Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites List# 73 21APR09

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax: (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 73
April 21, 2009

Dear Collectors,
Looking this over after just finishing typing, I notice that this is all semi- rare to really rare types (except the Etter), so look through this list carefully, there is a lot of interesting things hiding here. My next posting should be a copy of a mailed list I hope to be sending out soon to those of you on my mailing list. The posting of this may be slightly delayed from May 5th (the date I am supposed to put out my next e-mail posting) depending upon when I get the mailed version actually sent out (I try to time things so all of you will get it at roughly the same time). Denver spring show: Part of the delay in getting my mailed list out is from the fact that I will be visiting the Denver Spring show later this week (I will be gone the 23rd through about the 28th - weather determining, and it has been generally quite bad in the mountains lately, creating a lot of driving delays for me). The show is at the Holiday Inn at the intersection of I-25 and I-70 (same place I set up a room at for the September Fall show). This runs Friday through Sunday (April24th through 26th). I do not set up a room at this show, but consign a few items to Anne Black (thank you Anne!) who has a nice booth in the entrance hallway near the front desk. I will have other things with me as well. Be sure to let me know if any of you out there want me to bring any specific items for you (give me a contact phone number so I can figure out when we can meet).

AGOULT, Morocco: (Eucrite), unbrecciated.
Found March 200, tkw = 85g+.
This is my only piece remaining of this stuff that looks pretty much like Ibitira but lacks the gas bubbles. This is a nice slice that has nice crust along 60% or more of its edge. It is thick enough that it could easily be split into 2 or more thinner pieces.
4.8 gram slice - 23mm x 16mm x 4.5mm - $250

ETTER, Texas: (L5). Found 1965. Tkw = 338+kg.
This is a fantastic large display slice of this nice material. This was actually cut from a 180 pound piece I bought from a farmer back in 1993 (Robert Haag owned the end piece this was cut from for many years). It is currently my only piece of Etter and may be the only large complete slice still available out there in dealer's hands. This shows lots of metal (including a couple veins), a few large light green chondrules, plus a really large troilite complex (over 50mm long!) in a dark jade-green matrix.
1674 gram complete slice - 385mm x 215mm x 6mm - $3000

NWA 725: (Winonaite). Found July 4, 2000. Tkw = 3824g+.
This was originally classified as an Acapulcoite. Further work has shown it to be a Winonaite instead. This stuff has some dark chondrules in a light gray matrix (leading one researcher to comment that it should really be called a "W" chondrite as it is not truly an achondrite). This material so closely resembles an H chondrite (complete with lots of fresh metal) that it has caused me a lot of expense and grief having many similar looking things checked (I have a good assortment of nice H-chondrites that will soon be available from these efforts) to be sure they are not more of this rare stuff.
6.68 gram end piece - 24mm x 20mm x 10mm - $350

NWA 736: (H3.7). Tkw = 2766 grams.
I have offered piece of this from time to time over the years. I have very little left now. It is nice material. It shows lots of metal and small chondrules in a mixed light gray and tan matrix.
a) 2.3 gram cut fragment - 19mm x 15mm x 4mm - $10
b) 3.4 gram cut fragment - 20mm x 19mm x 5mm - $14
c) 4.9 gram cut fragment - 30mm x 20mm x 4mm - $20
d) 23.1 gram "slice" (wedged) - 45mm x 25mm x 8mm - $69

NWA 868: (LL6). Tkw = 201grams.
This is a little specimen from a meteorite that we (David Gregory and I) sent in to UCLA years ago. It went in along with the a piece of the now super famous NWA (869) (we were the original people that got some of this looked at and are the source of that number). So here is the last chance (this is the last specimen) to own a piece of the meteorite that was next in line for a number from probably the most famous of all NWAs. 2.8 gram cut fragment - 17mm x 16mm x 6mm - $12

NWA 1906: Rumurutiite (R4), S2, W2. Found 2003. Tkw = 560 grams. One piece of this that must have been nearly as round as a ball-bearing was found (probably really hard to cut as well). This is a complete nearly round slice. It shows many roughly centimeter sized dark chondrule-rich clasts in a dark brown matrix.
28.5 gram complete slice - 63mm x 60mm x 3mm - $450

NWA 1910: Enstatite chondrite (EL6). Found 2002, Tkw = 305 grams.
This is a nice fresh enstatite chondrite. It shows lots of fine grained metal (and the occasional metal vein) in a light gray matrix. It also has a fairly strong sulfur (rotten egg) smell that a good enstatite should have.
a) 1.2 gram part slice - 18mm x 7mm x 3mm - $65
b) 2.3 gram part slice - 18mm x 12mm x 3mm - $100
c) 4.5 gram part slice - 27mm x 17mm x 3mm - $190

NWA 4657: Carbonaceous chondrite (CK4). Tkw = 417grams.
There was one piece of this that Matt and I shared. I sold out of all of my pieces rapidly (this is VERY fresh material, making it quite popular with collectors). I believe that this may be the last piece that Matt had as well. This is a wonderful complete slice from near the center of the original mass (and thus has the largest surface area available).
27.0 gram complete slice - 60mm x 47mm x 4mm - $400

NWA 5028: Carbonaceous chondrite (CR2). Fnd 2007, Tkw = 2445grams.
This is one Matt picked up in Denver a couple years ago. He is keeping the main portion of it and these 2 nice thin pieces are the last specimens available to collectors. These show lots of chondrules in a dark (nearly black) matrix.
a) 7.4 gram part slice - 47mm x 28mm x 1.5mm - $250
b) 15.1 gram part slice - 64mm x 44mm x 1.5mm - $500

NWA 5426: Rumurutiite (R4), polymict breccia. Tkw = 285 grams.
Wow, I wish I had more of this (I do have a similar R chondrite that will be on a future mailed list but it is not quite as nice as this for breccia texture). I had a couple pieces of a likely paired meteorite a year or so ago and they flew out the door even without being fully studied and numbered (and at a price equal to or higher than this). This stuff shows fantastic structure with fragments of all kinds of different colors and textures in a light tan matrix.
a) 23.2 gram end piece - 61mm x 34mm x 5mm - $370
b) 31.4 gram end piece - 52mm x 45mm x 8mm - $500
c) 40.6 gram end piece - 53mm x 43mm x 10mm - $640 - lots of breccia fragments!

NWA 5488: (Lodranite), brecciated. Found 2008. Tkw = 110g.
I had slices of this neat and rare material on my January mailed list and quickly sold out (the fact that is does show a very nice breccia structure sure didn't hurt - some people came back and bought more after receiving their first specimen). Matt Morgan had a couple more pieces set aside that I picked up while visiting him last week (I have been making lots of trips to Denver lately). These are the last specimens available. I may consider breaking one of these up to offer smaller pieces later if they do not sell intact, so let me know if you are looking for a smaller piece.
a) 4.0 gram 1/2 slice - 30mm x 20mm x 2mm - $300
b) 9.7 gram complete slice - 40mm x 32mm x 2.5mm - $700

Tuesday, 7 April 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 72 7APR09

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax: (970) 874-1487…………………………………………………..LIST 72
April 7, 2009

Dear collectors,
Here is yet another offering of material I brought home from Tucson. I apologize that this is going out quite late (particularly for those of you overseas).
It is nice to know that the snow is starting to melt but spring here also brings ditch burning season here (farmers getting ready for the irrigation system to start flowing next week). The smoke and starting of things growing has set off my season of allergies and sinus headaches. I was in rough enough shape most of this morning that I could not seem to get any meaningful work done until now (early afternoon).
As usual, contact me as soon as possible if you want me to set anything aside for you. Enjoy!

BRENHAM, Kansas: (Pallasite).
This is a nice etched complete slice cut from a 69kg iron individual (actually kind of rare for this meteorite) found on October 30, 2005 by Steve Arnold. This shows a nice etch.
274.8 gram complete etched slice - 200mm x 60mm x 2mm - $450

CANYON DIABLO, Arizona: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
This is a little wire brushed individual I sold to a collector in Florida many years ago. It has a fairly nice shape (Not a lump) and looks quite nice overall (it held up very well in the humid environment and is not rusting at all).
86.7 gram brushed individual - 50mm x 23mm x 16mm - $60

HENBURY, Australia: Medium octahedrite (IIIAB).
Found 1931.
This is a nice natural (not brushed) shrapnel shaped individual. I offered some similar pieces on an earlier mailed offering and quickly sold out. Here is on more chance for a "larger" Henbury specimen.
43.3 gram natural individual - 40mm x 20mm x 12mm - $55 SOLD

BLUFF (b), Texas: (L4). Found 1917. Tkw = 15.5 kilograms.
This is one of my favorite chondrites. It has a beautiful jade-green color unlike any other. This originally came from the Monig collection but this all sold rapidly and no more is available from that source. This piece is from a collector who bought it years ago when it was readily available. I kind of wish I bought a large piece for display myself now.
26.2 gram part slice - 50mm x 25mm x 6mm - $150

FRANCONIA, Arizona: (H5). Found October 31, 2002. Tkw = about 100kg.
Here are a couple individuals that each have a polished window that shows a bit of the interior, as if the finder was not certain that these pieces were meteorites despite the obvious fusion crust covering the rest of the specimens until they saw the chondrules and metal inside.
a) 25.8 gram individual - 30mm x 20mm x 18mm - $40
b) 80.5 gram individual - 35mm x 30mm x 30mm - $120

HAXTUN, Colorado: (H/L 4). Found 1975. Tkw = 45.5kg.
This is an interesting cut fragment of this strange material that has a "large" (about 3mm x 4mm) green chondrule showing on the cut and polished face.
17.5 gram cut fragment - 25mm x 13mm x 23mm - $60 SOLD

GAO - ???: Mystery slice.This is a complete fresh slice of a meteorite that a friend of mine received in a batch of Gao individuals he bought years ago. Its fresh black crust made it obvious that it was something different. The interior is a nice light gray (no rust spotting at all) with sparse chondrules and plenty of fresh metal. This looks to be either a type 5 or 6 (could be either L or H type, it is really hard to tell with this one) It is possible that this is indeed a fresh Gao piece that was picked up right after the fall (I have only seen one other such fresh Gao piece - a small slice from a museum) but it is more likely a new fall that got collected (unnoticed, unfortunately) by the people gathering up pieces of the older Gao fall. This stone, I was told, weighed only a few hundred grams and the other slices have already long since found new homes.
37.2 gram complete fresh slice - 47mm x 40mm x 7mm - $150 SOLD

NWA: Unclassified but likely (L6) with shock veins.
Here is a neat little individual I picked up that had obvious shock veins showing on its surface. I turned out to show these nicely on the interior as well after I cut it in half. The interior shows obvious breccia fragments that are separated by black shock veins. I really wish more of this one was available.
89.3 gram individual cut in half - 55mm x 35mm cut faces - $50 SOLD

ZAG, Western Sahara: (H3-6) breccia. Fell August 4 or 5, 1998. Tkw = about 175kg.
This fragment does show some weathering so it was not picked up immediately after the fall (as few were). It has a 38mm x 20mm patch of black crust and the interior looks like it shows breccia texture (darker type 3 material looks to be amply present). As much as I hate to say it, this piece would probably be really good for cutting up into nice slices.
124.4 gram fragment - 45mm x 35mm x 35mm - $175

NWA (2988), (Eucrite). Tkw = 4602grams.
Lunar look a like!This is really an NWA (482) (Lunar) look-alike. In fact the guys who bought this thought that it was indeed another piece of that famous meteorite. The science though says that this is really "just" a eucrite. Still neat and rare, but quite a let down when you thought you had a nearly 5kg lunar in your hands. This is indeed almost exactly like NWA (482) structurally (showing angular fragments and abundant dark shock veins). About the only real difference is that this material has a bit darker gray clasts and a bit lighter gray shock veins. Here is a chance to own the structure of NWA (482) (very popular and in demand) at less than 1/100th the price.
76.5 gram complete slice - 115mm x 90mm x 3mm - $1200 SOLD

ORGUEIL, France: Carbonaceous chondrite (CI1). Fell May 14, 1864.
This is a piece I forgot I had! Hard to imagine, I realize, but it was hiding in with some other special material I had set aside some years ago (so this one item is NOT a Tucson recovery). This is by far the largest and most solid piece I have of this extremely rare material. This is a nice solid chunk that was sealed in a plastic bag to protect it (which it seems did work as this specimen shows very little of the white sulfate weathering products I have seen on other pierces of this stuff over the years). It also has a Humbolt University label with it, though I cannot guarantee that it really belongs with this piece (it lists no weight and seems to indicate 3 pieces - not just one. Maybe there were 2 smaller specimens with this at one time and the label traveled along with the largest piece).
3.35 gram fragment - 16mm x 15mm x 12m - $4500 SOLD

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Blaine Reed LIST 71 March 15, 2009

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax: (970) 874-1487
..........……………………………………………….LIST 71 March 15, 2009
Dear Collectors,
Here is another batch of after Tucson stuff. I will likely have at least one more next month before I am caught up with the remaining "left over" stuff from the show. I apologize that this is going out at an odd time. I will be out of town (on two separate trips that more or less overlap) starting early Thursday morning (March 19th). I will likely be gone until the 31st. I may have a day at home on the 25th, but not enough time to accomplish much other than catching up from being gone on the first segment. So, I decided it best to go ahead and send this list out a couple days early as I thought it would be dumb to wait until the usual Tuesday afternoon and have only a day and a half to take, prepare and ship orders (while I should be packing as well). I will also be staying home from my usual trip to Grand Junction to visit friends this Monday evening as well (the reason I usually send these lists out on Tuesday instead of Sunday or Monday)

CAMPO DEL CIELO, Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
Here is an interesting piece. It is a highly thumb-printed piece that has a small (about 2mm) natural hole.217.8g individual with hole - 62mm x 40mm x 15mm - $100

CHINGA, Russia: Ungrouped ataxite. Found 1913.
This is a nice complete thin slice that has been polished on both sides.177gram complete slice - 190mm x 50mm x 2mm - $270

MILES, Australia: Silicated iron (IIE). Found 1992. Tkw = 265kg.
3.5g slice - 33mm x 10mm x 2mm - $30

SIKHOTE-ALIN, Russia. Coarsest octahedrite (IIAB). Fell February 12, 1947.
Here is an unusual specimen. It is partly fusion crusted (1/3 or so of the surface shows obvious fusion crust) and partly shrapnel (about 2/3 shows obvious violent fragmentation) . Very neat and quite rare.64.6 gram individual - 30mm x 27mm x 12mm - $80

JUANCHENGE, China: (H5). Fell February 15, 1997.
This is the last piece I have from the late Tom Palmer's collection. It is a nice complete slice. It has a 3 letter code painted in one corner on the back, along with this same code and Juanchenge on a sticker label (also on the back) as well. Nice piece. I am surprised I did not sell it at the show (but its end piece brother did find a new home).17.3 gram complete slice - 50mm x 27mm x 5mm - $50

LONG ISLAND, Kansas: (L6). Found 1891. Tkw = 565kg.
This is a nice solid block (with one natural edge) from the Monig Collection at TCU. It comes with a museum label. This would be good for further cutting into smaller pieces or left as is. 240.6 gram block - 65mm x 40mm x 38mm - $450

NWA (4431): (L5), S2, W2. Found April 2005. Tkw = 450grams.
This is nice fresh material. The interior is light gray with some light brown spotting. The edge shows some fresh black crust (surprising it didn't get a weathering grade lower than 2). The most interesting feature though is a large (about 1cm) gray layered chondrule or melt pocket that somewhat resembles an eye. This piece is in a Riker Mount.14.7 gram slice - 45mm x 38mm x 3mm - $45

OUM DREYGA, Western Sahara: (H3-5). Fell October 16, 2003.
Here is a really neat specimen! It shows super fresh black crust over most of its exterior. But, the better part is the 45mm x 25mm broken surface (exposed interior). This shows two very distinct lithlologies (with a very distinct sharp boundary line). One part (about 2/3 of the broken area) is dark gray and chondrule rich (H3 perhaps). The remainder (about 1/3) is light colored and chondrule poor (H5 material perhaps). There is some rust spotting (only on the exposed interior area), but this is a fascinating piece none the less.112.2 gram individual - 57mm x 25mm x 27mm - $500

ZAG, Western Sahara: (H3-6) breccia. Fell August 4 or 5, 1998.
This is a nice little block with two sides showing fresh black crust. The interior is fairly light and does not show a lot of chondrules, so I suspect that it is some of the H5 or 6 material. This is nice the way it is, but could be cut into some really nice not quite micro slice specimens.
13.5 gram crusted block - 25mm x 14mm x 12mm - $25

NWA (3116): Carbonaceous. (CK5). Found 2002. Tkw = 27grams.
This is hard and dark and does not seem to match (obviously pair with) any of the other CK meteorites I have had recently (or for a number of years for that matter) and does not look like any I recall seeing elsewhere either. It is not something commonly available (but I don't think any of the CKs are).
.08 grams of small thin slices (3 main pieces) - $5.77 gram
slice - 13mm x 11mm x 2mm - $301.28 gram
slice - 20mm x 12mm x 2mm - $50

NWA (2753): (olivine diogenite). Tkw = 460grams.
Actually there is likely a lot more of this stuff when pairings are considered, I am sure. But this is all Matt Moran had when he got the work done on this piece. But look at the price - under $10/g! I remember when the first piece of this came out and the stuff was selling for many thousands of dollars per gram. Unfortunately, all I have of this at the moment is a few thick (about 5mm) slice pieces.
Part slices - $6.00/g.
Sizes available: 1.4g, 1.8g, 2.5g, 4.8g, 5.8g

NWA (5487): (eucrite). Found 2008. Tkw = 150grams.
A single stone was found of this found. It looks more like a howardite than a eucrite. Not like NWA (1929), but more like Dhofar (485) (which I had on an earlier offering). This shows light gray generally rounded clasts surrounded by darker melt material. A few greenish brown clasts (diogenite material?) are also present. This was popular at the show and these three pieces are all that remains.
12.8 gram complete slice - 45mm x 33mm x 3mm - $180
16.2 gram complete slice - 50mm x 38mm x 4mm - $210
47.1 gram end piece - 45mm x 30mm x 15mm - $550 - main mass.

SEYMCHAN, Russia: (Pallasite). Found 1962.
This is a nice slice of the olivine rich material. This one though has a lot of olivine of a wide range of sizes. The crystals range in size from small angular pieces (a couple mm in size) up to a few large more rounded pieces (around 1cm in size). This is a piece I sold to a collector in Florida a couple years ago. It is a very nice (and stable) specimen.
33.8 gram slice - 52mm x 49mm x 3mm - $340

MOLDAVITE:Here is a nice little 1gram specimen that has been mounted in a little plastic display dome. Kind of a neat little display.1.0 gram individual in display dome - $10