done and no two are alike. I had been selling these simply as "specimens". I recently decided to get a couple professionally wire-wrapped for pendant use. The results = WOW. I went ahead and got them all wrapped. I got one done in silver and the rest done in gold (the gold seems to work a bit better visually with the green of the moldavite).
a) Carving wire wrapped in sterling sliver. Specimen is roughly 16mm x 15mm x 10mm and overall pendant is 27mm x 22mm x 12mm - $100
b) Carving wrapped in 14k gold filled wire. Moldavite is roughly 20mm x 18mm x 8mm and overall pendant is 30mm x 18mm x 10mm - $100
MOON/ MARS BOXES:
These are neat little 55mm x 35mm plastic boxes that have a picture from either the Moon or Mars (depending, obviously, on what type rock it contains) with a 1cm round window cut out to one side that has a small (roughly 1mm x 2mm or so) piece of moon or mars rock in the center. These are neat little items and a huge hit at my retail shows and are a fantastic gift for kids or anybody interested in rocks, astronomy, meteorites or anything out of the ordinary..
a) Moon box - $25
b) Mars box - $25
c) One of each - $40
METEORITE POCKET WATCH:
I think this is the thing that got me started into pocket watches (many of you may not know that I have taught myself how to fix old watches and have built up quite a collection of antique pocket watches. I even have some for sale; ranging from $20 for a 40 or 50 year old "dollar watch" to a $1500 for a 270 year old specimen and everything in between. So, let me if you have a watch collector or antique collector on your list and I will see if I can come up with something for you). This is a "skeleton" watch that has front and back crystals so you can see through it (and the cut out movement plates) to see all of the gears and such doing their thing. What is special about this though is its case. It is completely (including the winding crown, bow, stem and all) machined out of a piece of Gibeon meteorite! It was then etched and gold plated. This has a plate inside labeled "S. Racine" (the maker) 001/100. This was the first one of what was to be a run of 100 meteorite watches. I don't think more than a handful were ever made (and they were all different in case style and decoration, so no two are alike as far as I am aware). A truly special and unique item - $3500
METEORITE COINS:
These are roughly 2" (50mm) diameter medallions that have a small piece (around 5mm size in the case of the Campo and NWA (869) coins, a small fragment or pinch of fragments and dust in the case of the moon or mars coins). Each is individually serial numbered as part of a limited (nearly sold out in some cases) run. The Campo and NWA (869) coins each come with a serial numbered "certificate of authenticity" as well (I
Did not get these for the moon/mars ones though).
a) Campo del Cielo or NWA (869 ) coins - $30 each
b) Moon or Mars coins - $70 each
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