Tuesday, 1 June 2010
[brmeteorites_list] List 89 - Oklahoma Meteorite rarities
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
........................... LIST 89
June 1, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is a list of some really special and rare (2 falls and 3 carbonaceous!) items from Oklahoma. There are things here that I have only ever seen a piece or two of and some that I have never encountered a sample of before. Only a few couple items here are what I would call generally available (Carnegie, Kingfisher perhaps), but even these are not often encountered these days. These are the ONLY pieces of these I have available, so don't wait to contact me if you want to add any of these named rarities to your collection.
CADDO COUNTY, Oklahoma: (IAB) silicated iron. Found 1987. Tkw = 18 kilograms.
This is the only "iron" on this list. Frankly, it looks more like a stony-iron (definitely NOT your typical silicated iron). The silicates in this piece (making up something like 80% of the specimen) are a mix of quasi-gemmy green and brown crystals. I remember when this stuff first came out. There were many (including researchers) that thought that this was going to be the world's second known Lodranite. This all disappeared into collections quite rapidly. I have not had a piece to offer in many years.
58.1 gram end piece - 50mm x 37mm x 15mm - $1000
AMBER, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1934. Tkw = 4532 grams.
A single stone was recognized in 1955. There is some suspicion that it could be another piece of Cahion or Kingfisher. I am quite certain that it does not match Kingfisher (as I have a piece here to compare it to). This has a mixed green and brown matrix that shows a few black shock lines (where as Kingfisher is nearly black and shows very little structure). This is one that I have never seen a sample of before. It is from the Dupont collection (through a trade).
10.6 gram 1/4 slice - 50mm x 26mm x 3mm - $100
ATOKA, Oklahoma: (L6). Fell September 17, 1945. Tkw = 1384 grams.
A number of fragments of this were recovered. Most of this is tied up in museum collections (I believe this one came from the Monig collection) so very little has been available to collectors (A have only seen/ handled a few grams of this stuff over the years). This is a fresh elongate part slice (2 cut edges) that has fresh crust along one 10mm long edge.
2.07 gram part slice - 22mm x 9mm x 2.5mm - $300
BURNS FLAT, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1971. Tkw = 1987 grams.
This is a nice 1/2 slice. This is fairly fresh stuff. It has a nice light tan to light brown interior with lots of metal (for an L). Most ( about 2/3) of the edge shows fairly thick black to chocolate brown crust. I sold Jim this specimen, but I don't recall much about the stuff (it was 8 or more years ago), other than that only a few slices were available to collectors.
64.8 gram 1/2 slice - 65mm x 60mm x 6mm - $390
CARNEGIE, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1963. Tkw = 132.7 kilograms.
A single large stone was found while terracing a field. There was a fair amount of this available years ago (even though the bulk of the stuff went into the Huss collection). It has been fairly scarce recently. I think I had a large (expensive) piece, from the same person that owns this one, a couple years ago. Here is a good affordable sample to add to your collection.
19.0 gram 1/2 end piece (book-end cut) - 53mm x 29mm x 6mm - $50
EVA, Oklahoma: (H5), polymict breccia. Found 1965. Tkw = 6.7 kilograms.
One fragment that was likely less than 1/2 of the original mass was found (the other piece was never located, at least it has not been reported). This is a specimen from the Dupont collection and another one of those that I have never seen a piece of before.
14.9 gram part slice - 32mm x 27mm x 6mm - $135
KEYES, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1939. Tkw = 142 kilograms.
Interesting in that it has a large known weight, but this is the first piece of this meteorite I have encountered (another Dupont collection trade). This is an aesthetic specimen. It is a mixed very light tan/gray with dark brown blotches in the interior. This also has two museum collection numbers on it (one Dupont?).
12.47 gram slice - 40mm x 33mm x 3mm - $80
KINGFISHER, Oklahoma: (L5). Found 1950. Tkw = 8.18 kilograms.
This is a nice 1/2 slice from the Monig collection. It has three different Labels on it; one is a had-written label (name and weight) done on a sticker by Art Ehlmann at TCU, another is a Monig number (M219.2) likely painted on by Glenn Huss (he did a bunch of cataloging and labeling work for the Monig collection years ago) and a third that is simply a typed (on cloth and lacquered to the specimen) 28:5 above the Monig number (no idea of origin of this one).
42.9 gram 1/2 slice - 75mm x 45mm x 4mm - $170
LOGAN, Oklahoma: (H5). Found 1923. Tkw = 45.5 kilograms.
Two weathered masses (of 43kg and 2.5kg) were reported (in April of 1939) as being found. This is another where the bulk (pretty much all?) of the material is tied up in museum collections (this one came from the Dupont collection).
9.0 gram end piece - 27mm x 18mm x 17mm - $100
COLONY, Oklahoma: Carbonaceous Chondrite (CO3.0). Found 1975. Tkw = 3912 grams.
This stone was found stuck in the tines of a cotton cultivator. It is a super rare (and highly desired) type 3.0! There used to be a fair amount of this available years ago (at around $100/g), but I have seen very little in recent years.
3.48 gram 1/2 slice - 23mm x 20mm x 3mm - $435
CRESCENT, Oklahoma: Carbonaceous (CM2). Fell August 17, 1936. Tkw = 78.4 grams.
Wow, now this is a rare one! I think this may be the rarest witnessed fall I have ever handled. This piece has it all; rare type, tiny total known weight and even shows a good patch of fusion crust (about 12mm x 9mm).
1.09 gram fragment with crust - 15mm x 12mm x 7mm - $1900
WEATHERFORD, Oklahoma: Carbonaceous Bencubbinite (CBa). Found 1926. Tkw = 2 kilograms.
This is another extreme rarity. I got a larger (4 or 8 gram, I don't recall) piece for the current owner years ago. He had it wire-sawed into a few thinner pieces (I think I sold one piece off for him a few years ago, other pieces probably helped trade for some of the things listed here). These are the only samples of this meteorite I have ever had (and the only US Bencubbinite I have ever handled). This is a nice aesthetic thin slice that shows a great mix of silicate areas and metal blobs. Small by weight, but still very representative in texture.
1.83 gram part slice - 18mm x 13mm x 2mm - $1000
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Blaine Reed Meteorites List 88
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 88
May 18, 2010
Dear Collectors,
Here is one of a series of lists over the next couple months (when I am home that is) that is recently received (or soon to be received) consigned items. I will try to keep these to their proper scheduled times, but some my vary so don't be to surprised if a list shows up off schedule.
Please contact me as soon as possible on these as I will only be home for today and tomorrow (I have been on a home 2 days gone 5 or 6 day schedule lately and will be through at least the end of May, unfortunately). Feel free to leave a message (phone is best while I am here e-mail on the days I am gone might be better as there is a chance I may be able to borrow a computer and check those while gone). I should be back home by Tuesday evening next week if you want to talk too me after this Thursday morning (I will be leaving about 10AM).
DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942, recognized as distinct fall in 1950. Tkw = about 200kg.
This is a small cut fragment that has been coated (lacquer?) to help bring out the structure and chondrules (that usually are nearly invisible in this stuff). This is definitely Dimmitt and contrasts distinctly different in appearance from the Tulia listed below (these would make a good pair - showing the real difference between these long confused meteorites).
9.6 gram cut fragment - 30mm x 15mm x 7mm - $15
FAUCETT, Missouri: (H5). Found 1966. Tkw = 100 kilograms.
Here is a nice little 1/2 slice (one cut edge remainder is mostly crusted but part looks like it may be a natural break) of this now difficult to obtain meteorite. I once had quite a bit of this, but this is the first piece I have had in a number of years now.
9.6 gram slice - 33mm x 21mm x 4mm - $45
JILIN, China: (H5). Fell March 1976. Tkw = 4 tons.
Here are a couple slices of this huge fall. The largest recovered piece was 1770 kilograms and is still, I believe, the largest single stone meteorite in the world. The smaller piece here is likely an earlier recovery as it is lighter in color and has a bit fresher crust. The larger piece though shows some shock features and hints of breccia clasts.
a) 4.6 gram slice - 24mm x 24mm x 2mm - $25
b) 12.8 gram slice - 40mm x 35mm x 3mm - $60
NADIABONDI, Burkina-Faso, Africa: (H5). Fell July 27, 1956. Tkw = 8.165 kilograms.
I know there has been a bit of controversy over what is really this fall and misidentified pieces of Gao. This piece does have a different appearance than most of the Gaos I have seen. This is far fresher (showing a light matrix with only a light amount of overall brown staining whereas most Gaos are quite brown) and this has a very uniform H5 texture (whereas Gaos are brecciated and usually show at least some fragmentation, even in fairly small specimens). Though it would be impossible to be absolutely certain (with out detailed research lab analysis) that this is not simply a mislabeled Gao, I am quite comfortable calling it a real Nadiabondi specimen.
7.2 gram end piece - 26mm x 21mm x 6mm - $35
NWA (065): (H5). Found August 6, 2000. Tkw = 5094 grams.
This is different looking stuff. It is very porous (it likely suffered little shock in its life) looking more like a piece of sandstone (though one that has a good number of obvious chondrules) than a meteorite at first glance. It has weathered some such that it has an interesting reddish-brown color (but still shows a fair amount of metal. These are nearly complete slices. They each have one 35mm cut edge with the remainder being natural.
a) 18.4 gram slice - 50mm x 35mm x 5mm - $35
b) 25.4 gram slice - 53mm x 37mm x 6mm - $48
NWA (096): (H3.8). Found summer 2000. Tkw = 2510 grams.
Wow. This one is for breccia collectors. It is lightly weathered (somewhat brown stained over all but still shows lots of metal). It has several obvious lighter clasts in a slightly darker matrix. This also has a couple 5mm to 8mm sized dark inclusions (shock melt pockets?). The larger one even appears to have some vesicles!
14.4 gram slice - 43mm x 27mm x 4.5mm - $70
NUEVO MERCURIO, Mexico: (H5). Fell December 15, 1978. Tkw = 9+ kilograms.
This is a natural fragment with some crust (a couple 5mm to 1cm sized patches).
6.1 gram fragment - 24mm x 20mm x 7mm -$35
THUATHE, Lesotho: (H4/5). Fell July 21, 2002. Tkw = about 30 kilograms.
This is a nice complete stone that only shows a couple late fall chipped areas (around 5x5mm and 5x9mm). The remainder is covered with black crust. Though there are a couple more similar sized areas to the above chips that are coated with a medium level secondary crust, the bulk of this stone has well developed crust - fairly rare for stones of this fall.
6.8 gram individual - 22mm x 22mm x 22mm - $120
TULIA (a), Texas: (H5). Found 1917. Tkw = 77+ kilograms.
The tag says (H3-4) but this is wrong. A piece of (the then unrecognized but close by) Dimmitt meteorite was mixed up with real Tulia when the analysis was done. This is obviously not a piece of Dimmitt. This shows lots of metal and troilite in a dark (almost black) matrix. Dimmitts are more dark brown than black, show more abundant chondrules (if you look carefully) and very little metal.
16.3 gram slice - 42mm x 20mm x 5mm - $30
WHETSTONE MOUNTAINS, Arizona: (H5), breccia. Fell June 23, 2009. Tkw = 2.14 kilograms.
This piece was put on display for a special event (Arizona Meteorite Exhibition) at the U of A on January 30, 2010. Sample of all known Arizona meteorites were put on display for that one evening (which I, unfortunately, missed as this was my first day of the Tucson show and very busy). This is a beautiful slice that clearly shows two different lithologies. It is highly polished on both sides and has fresh black crust along about 30% of its edge (other parts look to be natural break). This piece also comes with the info card it was displayed with during the exhibition.
6.88 gram slice - 30mm x 23mm x 3.5mm - $1050
MOUNT EDGERTON, Australia: (anomalous Aubrite). Found 1941. Tkw = 22+ kilograms.
This is another item I used to have quite a bit of (but around 15 or 20 years ago) but have not seen in quite awhile. This is a natural blocky fragment of enstatite. It is covered by a nice, natural, orange patina (with only one tiny sub-millimeter fresh break hidden in a crevice) and shows a few almost black patches of iron.
2.9 gram fragment - 17mm x 10mm x 10mm - $75
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Blaine Reed ………………LIST 87
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.
Friday, 12 March 2010
brmeteorites_list] List 86 - even more "after Tucson" stuff
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
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
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
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..