Tuesday 22 May 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 121 My rarest dollar and misc meteorites

Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 121 My rarest dollar and misc meteorites

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 121

May 22, 2012

Dear Collectors,

I had to get back from the eclipse trip earlier than I had expected. It turns out that I had a big heating/cooling system job that got scheduled for starting today (or I could wait another few weeks for the next available time with the installers. With temperatures already hitting the 90's and soon to be 100's I want this system running as soon as possible). There is already a five foot deep trench across my driveway (barely had time to get my cars on the other side before they started digging this morning.

The eclipse was quite enjoyable. It was not the jaw dropping spectacle that a full eclipse is but it was still pretty cool to see the sun turn into a thin ring of light. It was really surprising how few people knew (or cared) what was going on. I guess they were all in a hurry to get back home to their bread and circuses.

As with the last list, there are quite a few specimens here that are Lang collection origin and labeled. There are also some that are TCU/ Monig collection labeled and some are Mike Farmer labeled. I'll make note of these in their descriptions.

CAMEL DONGA, Australia: Achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1984. Tkw = 30+kg.
Here are a few small pieces I picked up in Tucson and promptly forgot about. The "end piece" is highly polished and has a nice interior texture but no crust on the back side. The other 2 pieces are partial individuals that have around 50% or so crust coverage. These are somewhat weathered so I suspect that they are relatively recent recoveries but they do still flow lines and some shiny crust.
a) 2.7 gram end piece – 20mm x 11mm x 9mm - $40
b) 3.5 gram ½ stone – 20mm x 12mm x 10mm - $55
c) 4.7 gram ~ ½ stone – 21mm x 14mm x 11mm - $75

DAR al GANI (332), Libya: Carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 280 grams.
This is undoubtedly another piece (and my last one I believe) of the large number of DaG (CO3) meteorites that got many different numbers assigned to them but (many anyway) were likely from a strewn field formed during a single fall even long ago. This is an unpolished complete slice (and has a lighter color and more visible chondrules than the polished pieces I had earlier). This is in a Riker box and has a Lang Collection label.
26.8 gram complete slice – 48mm x 37mm x 6mm (a bit wedged actually) - $240

DAR al GANI (429),, Libya: Carbonaceous. (C3), ungrouped. Found 1998. Tkw = 253grams.
I really suspect that the total on this is really closer to 800grams as DaG (430) is also an ungrouped C3 meteorite. These are rare enough (I have only had a few over all the years) that I would really be surprised if these two were not paired. This is a Lang Collection labeled vial of fragments (small up to around 5mm x 10mm in size) in a glass bottle in a Riker mount. This looks very fresh as it is very light gray in color and the largest fragment has a small sanded area that shows lots of metal. Interesting and no doubt rare.
5.1 grams of fragments in vial - $175

NWA (801): Carbonaceous (CR2). Found 2001. Tkw = 5kg+.
This has always been one of my favorite meteorites texturally. This piece does not show quite as well as some as it has been highly polished. Polishing has made this a little darker overall but closer inspection reveals lots of metal hiding in this slice. Most of it is surrounding chondrules (lots of armored chondrules in this) but some is as round blebs or metal "chondrules" (I have seen them called such in some research work). This piece is in a nice plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
4.47 gram complete slice – 35mm x 17mm x 3mm - $100

NWA (1939): Achondrite (Howardite). Found 2003. Tkw = 100.4 grams.
At first glance, I thought that this was likely just another piece of the NWA (1929) howardite (probably the most commonly available NWA howardite, listed under many different numbers) with a miss-typed label. Closer inspection shows that this is very likely NOT the case. The natural edge (this is a complete slice) shows a texture and weathering rim different from any NWA (1929) pieces I have seen. More importantly, the internal texture is very different form NWA (1929). This has a similar light gray background matrix but the inclusions in this are far different. One roughly 1cm sized inclusion is really interesting. It is an almost microscopic mix of white and orange brown crystals – looking much like a shrunk down piece of Dhofar (007). This is in a plastic box and has a Michael Farmer label.
8.48 gram complete slice – 45mm x 27mm x 2mm - $150

NWA (2871): Achondrite (Lodranite). Found 2003. Tkw = 2.5kg.
This was originally classified as an Acapulcoite and was supposed to be switched to Lodranite due to its large grain size (slower cooling, deeper buried in their shared parent body). I have seen a note or paper on this (by Ted Bunch I believe). Unfortunately, it seems that this has not been officially changed in the Meteoritical Bulletin yet. This is a triangular shaped part slice that has one cut edge. It is a Lang Collection piece that is in a Riker mount and has the Lang label. The original price on this was $1345 and even that was not on the high end of prices I have seen on this material. I have a few pieces of this in my inventory but nothing nearly this large or nice.
16.4 gram slice – 40mm x 30mm x 3mm - $985

ROUND TOP (b), Texas: (H4). Found before 1939. Tkw = 7166 grams.
This is a stone that Oscar Monig turned up and these all come with a Monig Collection label. I have only a few pieces of this.
1) Slices; all have natural edges/ no cuts.
a) 4.8 grams – 35mm x 12mm x 4mm - $15
b) 8.0 grams – 35mm x 19mm x 4mm - $24
c) 11.1 grams – 40mm x 17mm x 5mm - $33

SaU (290), Oman: Carbonaceous (CH3). Found 2004. Tkw = 1.796kg.
Thanks to the Sutter's Mill fall in California (believed, at this point, to be some kind of odd carbonaceous chondrite), I have had collectors asking about other weird carbonaceous chondrites I have (the reason I am "re-listing" this now. I offered pieces on an e-mail offering a couple years ago). This does not look like much – some sparse fine metal grains in a dark brown matrix. But, this is only the second CH I have seen and the only one I have had to sell.
1) Slices:
a) .57 grams – 8mm x 7mm x 3mm - $60
b) .73 grams – 11mm x 7mm x 3mm - $75
c) 6.40 grams – 32mm x 25mm x 3mm - $690

SEYMCHAN, Russia: Stony-iron. (Pallasite). Found 1967.
This is a wonderful little end piece from a really pallasitic piece of this find and very rare as such. I have only seen a couple end pieces of this and they have all been quite large (I have 6.7kg one myself). Even better, this is really thin so you get the surface area of a slice but in the form of an end piece. This is definitely a piece that collectors of end pieces should consider.
25.1 gram end piece – 50mm x 40mm x 5mm - $200

1853 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR (US): Mintage – about 12 pieces.
This is, by far, the single most expensive coin I have ever owned. However it is also, by far, the rarest US coin I have ever owned (I have a few foreign coins that have slightly lower supposed mintage numbers). This is technically a "restrike" as the mint did not make any proof dollars in the actual year of 1853 (coin collecting was not at all an in thing then, there were virtually no collectors at that point). This was made a bit later – probably around 1862. At that point coin collecting in the US was beginning to take off and collectors began to notice that they needed an 1853 proof dollar to fill a hole in their collection. The mint director was only happy to oblige (often using such later made pieces to trade for "Washington Medals" to fill in holes in his collection of those). There are no clear records of exactly how many were made of these. Interestingly, proof coins in that era were not considered to be actual coins (money-wise anyway, but they were preferred by collectors) and did not have to be accounted for in mint records. There were some records thought that indicated that only "dozen" of these pieces were struck (and the number of pieces known of this coin do supports this). I have had a few people (potential buyers) complain that this is kind of not valid as it is a "restrike" (even after being told how and why this coin came into existence). However, this was indeed made at the Philadelphia mint, under direction of the mint director, using full mint equipment so this would really be better termed a "Novodel" – a term often used for the more famous 1804 dollars. Those super famous pieces which are worth, thanks to that fame, between $2 million and $4 million apiece now are actually a tiny bit more common than this coin (15 known versus around 12) all had their origin in later years as restrikes for collectors just as this coin did.
1853 PCGS slabbed Proof 55 silver dollar - $13,000

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 120 - Mostly Lang Collection pieces

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 120 - Mostly Lang Collection pieces


Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 120


May 1, 2012


Dear Collectors,


Here is a list that contains a mix of material from a couple different origins. However, most of these pieces are ex RA Langheinrich Collection (Alan Lang to many of us that have been collecting for a long time) pieces. These have collection labels and are nicely displayed in Riker mount boxes. I'll try to remember to make note of these collection pieces in their brief descriptions, so carefully read the descriptions if you are particularly interested collection pieces that have labels.


This may be the only list this month, thanks to the eclipse travel later (I will be leaving only a couple days after my next scheduled offering should be - which is May 15th). At the very least, any other offering this month would be delayed and on an odd day (I'm thinking Thursday the 24th perhaps, if post travel catch up work permits enough time).


DAR al GANI (331), Libya: (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 194 grams.
This is a nice complete slice of a stone that was one of the many that came out of the area (that all got their own number, rather than being grouped together as a strewn field). This shows lots of tiny chondrules in a dark brown matrix (these actually show a lot better on the back, which has not been polished so the overall coloration is much lighter). This has a complete edge of (wind polished) crust. The only down side to this piece is that it is quite wedged, but this is not visible when displayed in the Riker box (this is a Lang Collection piece).
24.1 gram complete slice – 58mm x 28mm x 5mm - $215


DAR al GANI (444), Libya: (LL4-5). Found May 1998, Tkw = 164 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a really nice end piece of a rare item as well (there are only 7 listed meteorites classified as LL4-5 in the most recent Meteorites A to Z. There are likely a couple more perhaps, but I did not have time to got through the 111 pages (!) of LL chondrites listed in the full Meteoritical Bulletin). This has a pleasing light orange-brown color with some dark clasts and chondrules visible. The back has nice black crust; some lightly wind-polished but some with its full original texture. Given the small total known for this meteorite, I suspect that this might be the "main mass" for this find.
19.2 gram end piece – 38mm x 37mm x 10mm - $135


DHOFAR (055), Oman: (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 235 grams.
This is a Lang Collection piece. It is a nice end piece that has a nice brecciated texture (almost howardite like) on the cut face. The back is all natural, showing some wind-polished crust along with what looks to be late atmospheric break/ old impact break perhaps.
20.1 gram end piece – 30mm x 26mm x 15mm - $300


MARALINGA, Australia: (CK4): Found 1974. Tkw = 3.38kg.
This is a Lang collection piece (and likely a David New piece before that). It is a small part slice that has one cut edge and shows some dark chondrules in a mixed greenish gary and brown matrix. This had a price of $350 on it when I got it. I thought that was high but then I have not seen a piece of this material for a very long time (and anything Australia is always in high demand).
1.82 gram slice – 17mm x 13mm x 4mm -  SOLD


NWA (1227): (LL3). Found 1999. Tkw = 1050 grams.
This is a piece that would likely make most collectors say "wow". It has lots of chondrules (of all sizes and colors) in a very light tan matrix (this reminds me a bit of Ragland and Wells this way). What is really interesting (to me anyway) is a 25mm x 18mm clast that is something completely different. It shows fewer chondrules (most being quite indistinct) in a mottled gray and brown matrix. I suspect that this is an LL5 clast, though it could be an L5 clast as it does seem to show distinctly stronger magnetic attraction than the main part of the slice. This is a Lang specimen as well.
72.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $450


NWA (1242): (Mesosiderite). Found 1985. Tkw = about 7kilograms.
This is another "wow" specimen. This really looks like a mesosiderite should. It has LOTS of metal that is mostly fine grained but a few larger nodules are present mixed with fragments of silicates of many sizes (including a couple cm sized fragments; one gray green in color and the other looking like an olivine crystal). This is not cheap but it is a superior display piece and much nicer than the NWA mesosiderites I have been offered the past couple years (at $10 to $12/g "out of the field" no less. Things are definitely getting more expensive out o the field these days). This is a Lang specimen as well.
75.2 gram complete slice – 100mm x 50mm x 5mm - $750


NWA (3100): (LL7). Found 2003. Tkw = 136 grams.
I know I am risking getting some people upset over this one. Many researchers feel that there is no such thing as a "type 7" and insist that they be called "primitive achondrite", "meta-chondrites" or such. Personally, if the link to a particular family/ parent body is clear, I prefer the "type 7" myself. This gives an easy identity to the thing. Example – "oh, LL7, OK. That means that it has been metamorphosed to the point of no chondrules remaining but it is a rock from the LL parent body". Simply labeling these things "primitive" or "meta-chondrite" does not tell you anything other than that the thing has been metamorphosed to the point of loosing its chondrules. You then have to locate and dig into the official classification reports to find the parent body connection (If there is one. Things that don't match up to a known parent would obviously have to remain "primitive" or "meta-chondrite"). Regardless of what you want to call these, this is a rare type meteorite and only a handful of (generally small) pieces of this type are known. 
2.17 gram slice – 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $70


PLAINVIEW (a), Texas: (H5), breccia. Found 1917. Tkw = about 700kilograms.
This famous meteorite likely fell in early spring of 1903. A large fireball was seen in the area then and a large stone (that perfectly matched later "Plainveiw" finds) was found in a horse coral near Cotton Center the next morning. These are a few odd (some a bit wedged) slices I picked up years ago and let set aside forgotten. These show lots of metal and plenty of breccia texture/ fragments (this meteorite is a regolith breccia). The large piece has only one cut edge with the remainder being nice dark brown to black crust
1) Slices:
a) 5.3 gram – 20mm x 14mm 5mm - $16
b) 11.3 grams – 40mm x 35mm x 2mm - $34 
c) 54.9 grams – 55mm x 52mm x 6mm - $165

Thursday 5 April 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 119 5April2012

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………………LIST 119
April 5, 2012

Dear Collectors,

Here is the e-mail version of my mailed list that is now landing in the hands of many collectors (including many of you) as I send this. This is going out a bit delayed from when it should have as I was hit with the stomach-flu going around here. This knocked me back for a couple days.

I plan to go to the Denver spring show to visit (will be gone April 19th through the 23rd). Anyone that wants to me to bring anything from this list (or any list for that matter), let me know and I'll pack it along.

I will also be out of town from around May 17th through May 22nd or 23rd. We have an annular eclipse coming to the area (actually a bit South of me) and I hope to travel to some prime spot to see it.

Please note the slightly higher postage amounts: Shipping costs (and overseas shipping regulations) drastically changed January 22nd. This has forced me to increase my rates a bit and has limited overseas shipping options quite a bit (forcing me into either express or a large "flat rate" box (both expensive) for anything with a customs value over $400 – for which registration or insurance is no longer possible. Disturbing; high value now means you can get no real protection).

TAZA (NWA 859), Morocco: Plessitic Octahedrite (ungrouped). Found 2001. Tkw = about 75 kilograms.
I picked up some nice little individuals and a couple "large" (for this stuff anyway) slices of this in Tucson. The small pieces show atmospherically sculpted shapes and most show a fair amount of fusion crust. The slices are etched. BUT the large one is really special. This has a 18mm x 7mm crystal (looks like olivine!) that transmits light through it. This piece is certainly not cheap, but it is positively special.
1) Individuals as found:
a) 1.3 grams - 10mm x 9mm x 2mm - $10.00
b) 2.3 grams - 14mm x 8mm x 5mm - $17.00
c) 4.5 grams - 20mm x 9mm x 5mm - $32.00
d) 10.9 grams - 17mm x 15mm x 8mm - $76.00
2) Slices: etched both sides:
a) 33.2 grams - 50mm x 42mm x 2mm - $265.00
b) 134.5 grams - 150mm x 70mm x 2mm - $2350.00 – has 17mm x 8mm olivine!

CASILDA, Argentina: (H5). Found 1937. Tkw = 18.35 kilograms.
Here is something I picked up at the Denver spring show last year. A rhodochrosite dealer had a couple rough cut hunks of this hiding at the back of one of his tables labeled simply as "stone meteorite". I asked a bit about it and was told that it was from the Rosario area of Argentina. He had the thing sitting in his basement for over 10 years, or not long since after it was found in 2000. A bit of research (and a great deal of luck in locating a couple comparison specimens – thank you Paul Sipiera) showed that this material was another piece of the Casilda meteorite – a barely distributed (H5) that a 5.25kg sample was first found in 1937. This is really nice material. It shows lots of metal in a really interesting mottled dark green and bluish(!) gray matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 6.0 grams - 25mm x 21mm x 4mm - $27.00
b) 12.3 grams - 37mm x 32mm x 4mm - $55.00
c) 24.1 grams - 45mm x 37mm x 5mm - $106.00
d) 53.3 grams - 89mm x 45mm x 4mm - $232.00
e) 100.3 grams - 103mm x 70mm x 4mm - $425.00
f) 223.6 grams - 160mm x 90mm x 4mm - $925.00
g) 452.9 grams - 163mm x 148mm x 5mm - $1800.00 – nice complete slice!

NWA (7019): (L5). Found before September 2011. Tkw = 1440.5 grams.
This is an item that looked promising when I got it at the last Denver show. It showed a good number of large chondrules and a fair number of obvious clasts. I was hoping it might be an LL4 or 5 but it turned out to be an (L5). This shows good number of light gray chondrules (and a fair amount of metal) in a mottled light tan to brown matrix.
1) Slices:
a) 17.2 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 5mm - $17.00
b) 34.7 grams - 50mm x 45mm x 5mm - $34.00
c) 71.0 grams - 70mm x 64mm x 5mm - $70.00 – nice complete slice.

NWA (5515): Carbonaceous chondrite (CK4). Found before November 2007. Tkw = 13.7 kilograms.
This is currently the second largest known CK by weight (only the 26.5kg HaH (280) is larger) and the largest slices here are very likely the largest CK slices (by surface area) in the world (the HaH (280) was found broken into 20 pieces). Regardless, these are all very nice representative and affordable pieces of this very rare meteorite type. I have sizes to fit all collections. These show the typical CK texture of sparse dark gray chondrules in a light gray matrix.
NWA (5515) continued:
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 16mm x 11mm x 5mm - $30.00
b) 5.1 grams - 21mm x 18mm x 4mm - $60.00
c) 9.9 grams - 36mm x 21mm x 4mm - $110.00
d) 18.6 grams - 43mm x 36mm x 5mm - $200.00
e) 38.3 grams - 68mm x 54mm x 4mm - $400.00
f) 66.3 grams - 95mm x 68mm x 4mm - $665.00
g) 141.2 grams - 145mm x 105mm x 3mm - $1350.00 – nice complete slice.
h) 270.5 grams - 55mm x 140mm x 5mm - $2500.00 – the largest complete slice.

NORTON COUNTY, Kansas: (Aubrite). Fell February 18, 1947. Tkw = 1175+ kilograms.
Here are some nice fragments that came from the Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. They are all "natural" fragments that show the brecciated texture typical for this meteorite (large white clasts in a very light gray back-ground). All of these have a museum number painted on them and come with an Institute of Meteoritics label. Don't wait to long if you are interested in a sample of this. I had a pretty good hand full of these in Tucson and rapidly sold out.
1) Fragments with museum number:
a) 3.3 grams - 16mm x 13mm x 10mm - $115.00
b) 7.2 grams - 24mm x 15mm x 13mm - $250.00
c) 15.0 grams - 30mm x 22mm x 13mm - $525.00
d) 25.8 grams - 30mm x 28mm x 16mm - $850.00
e) 66.3 grams - 52mm x 32mm x 22mm - $2000.00

TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
This is the stuff that has been in the news a lot lately. It came out right before we could get to Tucson (and pulled a LOT of money out of the show accordingly). I saw nothing but really high prices on what little of this was available at the show. I was not willing to risk huge sums of money to purchase a substantial amount of this new Mars rock. So, I purchased a small lot of nice (but, admittedly expensive) little fragments to offer here. These are for the person who does not want to invest a fortune in a larger piece or for the person (like me) that just wants to own a specimen now and hopes that the cost will come down a bit so we can upgrade to a larger chunk later. These are in a 55mm x 35mm x 15mm plastic box and, generally, are larger in appearance than their small weights would suggest.
1) Fragments:
a) .0132 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 1.5mm - $21.00
b) .0208 grams - 4mm x 2mm x 2mm - $33.00
c) .0318 grams - 4mm x 3mm x 2mm - $51.00
d) .21 grams - 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $150.00 – sold but getting more.
e) .28 grams - 8mm x 7mm x 4mm - $200.00 – sold but trying to get more.
2) Fragments that have melt pockets/ veins:
a) .0156 grams - 2.5mm x 2mm x 2mm - $27.00
b) .0218 grams - 3.5mm x 2.5mm x 3mm - $38.00
c) .0260 grams - 3.5mm x 3mm x 3mm - $46.00

BRENHAM, Kansas: (Pallasite). Found 1882. Tkw = several tons.
Actually, the piece that these were cut from was recovered in the NW ¼ of Section 28, Brenham Township in 2006. This was a really nice pallisitic sample weighing 351 pounds. I have sold a good number of beautiful complete slices of this the past year and a half (I bought one myself), but these are the first small pieces I have had. So far, this has proven to be very stable material. My piece (a 2200g range complete slice) has not developed a speck of rust in the 1 year 8 months that I have had it and I have given it no special care or storage what so ever! (a "bad" Brenham would have long since fallen apart in that amount of time). I even made this one my main collection pallasite display piece.
1) Slices:
a) 14.2 grams - 30mm x 15mm x 6mm - $57.00
b) 27.8 grams - 31mm x 29mm x 6mm - $110.00
c) 56.3 grams - 64mm x 32mm x 6mm - $220.00
d) 78.5 grams - 60mm x 50mm x 6mm - $300.00
e) 215.0 grams - 75mm x 73mm x 7mm - $800.00
f) 1691 grams - 410mm x 290mm x 3mm - $5900.00 – passes light through many crystals.
g) 3282 grams - 540mm x 290mm x 4mm - $10,500.00 – complete slice, 10cm diameter Chromite!

Please include postage: $3 on small U.S. orders and $11 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more important overseas shipments - an extra $12.00.
If you are sending a fax, simply begin transmitting when my line is answered. My fax will turn on automatically to receive (or I will start it if I answer) when you begin transmitting.

Friday 9 March 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 118 - more after Tucson stuff

Blaine Reed Meteorites -  List 118 - more after Tucson stuff

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
………………………………………………………LIST 118

March 9, 2011

Dear Collectors,

Here is a quasi "emergency" list. I was out of town last Tuesday and will be out of town yet again next Tuesday (until the 17th). So, I made the decision to send out an offering now, while I still had a couple days left to pack and ship orders. Blake is out of town until tomorrow as well, so any needed photos my not be able to out until Saturday evening or Sunday (but I will keep the specimens on hold until you get a chance to see a photo if you really are serious about wanting it (I get a lot of "just curios to see what it looks like requests that I sometimes can't oblige quickly) to – even I that means waiting until I get back on Friday).

DAR al GANI (303), Libya: carbonaceous (CO3). Found 1997. Tkw = 365 grams.
I remember back when CO3s first started coming out of Libya. It was not long after that I learned that the finders were putting new numbers on every piece they were recovering (a thought initially "wow, I had only one CO3 before (Colony, OK), now I have 5 or 6 new ones in a couple months!"). Looking more carefully though, I started to realize what was going on. Looking carefully at this piece though it seems that there is a fairly good chance that it is NOT part of that series of CO3s. This has lots of chondrules in a nearly black matrix (the others were more medium brown in color from what I recall). This also still shows some pretty nice fusion crust along about half of the edge (which has one 32mm long cut and the rest being natural). This is a thick slice but comes in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. This could easily be cut into several thinner slices.
21.5 gram slice – 32mm x 21mm x 10mm - $215

DAR al GANI (472), Libya: (LL6). Found 1998. Tkw = 422 grams.
This is a part slice that has one cut edge that is about 40mm long. The remaining edges are natural exterior (mostly the typical wind-polished desert texture, no distinct crust). The interior is a mottled light tan to medium brown and shows numerous fine shock veins. This is in a Riker mount and has a Lang label. Probably a very hard to come by specimen these days.
18.3 gram slice – 47mm x 27mm x 5mm - $100

DHOFAR (007), Oman; achondrite (Eucrite). Found 1999. Tkw = 21.27 kilograms.
This is a nice complete slice of this strange material. Most of it is a nice "salt and pepper" texture (like much of the Millbillillie) BUT it is un diffierent colors – a mix of greenish brown and snow-white instead of black and white. About ¼ of the slice has a nice brecciated texture to it. This is the biggest surface area piece I have ever had of this material (I am tempted to hang on to it for myself if it does not sell here). It is believed that this is not from Vesta, as most eucrites are, but more likely from the mesosidserite parent-body.
69.2 gram complete slice – 107mm x 65mm x 4.5mm - $800

DHOFAR (132), Oman: achondrite (Ureilite). Ound March 18, 2000. Tkw = 5kilograms.
Here are a couple thick slices of this rare stone (this is the first I have had this particular meteorite even though there was a substantial amount recovered). I would guess that, like many ureilites, this has silicon carbides and/ or diamonds in it and was very hard to cut (not really wanting to try and split these in half myself. I made that mistake a few years ago when I had a different NWA ureilite that I obtained in similarly thick slices. It took over 2 hours per square inch (plus a number of saw blades) to split the stuff. It left my fingers numb (the pieces had to be hand-held for cutting) for many weeks afterwards as well). These, however, have been nicely polished (certainly not an easy job to do with most ureilites), are displayed in Riker mounts and have a Lang collection label.
a) 3.1 gram slice – 19mm x 8mm x 6mm - $85
b) 5.2 gram slice – 20mm x 15mm x 6mm - $140

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa: (Mesosiderite). Fell May 10, 1879. Tkw = 318+ kilograms.
I have two pieces of this really nice mesosiderite. Both look pretty much identical when only one side is viewed (as is normal as these are in Riker boxes). The back sides of these though are a bit rough (the lighter a bit less so and the larger is wedged – hence the lower price per gram). Whoever cut these originally did not know what they were doing or were trying to (mistakenly) use a saw that was too small for the job. Regardless, the visible (as displayed) polished side of each is really nice with a really good even amounts mix of metal and silicates.
a)) 126 gram lice – 140mm x 97mm x 3mm - $2500
b) 245 gram slice – 140 x 100 x 5 - $3500

SOMERVELLE COUNTY, Texas: (Pallasite). Found 1919. Tkw = 11.8 kilograms.
This is actually a nice end piece that could probably have several nice slices taken off o the front yet (if one was careful. The cut face shows several nice crystals in fresh metal. The back is a bit shrapnel like, but clearly shows lots of fresh quite large and fairly gemmy crystals. I am really surprised that this did not sell at the show (but then it was in a display case that was stuffed full of material)
54.4 gram end piece – 28mm x 25mm x 20mm - $750

TISSINT, Morocco: Martian (Shergottite). Fell July 18, 2011. Tkw = over 7 kilograms.
Here are a couple pieces of the one that has been in the news a lot lately (came out right before the show. Unfortunately for us dealers this had the effect of pulling a LOT of money out of the buyer's pockets before we could offer our stuff to them at the show). These are nice fragments (no crust, unfortunately) in nice plastic display boxes that have a picture of the fall area. These are taped shut (with the label that has their weight), so I have had to do a rough guess on their thickness measurement (the last number).
a) .21 gram fragment – 7mm x 6mm x 4mm - $145
b) .28 gram fragment – 8mm x 6.5mm x 4mm - $195

WILLAMETTE, Oregon: Medium octahedrite (IIIAB). Found 1902. Tkw = 14.1 tones.
Here are a couple thin slices of this super famous and controversial iron. It seems that the controversy (of the native Americans in the find area claiming ownership and demanding its return) has only made this material more famous and valuable. I am REALLY reluctant to offer any iron in the hundreds (!) of dollars per gram pricing. But, I did sell several pieces in a big hurry when I put them out on display at the show.
a) .93 gram slice – 11mm x 7mm x 1.5mm - $190
b) 6.181 gram slice – 34mm x 19mm x 1.5mm - $1250 – about 2/3 edge is natural!

Thursday 23 February 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 117 (finally) - after Tucson stuff.

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 117 (finally) - after Tucson stuff.
Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
………………………………………………………LIST 117

February 23, 2011

Dear Collectors,
Here is my first "after Tucson" offering. I really did plan on having this put on time (spent a good chunk of Monday preparing it), but I have been without phone or inter-net for several days (from Saturday until Wednesday evening). It seems that a careless driver (obviously in a large vehicle) ran over and completely demolished the phone connection box that serves my area (and since I had a slow version of DSL I lost e-mail capabilities as well). Any way, this is the first of "buy it before I return it to the consignor" offerings (there will be several more). All of this belongs to a single collector in Montana who is planning to move out of the country soon, so these will not be available for a real long time. This is also part of the reason I am making this such a large offering as well, need to "be done with it" as soon as possible.
Enjoy!

DHOFAR (007), Oman: (eucrite). Found December, 1999. Tkw = 21,270 grams.
Here is a complete individual of this interesting meteorite. It does have some chipped areas (kind of resembling Allende) and some adhering dirt (this has not been cleaned in any way) but is none the less a distinctly complete stone. This eucrite appears to be from the parent body of the Mesosiderites rather than Vesta.
46.3 gram individual – 50mm x 30mm x 22mm - $500

DHOFAR (1180), Oman. Lunar feldspathic breccia. Found Jan 18, 2005. Tkw = 115grams.
This is a small individual/ fragment found with the main mass of this interesting material. This is the stuff that looks VERY much like the Dhofar (018) howardite in cut pieces but this is (as my XRF showed) Lunar and (018) is howardite. This is a rare chance to own a "complete" (natural) Lunar specimen.
.474 gram "individual" – 10mm x 7mm x 4mm - $850

ISHEYEVO, Russia. Carbonaceous, Bencubbinite (CBb). Found 2003. Tkw = 16kg.
This is a natural fragment with a polished face. This face shows LOTS of metal (looking more like an iron meteorite than technically a chondrite).
12.5 gram end piece – 30mm x 17mm x 6mm - $750

IVUNA, Tanzania: Carbonaceous (CI1). Fell December 16, 1938. Tkw = 705 grams.
This is a nice solid piece of this rare, generally crumbly material. This type material most closely matches the sun in composition and is believed to have (likely) condensed directly from the primordial solar nebula.
.49 gram fragment – 9mm x 9mm x 5mm - $850

NWA (482); Lunar anorthositic breccia. Found before January 9, 2001. Tkw = 1015grams.
This is a particularly nice piece of this meteorite. Though it is only a relatively small specimen, it shows a really nice texture; with lots of black shock veins and breccia fragments in a nearly white background. This, also comes with an envelope full of interesting associated items (labels, certificates, stamps, postcards).
.190 gram slice – 9mm x 7mm x 1mm - $400

NWA (801); Carbonaceous (CR2). Found 2000. Tkw = around 5 kilos.
This is probably the nicest piece of one of my favorite type meteorites. Normally I prefer to see cut pieces of this material (which shows lots of metal rimmed chondrules) but this piece is a complete individual with really nice (pretty much complete – a couple small chipped areas) crust.
11.98 gram complete individual – 30mm x 18mm x 13mm - $300

NWA (998): Martian (Nakhlite). Found September 2001. Tkw = 456 grams.
This is a fragment on the lager side of those I have had over the years (no crust, unfortunately). This, like the NWA (482) above, comes with an envelope full of interesting things; stamps, info cards, labels, stamps and certificates.
.340 gram fragment – 10mm x 6mm x 3mm - $800

NWA (2953): Carbonaceous (CK4). Found before September 2005. Tkw = 144.8 grams.
Here is a nice main mass of a rare type meteorite. This was a complete individual and had only the material required for classification removed. This is somewhat weathered but still has quite a lot of crust and shows the distinctly CK exterior texture (knobby looking due to the occasional weathering/ ablation resistant hard chondrules scattered throughout.
120.3 gram end piece/ main mass – 50mm x 43mm x 30mm - $1000

NWA (4857): Martian (Shergottite). Found Before August 2007. Tkw = about 1 kilogram.
This is probably the most complete sample of this I have seen. It is an obvious complete specimen with only minor corner chipping of the (somewhat thin0 crust.
1.72 gram complete individual – 11mm x 11mm x 8mm - $1000

NWA (5024): Carbonaceous (CK4). Tkw = 100 grams.
Here is a "large" complete slice of this low total known weight stone. I rapidly sold all of this one when I offered it some years ago. This piece represents 10% of the total known. It shows the typical CK texture of sparse dark chondrules in a greenish brown matrix.
101.1 gram complete slice – 35mm x 32mm x 3mm - $200

ORGUEIL, France: Carbonaceous (CI1). Fell May 14, 1864. Tkw = about 11 kilograms.
This is a relatively large piece of this super interesting meteorite. This is a piece that spent many years in my micro-collection (though it is certainly NOT a micro it is in a magnifier box as my other micros are or were). I offered (and sold a good amount) of this stuff on my October mailed list, but that was all in the form of capsules of small (few mm sized) fragments.
1.0 gram fragment – 14mm x 10mm x 7mm - $1500

SaU (290), Oman: Carbonaceous (CH3). Found 2004. Tkw = 1796 grams.
This is not a terribly impressive specimen, but it is the only CH meteorite I have had (I have a few small slices available I recently re-discovered) and this was the largest piece I had.
2.0 gram slice – 16mm x 13mm x 2mm - $250

SIKHOTE-ALIN, Russia: Iron (Coarsest Oct). Fell Feb. 12, 1947.
This is a fantastic sculptural fusion crusted individual. It has a shape like a scorpion (in fact this is what the current owner calls it – "the scorpion"). This probably was an early recovery/ museum trade specimen as the crust is not rusted nor has it been messed with (brushed, acid treated or such) to clean up rust). So, this is certainly NOT cheap but a real opportunity for those collecting animal shaped meteorites to pick up a tough creature to mimic.
307.2 gram scorpion shaped crusted individual – 70mm x 50mm x 30mm - $1500

TAGISH LAKE, Canada: Carbonaceous (C2). Fell January 18, 2000. Tkw = 10+ kilograms.
These are all small but nice pieces of this rare material. I think these are all from the first (and only?) batch that came out not all that long after the fall was reported. These are all larger in physical size than what their weights would normally suggest, as this is very light material. These come with a "The Meteorite Market" labels (Eric was the first to offer this material – lucky him).
Fragments in membrane box - $900/ gram.
Weights available; .036g, .048g, .060g, .062g, .064g, .074g

LIBYAN DESERT GLASS:
a) 45.3 gram "individual" – 40mm x 35mm x 20mm - $110 – this has a nice dark olive green color. The glass is quite clean (very few bubbles) but has lots of brown streaking throughout.
b) 116.3 gram "individual" 65mm x 45mm x 30mm - $175 – this does have quite a bit of bubbling in the glass (a bit foggy), but this is interestingly layered, rather than just throughout.

Monday 23 January 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites - Tucson Show 2012

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

Dear Collectors,

Show info: I will be gone from home from about January 25th until about February 15th. 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 due West of Inn Suites (Now called Hotel Tucson City Center - 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 (on the parking lot side - and there is often parking available right in front of my room). I should be open the afternoon of January 28th through the afternoon of February 11th. I will be open every day in between - generally from 10AM until - ? (usually at least 7pm if I am going out to eat and often until 10pm or so other nights). Hope to see you there. Bring lots of cash and buy.  Thanks!
Blaine

Saturday 7 January 2012

Blaine Reed Meteorites - List 116

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………………LIST 116

January 2012

Dear Collectors,
Happy New Year! Here is the e-mail version of my "what's new" mailed list. Do make note of the "gone" dates below and try to contact me before January 20th if you want anything here (this will allow for packing/ shipping time and such).

Show info: I will be gone from home from about January 25th until about February 15th. 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 due West of Inn Suites (Now called Hotel Tucson City Center - 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 (on the parking lot side - and there is often parking available right in front of my room). I should be open the afternoon of January 28th through the afternoon of February 11th. I will be open every day in between - generally from 10AM until - ? (usually at least 7pm if I am going out to eat and often until 10pm or so other nights).

APACHE JUNCTION, Arizona: Medium octahedrite (IIIAB). Found before 2005. Tkw = 25 kilograms.
I just got a few (5) pieces of this really nice new meteorite. It was purchased by Dr.Carelton Moore from a seller who claimed to have found it near the intersection of McKellips Rd and Ironwood Dr in the city of Apache Junction years earlier. Dr Moore ended up purchasing this iron, despite having the fear that it might really be a "transported" Canyon Diablo. Later cutting and etching revealed a vibrant medium octahedrite structure and quickly removed all doubt concerning its new find status. The main mass is bound for the ASU collection at this point and only 2 more pieces are available to me beyond these listed (so don't wait if you want a piece of this).
1) Etched slices:
a) 19.3 grams - 33mm x 18mm x 4mm - $135
b) 53.5 grams - 65mm x 22mm x 4mm - $360
c) 102.7 grams - 100mm x 64mm x 3mm - $650 – complete slice with 10mm+ natural hole.
d) 208.9 grams - 120mm x 80mm x 4mm - $1200 – complete slice.

GOLD BASIN, Arizona: (L4). Found November 1995. Tkw = 127+ kilograms.
This is the famous material that was often (in the early days) found perched next to shallow holes where a gold prospector left it as a "hot rock" in disappointment that it was not a gold nugget. These pieces came from a rare large piece of this meteorite. I only learned after I cut it up that this was quite unusual for its size. I guess this means though, that now collectors have the chance to own an unusually large slice of this famous meteorite. These pieces are quite fresh and show a good number of sometimes large chondrules in a light tan to brown matrix (I sent off a piece for a quick micro-probe check to be sure that this was not Arizona's first LL5, as this does look quite similar to Tuxtuac in many respects).
1) Slices:
a) 6.1 grams - 30mm x 15mm x 4mm - $10
b) 11.8 grams - 35mm x 30mm x 4mm - $18
c) 25.8 grams - 40mm x 40mm x 4mm - $39
d) 54.7 grams - 70mm x 67mm x 4mm - $80
e) 126.0 grams - 100mm x 70mm x 5mm - $190 - nice complete slice.
2) End piece:
a) 260.4 grams - 100mm x 60mm x 16mm - $325

NWA (6579): L, melt rock. Found before July 2005. Tkw = 95 grams.
This is a really nice little slaggy looking rock I bought years ago. I sent some off to Cascadia Meteorite lab, as they were doing work on melt rocks of all sorts at the time and then completely forgot I (or they) had the thing. They kindly let me know recently that the thing was more than done and was fully reported. This has the classic melt rock look – rounded metal grains (many with dendritic inter growths of troilite) in a jade green matrix. This is quite fresh, weathering grade of W2. Obviously, I have VERY little of this material available (60grams perhaps).
1) Slices:
a) .47 grams - 9mm x 8mm x 2mm - $9
b) .80 grams - 12mm x 10mm x 3mm - $14
c) 1.2 grams - 15mm x 10mm x 2.5mm - $21
d) 2.5 grams - 19mm x 10mm x 3mm - $45
e) 5.5 grams - 30mm x 25mm x 2mm - $95
2) End pieces:
a) 11.3 grams - 30mm x 21mm x 8mm - $175
b) 16.3 grams - 30mm x 25mm x 11mm - $250 – main mass.

NWA (7044): Ordinary chondrite (H6). Found before September 2011. Tkw = 1443.4 grams.
This had a small broken corner that showed a very crystalline texture to it (reminding me of a "primitive achondrite"). This was not cheap, but the chance that this something interesting tied with the fact that is pretty much perfectly oriented led me to buying the piece. When I shaved off a slice, it showed a fair amount of really fine metal grains and looked virtually identical to a small piece of a weathered EL6 I had (Yilmia, Australia). I rushed the sample off to get it looked at and the initial reaction was that this was indeed an EL chondrite. Unfortunately, the full work-up showed it to be an H. Thankfully I did not start cutting this up (slices of a W2 enstatite chondrite would be very good for me right now). Anyway, this has been left as a nice shield-shaped oriented individual.
1411.5 gram oriented individual – 125mm x 100mm x 55mm - $1500.00

NWA (7015): Ordinary chondrite (LL4). Found before September 2011. Tkw = 888 grams.
This is a meteorite that I found as two crusted pieces that fit together (to form one large meteorite) in a box of NWA (869). Thanks to Matt, I was able to get this looked at in record time! This, despite its outward appearance (and very low magnetic attraction) of a howardite, turned out to be "just" an LL4. These are actually a bit rarer than LL3s! This is quite fresh, by far the freshest LL4 I have had. The smaller pieces are very light gray in color (nearly white) and the 2 large slices/ end pieces have around 50% or so of the face showing very light orange coloring.
1) Slices:
a) 3.7 grams - 22mm x 12mm x 4mm - $26
b) 5.6 grams - 25mm x 20mm x 4mm - $39
c) 12.3 grams - 40mm x 26mm x 5mm - $85
d) 23.2 grams - 55mm x 53mm x 3mm - $150
e) 59.3 grams - 60mm x 55mm x 3mm - $350 – complete slice.
2) End pieces:
a) 96.8 grams - 60mm x 45mm x 20mm - $530 – around 25% light orange.
b) 138.9 grams - 57mm x 55mm x 20mm - $700 – main mass, nice crust covering back.

MOAPA VALLEY, Nevada: Carbonaceous chondrite (CM1). Found September 2004, Tkw = 698.8 grams.
This may be the rarest, by type, meteorite I have ever offered. There is only around 850 grams of CM1 material currently known in the world (and of that, only one other from outside of Antarctica – the 19gram NWA (4765)). This is like the more famous CM2 material (Murchison probably being the most famous example), but had MUCH more water flow through it on its parent body. This looks pretty much like dark (nearly black) carbon (charcoal brickette like) on fresh cut or broken surfaces. All of the minerals in this have been altered to secondary phases and there are no chondrules present (just some rounded serpentine and sulfur rich inclusions). I have only 7 grams of this and there are no remaining pieces available to me. If the 4g I had offered on an e-mail offering a couple years ago is any guide, this won't last long, so contact me quickly if you want some of this stuff.
1) Fragments/ cut fragments: all in membrane boxes.
a) .072 grams - 5mm x 3mm x 2mm - $70
b) .132 grams - 7mm x 5mm x 3mm - $125
c) .226 grams - 6mm x 5mm x 4mm - $210 – cut fragment.
d) .410 grams – 13mm x 9mm x 3mm - $370
e) .81 grams - 10mm x 8mm x 6mm - $700
f) 1.21 grams - 15mm x 12mm x 5mm - $1030 – small area of crust.
g) 1.72 grams - 16mm x 11mm x 7mm - $1450 – end piece, nice crust on one edge.

BLUE SALT, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
I picked up some samples of this while at the Socorro Mineral Symposium and though that some collectors might like a piece as similar blue salt crystals have been found in some H-chondrites (Zag and Monahans (1998)). These crystals that were found in these meteorites show that water flowed through parts of even the H parent body (where as it was considered to be that water was likely present on only a few carbonaceous parent bodies). Like the Halite (sodium chloride – NaCl) in the meteorites, this halite has turned violet/blue from radiation damage. Radiation causes crystal lattice distortions and the release of sodium metal in the structure. This causes all but the blue and violet wavelengths of light to be absorbed (turning the salt violet and blue in color). The salt in the meteorites was exposed to cosmic radiation. These samples were exposed to radiation from chunks of the mineral Sylvite (potassium chloride or KCl) that has some radioactive potassium in its structure that was deposited near this salt layer.
1) Fragments
a) roughly 7 to 10 grams (about 18mm x 15mm x 15mm) - $10
b) roughly 20 grams (about 28mm x 23mm x 18mm) - $20
c) roughly 50 grams (about 35mm x 30mm x 23mm) - $30

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.
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