Monday, 11 January 2010

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 83 12JAN2010

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
……………………………………………..LIST 83
January 12, 2010

Dear Collectors,
This is a copy of my just sent out mailed list. I know that this was supposed to go out last Tuesday, but I was in Denver once again. This will likely be my last posting until after the Tucson show (and my last chance to give out the info for those of you that might be coming). Contact me if you have any questions on thee items or the show. Happy New Year!

Show info: I will be gone from home from about January 27th until about February 18th (a couple days longer than usual, as a recently developed family issue will have me needing to haul and deliver a bunch of stuff from my recently departed Aunt's estate in Denver to my uncle in Phoenix). I will be at my usual show location : Ramada Limited, room 134. This is at St Marys and the interstate (next to Denny's) - just 1/4 mile or so strait West of the Inn Suites (where many of the other meteorite dealers are).My room is about mid-way down the length of the motel (right next to the walk through actually) on the west side of the building (right by the parking lot - and there is often parking available right in front of my room) I should be open the afternoon of January 30th through the afternoon of February 13th (but there is always the chance I may leave a couple days early if things get really slow, though I have not done this the past few years, but notify me if you plan to see me those last couple days so I will be extra sure to stick around). I will be open every day in between - generally from 10AM until - ?. Usually this means at least 7pm if I am going out to eat (delivery pizza and Burger King get quite old after awhile) and often until 10pm or so other nights).

DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942, recognized 1950. Tkw= about 200 kilograms.
I am running low on this interesting meteorite. I used to have some individuals of this, but am now out (as is my source). I was able to acquire these slices recently though. The interior is not all that exciting to look at (a moderate amount of metal and chondrules in a dark brown matrix) but this is scientifically a very interesting meteorite. It is a regolith breccia from the surface of the H parent body that contains fragments of many different kinds of meteorites (carbonaceous, LL, and more) as well as microscopic diamonds. At around $2/g this is a real bargain for such a special (and named) meteorite!
1) Slices:
a) 3.9 grams - 30mm x 16mm x 4mm - $8.00
b) 9.5 grams - 30mm x 25mm x 4mm - $18.00
c) 20.8 grams - 54mm x 32mm x 4mm - $39.00
d) 34.0 grams - 55mm x 50mm x 4mm - $63.00

NWA (5425): (H4). Found May 2006. Tkw=995 grams.
Here is yet another H that looked very much like an acapulcoite (shows nice porosity). The last "common" chondrite I offered on a list (the most recent actually) sold out in short order. These common NWAs seem to be quite popular if priced affordably. I may have to look into getting more studied and recorded if this continues to be the case. This one shows a good number of chondrules and faint metal grains in a mixed brown and gray matrix.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 18.8 grams - 40mm x 30mm x 7mm - $16.00
b) 36.8 grams - 62mm x 40mm x 7mm - $30.00
c) 48.0 grams - 75mm x 45mm x 10mm - $38.00
d) 64.2 grams - 65mm x 47mm x 10mm - $50.00
e) 229.8 grams - 125mm x 70mm x 11mm - $170.00 - Main Mass!

NWA (4540): Carbonaceous chondrite (CO3.5). Found 2006. Tkw = about 1.3 kilograms.
I had not realized how long it has been since I offered a CO3 meteorite. It was a bit over 9 years ago since I had one on a mailed list (my October 2000 list, I believe). This material shows lots of the typical tiny chondrules and some tiny grains of metal in a medium to dark brown matrix. Overall, this is really representative of a "typical" CO3 meteorite. These are all thin cut fragments, but I do have a few (generally small) slices available as well.
1) Cut fragments:
a) 1.9 grams - 17mm x 13mm x 5mm - $21.00
b) 4.4 grams - 22mm x 10mm x 7mm - $48.00
c) 6.8 grams - 25mm x 14mm x 5mm - $73.00
d) 13.2 grams - 30mm x 20mm x 10mm - $138.00
e) 23.9 grams - 35mm x 25mm x 9mm - $240.00
f) 55.2 grams - 58mm x 45mm x 11mm - $550.00

DHOFAR (1286), Oman: (polymict Eucrite). Found December 2005. Tkw = 898 grams.
Two pieces were found about 30 meters apart. They fit together to form an almost complete stone. This material looks very much like a howardite with clasts and zones of varying shades from white to gray. This is a breccia of basalts of varying compositions, but it lacks hypoersthene (at least in high enough quantity) so it is a "polymict" eucrite instead of a howardite. I don't have much of this material, so let me know as soon as possible if you want me to set aside a piece for you.
1) Slices:
a) 2.4 grams - 20mm x 13mm x 3mm - $29.00
b) 5.2 grams - 30mm x 26mm x 3mm - $62.00
c) 8.4 grams - 37mm x 21mm x 3mm - $99.00
d) 28.1 grams - 75mm x 58mm x 3mm - $300.00
2) Cut fragment:
a) 44.0 grams - 60mm x 36mm x 12mm - $450.00

TOUFASSOUR, Morocco: (Mesosiderite). Found November 16, 2007. Tkw = 73.3 kilograms.
Numerous small pieces of this meteorite were found and sold since 2003 (unidentified, unfortunately). In November 2007 a small impact pit was discovered. Moroccan researchers recovered a 70kg piece and more small fragments during their investigation of this impact feature (and hence, the bulk of this named mesosiderite, a true rarity in the collecting world these days, is beyond the reach of collectors). The specimens I have here are some more of the small bits that were found by a meteorite hunter that came in after the research work was done. They are very fresh internally and show LOTS of metal.
1) Cut fragments:
a) .8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 3mm - $10.00
b) 1.2 grams - 18mm x 9mm x 4mm - $15.00
c) 2.4 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 4mm - $29.00
d) 3.5 grams - 24mm x 14mm x 4mm - $42.00
e) 4.4 grams - 23mm x 17mm x 4mm - $52.00

NWA (4734): Lunar basalt. Found 2001. Tkw = 1372 grams.
A number of crusted fragments of this Moon rock have been found over the past couple years, but little has been available to collectors until quite recently. It has been listed as a "Monzo-gabbro" (an intrusive rock) but it is really a surface cooled basalt. This stuff has a crystal texture that shows that it is a surface cooled (extruded volcanic rock) and not a slower cooled sub-surface (intrusive) rock. Its overall chemistry also shows that this cannot be properly called a gabbro either. The appearance of this material is surprisingly similar to Zagami - a Mars surface cooled basalt rock. About the only differences are that this has a bit more tan coloration to it and generally shows more fine black shock lines on the cut faces.
1) Slices:
a) .04 grams - 4mm x 2.5mm x 1.5mm - $34.00
b) .10 grams - 9mm x 3mm x 2mm - $85.00
c) .21 grams - 10mm x 5mm x 2mm - $179.00
d) .32 grams - 10mm x 7mm x 2mm - $270.00
e) .63 grams - 18mm x 7mm x 2mm - $532.00
f) 1.32 grams - 20mm x 14mm x 2mm - $1100.00 - about 12mm along edge crusted.
g) 2.73 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $2225.00 - about 30% of edge crusted.
h) 5.86 grams - 37mm x 30mm x 2mm - $4700.00 - about 40% of edge crusted.

TRINITITE: Nuclear blast formed glass. Near Socorro New Mexico. July 16, 1945.
I know, this is not meteorite related (though current theory of formation for these little blobs of glass says the sand was sucked up into the expanding blast fire-ball of the world's first nuclear explosion and then FELL to the ground as molten blobs), but I have had a number of people ask for this stuff lately. I have had this sitting around for awhile (so those that asked, got), and decided to finally offer it on a list. These are generally complete rounded blobs of green glass that have light gray sand stuck to the bottom (as they re-hit the ground still partially molten). Interesting little specimens and getting quite hard to come by.
1) Individual blobs as found:
a) .9 grams 14mm x 10mm x 5mm $5.00
b) 1.8 grams 20mm x 18mm x 6mm $10.00
c) 2.9 grams 23mm x 20mm x 7mm $15.00

Please include postage: a couple dollars on small U.S. orders and $10 on large items for first class (insurance is extra, if desired). On small overseas orders, $3 to $5 is generally plenty (I'll have to custom figure the rate for large items). Registration is also recommended on more valuable overseas shipments - an extra $12.00.
If you are sending a fax, simply begin transmitting when my line is answered. My fax will turn on automatically to receive (or I will start it if I answer) when you begin transmitting..

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites- List 82 - end 2009 offering

List 82 - end 2009 offering

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 82
December 14, 2009

Dear Collectors,

This will likely be my last offering of 2009. I have done a bit of my inventory work over the past couple weeks. So far it has resulted in the "only one or 2 pieces left" offering below. Unfortunately, I have not had time (and likely will not have time until VERY late in the month) to complete this work due to a family issue. My aunt passed away December 1st and left my brothers and I executors of the estate. We have accomplished much in cleaning up and preparing for the many "estate sales" we will have to host but this has already put me on two trips over the mountains (at the worst possible times so far - horrible icy roads, blowing snow and such) to Denver twice already and many more trips are yet to come (including maybe even leaving again in a few days). Any way, things are a bit overwhelming right now but I will try to keep tabs while on the road (retrieving phone messages from Linda and checking e-mail on my aunt's computer while we still have service at her house), but I will apologize in advance for any delays that (likely) will happen during this time.

These items are all "only ones remaining" so I have priced them to move and no substitutions are available, so contact me as soon as possible if you would like any of these.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas, Hanukah, holiday season and a great new year!

ZARAGOZA, Spain: Fine octahedrite (IVA), anomalous. Found 1950's. Tkw = 162kg.
This is my last bit of this odd material (though I do have a 27g slice that was sent off to a charity auction for Cascadia Meteorite Lab that I have not heard back yet as to whether or not it sold - so it may be available a bit later). This has a strange medium gray color with a weak, re-crystallized etch structure (due to being heated at some point in its past - likely while in space by impact or an orbit pass very close to the sun).
4.9 gram slice - 15mm x 10mm x 5mm - $20

DIMMITT, Texas: (H3.7). Found 1942.
This is an end piece (my only one) that I got from the Monig collection some years ago. The back side is all natural but it is roughly half natural break and half crusted and thumb-printed. This sits nice to display well naturally. This is probably the cheapest named H3 available (and even cheap for NWA type 3's).
244.5 gram end piece - 60mm x 43mm x 35mm - $230

ETTER, Texas: (L5). Found 1965. Tkw = about 340kg.
I thought I was completely sold out of this, but found this fantastic slice hiding in with some other slices (Northbranch I think). Any way, this piece has all the features that make Etter so popular. It has the nice dark jade-green color, lots of metal and troilite and a couple nice metal veins (one particularly clear for this meteorite). This was cut from a 180 pound piece that I bought (with a bank loan) back in 1993. Robert Haag bought and owned a 115 pound end piece for years. He sold this too Matt Morgan and I a few years ago and we cut this into some great large slices. This is my last piece and a great display specimen.
322.3 gram complete slice - 170mm x 110mm x 6mm - $480

NWA (543): (LL4). Found January 2000. Tkw = 105 grams.
This is a nice quite fresh complete slice. It is light gray (with some hints of browning in a couple areas) and shows lots of chondrules of various shades of generally darker gray. This looks very much like a piece of the Tuxtuac fall rather than an NWA find.
24.6 gram compete slice - 43mm x 38mm x 6mm - $99

NWA (736): (H3.7). Found January 2000. Tkw = 2766grams.
This is quite nice and fresh. It shows lots of small chondrules and metal in a light gray and tan matrix. These are the last two pieces of this.
a) 2.3 gram end piece - 19mm x 14mm x 3mm - $7
b) 3.4 gram end piece - 19mm x 19mm x 4mm - $10

NWA (1930): (LL3). Found 2003. Tkw = 7.5kg.
This is my last specimen of this and priced at less than half of my usual price. It is a nice end piece that displays nicely naturally. It has lots of chondrules in a mottled light gray in spots and brown in others matrix.
29.5 gram end piece - 32mm x 25mm x 21mm - $120

OUM DREYGA, Western Sahara: (H3-5). Fell October 16, 2003.
This is what originally was being offered years ago as "Amgala". These are my last two pieces of this. They are both complete individuals with fresh black crust covering most of their exteriors with the remainder being a very thin secondary crust covering a late atmospheric break (each look like they roughly broke in half late in their fall). Nice pieces!
a) 30.7 gram individual - 43mm x 26mm x 14mm - $105
b) 73.3 gram individual - 50mm x 31mm x 20mm - $250

RENFROW, Oklahoma: (L6). Found 1986, recognized 1995. Tkw = 81.7kg.
Here is a nice little piece that would be perfect for making tin-sections. This has a uniform dark gray (nearly black) color with a good amount of metal and sulfides scattered through out. My last piece (though I do have a nice 689 gram complete slice on consignment right now for $990).
7.4 gram slice - 22mm x 15mm x 6mm - $12

NWA (2932): (Mesosiderite) . Found 2005. Tkw = 15+kg.
This is probably the nicest msosiderite I have ever had. I do have a few of the metal nodule end pieces from this meteorite, but this is my last nice true mesosiderite looking specimen (though I am trying to locate more of this stuff). This piece has lots of metal, including a few metal nodules. A great specimen!
36.5 gram end piece - 39mm x 31mm x 15mm - $165

PUTORANA, Russia. (Mesosiderwrong) terrestrial nickel iron in basalt.
This is fantastically interesting stuff. It looks like a meteorite, has nickel (in the form of Kamacite - the low nickel allow in meteorites), Troilite and more. I had oxygen isotope work done by NASA that said "not of this Earth". Unfortunately, they saw native copper (and re-did oxygen work that resulted in it still being very strange but possibly within earth rock ranges after all) and decide that it MUST be terrestrial (then why is the obvious copper grains in Franconia not a problem?). Any way, this has been extremely popular over the years (and is even rarer than a mesosiderite as a terrestrial "iron in basalt") and I now have only these 3 small pieces remaining out of the nearly 30kg I purchased years ago (when I got that first "not of this earth" notification on the original oxygen work).
a) 3.6 gram slice - 15mm x 14mm x 5mm - $5
b) 12.6 gram slice - 25mm x 20mm x 6mm - $16
c) 13.2 gram slice - 27mm x 20mm x 6mm - $16.50

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites … LIST 81

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 81
December 1, 2009

Dear Collectors,
Here is a list of items that might be good for gifts for Christmas. These are mostly items that should appeal to the average person (non- meteorite collectors) and even the meteorite collector as well (though most of you will already have pieces of most of this stuff).
Contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in any of these things. I want to be sure to get them too you in time for them to be re-packed and shipped as gifts if that is what is going to happen to them. Due to a rapidly developing family emergency, I may have to leave town for a few days (multiple times over the next few weeks actually) so that may cause some delays (hence the hope that I can get as many orders lined up and packed quickly as possible). Don't be afraid to contact me later and ask about any of these things (or things on earlier lists for that manner) though. I realize that it sometimes takes time to make purchase decisions (particularly for gifts). I will do my best to be sure that you get it in time regardless of the delays on your or my part.

CAMPO del CIELO, Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB).
These are neat little pendants that have been made from the polished angular fragments of this meteorite that have had a small loop soldered to the top so they can easily be hung on a chain (neck or key). These are hugely popular at my shows and I often sell out what I bring (I did in Socorro). Unfortunately, I do not have the chains for these. Years ago I used to try and carry various chains for such things. It seemed that no matter how many different ones I had, I never had the right style (gold vs. silver etc. proper thickness or length). So I made the (possibly poor) decision to let the customers find what suits them best (these things can be easily found at Wal-Mart, Michael's or such for surprisingly cheap). Sizes (weights and dimensions) are approximate, as I have many pieces (except for the extra large) in each size range to pick from for you.
A) Small: about 3 grams each - 12mm x 10mm x 7mm - $3
B) Medium: about 8 grams - 19mm x 13mm x 9mm - $8
C) Large: about 13 grams each - 22mm x 18mm x 9mm - $13
D) Extra large: about 25 grams each - 20mm x 20mm x 19mm - $25 - good key-chain size.
E) Small gold plated piece: 1.8 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 5mm. This thing really looks like a nice little gold nugget (aesy to tell it is not with a magnet) - $5
F) Extra special piece: This is a neat little (8.6 grams - 17mm x 17mm x 6mm) piece that is a "puzzle piece" it has two interlocked pieces that are held together naturally. This stuff is broken apart along its natural Widmanstatten structure. This piece managed to partially separate along one band so there are now two halves that, though they wiggle, they are still firmly connected to each other. Really cool and the only piece like it I have ever found in this material - $50

SIKHOTE-ALIN: Russia. Coarsest octahedrite (IIAB). Fell Feb. 12, 1947.
Here are two different pendant options. One is basic and simple (bet yet has its own "chain" and looks quite nice) and the other quite elegant (professionally wire-rapped in sterling silver, but no chain).
a) Nice dark (not wire-brushed too an extreme) flat shrapnel piece (about 12 grams - 25mm x 25mm x 5mm) that has had a hole drilled in it (that must have taken some work), a loop put through that and hung on a dark leather-looking (though it is a synthetic material I am sure) "chain". Actually quite nice! I need to remember where I got this and make it a regular inventory item - $25
b) Nice quasi- heart shaped shrapnel piece (around 16 grams - 22mm x 26mm x 8mm) that has been wire wrapped in sterling silver. The meteorite has been cleaned such that parts (the edges) are still dark but the center is a medium gray metallic. Very nice piece! - $50

NWA (482): Lunar dust pendant.
These (all 2 of them I have left) are really nice. They are small (about 15mm long, 10mm diameter) teardrop glass vials that have a good amount of dust saved from the cutting of the famous NWA (482) lunar meteorite inside. These have been fully sealed (so no dust will escape) and capped with a 14k gold bell cap. They are ready to hang on any chain. - $100

INDOCHINITE PENDANT:
These are pendants made from a small (about 5g about 2 or 3cm across) tektite individuals (mostly flat or elongate) from Thailand. They have had a small loop attached at the top. These have been cleaned so they have a nice shiny black color (except some are thin enough to show the dark olive-green real color of the glass when a bit of light passes through them) and have the nice classic pitted surface features. Nice little jewelry pieces, but not suggested for use banging around on a key chain (the keys will likely ultimately win the battle) - $4 each.

CARVED MOLDAVITE PENDANTS:
I got a few of these neat carved moldavites a few years ago. They are nice individual moldavite specimens that have been carefully carved such that they have a beautiful lady's face in the center with the surrounding natural moldavite surface features looking like her hair. These are very nicely done and no two are alike. I had been selling these simply as "specimens". I recently decided to get a couple professionally wire-wrapped for pendant use. The results = WOW. I went ahead and got them all wrapped. I got one done in silver and the rest done in gold (the gold seems to work a bit better visually with the green of the moldavite).
a) Carving wire wrapped in sterling sliver. Specimen is roughly 16mm x 15mm x 10mm and overall pendant is 27mm x 22mm x 12mm - $100
b) Carving wrapped in 14k gold filled wire. Moldavite is roughly 20mm x 18mm x 8mm and overall pendant is 30mm x 18mm x 10mm - $100

MOON/ MARS BOXES:
These are neat little 55mm x 35mm plastic boxes that have a picture from either the Moon or Mars (depending, obviously, on what type rock it contains) with a 1cm round window cut out to one side that has a small (roughly 1mm x 2mm or so) piece of moon or mars rock in the center. These are neat little items and a huge hit at my retail shows and are a fantastic gift for kids or anybody interested in rocks, astronomy, meteorites or anything out of the ordinary..
a) Moon box - $25
b) Mars box - $25
c) One of each - $40

METEORITE POCKET WATCH:
I think this is the thing that got me started into pocket watches (many of you may not know that I have taught myself how to fix old watches and have built up quite a collection of antique pocket watches. I even have some for sale; ranging from $20 for a 40 or 50 year old "dollar watch" to a $1500 for a 270 year old specimen and everything in between. So, let me if you have a watch collector or antique collector on your list and I will see if I can come up with something for you). This is a "skeleton" watch that has front and back crystals so you can see through it (and the cut out movement plates) to see all of the gears and such doing their thing. What is special about this though is its case. It is completely (including the winding crown, bow, stem and all) machined out of a piece of Gibeon meteorite! It was then etched and gold plated. This has a plate inside labeled "S. Racine" (the maker) 001/100. This was the first one of what was to be a run of 100 meteorite watches. I don't think more than a handful were ever made (and they were all different in case style and decoration, so no two are alike as far as I am aware). A truly special and unique item - $3500

METEORITE COINS:
These are roughly 2" (50mm) diameter medallions that have a small piece (around 5mm size in the case of the Campo and NWA (869) coins, a small fragment or pinch of fragments and dust in the case of the moon or mars coins). Each is individually serial numbered as part of a limited (nearly sold out in some cases) run. The Campo and NWA (869) coins each come with a serial numbered "certificate of authenticity" as well (I
Did not get these for the moon/mars ones though).
a) Campo del Cielo or NWA (869 ) coins - $30 each
b) Moon or Mars coins - $70 each

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites- List #80 New Lunar

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 80

November 24, 2009

Dear Collectors,

I am back form my trips and, hopefully, should be home for awhile as I need to start doing inventory work soon. This is a required but tedious job that takes a good week or so to accomplish (I have a lot of stuff stored in a lot of different places and it all has to be weighed and cataloged). I should find a bunch of things to offer on the next couple lists from this work though, so look forward to those over the next few weeks.

This is a single, but special item offering. It should have gone out last Tuesday, but I was not home yet from the Socorro show as I spent an extra day getting home to let the snow get removed from the 11,000 foot high passes I have to cross. I got this special material very recently from Matt and I am thrilled to have it (I am purchasing a piece for my collection). It is the cheapest Lunar material I have ever offered (at least in nice slices). I don't have a real large amount of this, a couple tens of grams is all, so let me know as soon as possible if you want me to set aside a piece for you (I realize that with the holidays coming up, some of you may need extra time to pay for any pieces you might like for yourself, so PLEASE don't be afraid to ask).

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. I had known about this stuff (and had been waiting for a few grams I was supposed to be receiving through a trade deal I had arranged a couple years ago) but had only seen a couple photos and descriptions. These descriptions generally called this stuff "Monzo-gabbro" . It is not. It is actually a basalt. A gabbro is a sub-surface cooled igneous rock where as basalt is extruded onto and cools on the surface. 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 overall 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. Some of these pieces show some black crust along their edges (mostly the larger ones, unfortunately) , I will make not of those below.
1) Slices:
a) .04 grams - 4mm x 2.5mm x 1.5mm - $38
b) .10 grams - 9mm x 3mm x 2mm - $95
c) .21 grams - 10mm x 5mm x 2mm - $200
d) .32 grams - 10mm x 7mm x 2mm - $300
e) .63 grams - 18mm x 7mm x 2mm - $595
f) 1.32 grams - 20mm x 14mm x 2mm - $1235 - about 12mm along edge crusted.
g) 2.73 grams - 32mm x 17mm x 2mm - $2500 - about 30% of edge crusted.
h) 5.86 grams - 37mm x 30mm x 2mm - $5300 - about 40% of edge crusted.

2) Cut fragments:
a) 1.10 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 4mm - $1030
b) 1.67 grams - 30mm x 8mm x 3mm - $1560

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites LIST #79- 3NOV09

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………………LIST 79
November 3, 2009

Dear Collectors,

I am sorry that this is going out a bit late today. I have managed to get myself into a project that is turning out to be a bit more involved and difficult than what it originally appeared. I picked up a couple used solar hot-air panels a month or so ago and decided (with a good dose of really cold weather a week or so ago) it was time to install them. This seemed like a simple thing on paper, but the actual job has been very time consuming (I have been working on it off and on for close to a week now) and quite expensive for "free" heat. I do finally have the things mounted on the wall and pipes run so heat is arriving. Unfortunately, it is arriving in such huge quantities that I cannot seem to get a fan system to keep up. I finally have given up for the day. I had to hang sheets over the panels (thankfully there is no wind today) as the fans I was using are verging on melting! (the air was coming out of the vent at a bit over 160F) . I will to stop and reconsider how to deal with this later. So, now, finally is a list!

I do have some travels coming up:

I will likely be gone this Friday until Monday (November 6th through the 8th)..

I also have a show next week. This will be in Socorro, New Mexico (about an hours drive south of Albuquerque on I-25) for the Mineral Symposium that I have been attending for about 25 years now. I will set up a room of stuff, though not quite as filled as Denver or Tucson. I will be at the Comfort Inn on the very north end of town (on the west side of the interstate). I am supposed to be in room 119, but things often get goofed up in this show (very few ever get the same room year after year), so I cannot be absolutely certain of this. I will be open at about 5pm Friday November 13th (until around midnight) and again on Saturday the 14th from around 6pm until midnight. Let me know if any of you might make it and what you might like me to bring and I'll be sure to load it up to go with. For this event, I will likely be gone from home from Nov 12th until possibly November 19th (Linda wants to goof off a bit and visit friends in Durango on the way home, if she ends up coming along)

KORRA KORRABES, Namibia: (H3). Found August 2000, tkw = 140kg.
This piece is a much fresher than usual for this meteorite. It has a generally lighter color than most specimens (light grays and browns where as most Korra is usually dark brown). This allows the numerous medium gray clasts mixed in the chondrule-rich matrix to be readily visible.
47.9 gram cut fragment - 50mm x 40mm x 14mm - $80

NWA (5421): (LL3.7). Found 2008, Tkw = 2200grams.
When people see this one they usually simply say "wow". This (generally) has really large chondrules of many colors (resembling the famous and really expensive Ragland meteorite but just much larger scale). This stuff has pretty much completely sold itself. I never really got the chance to offer it publicly. I have only these 3 pieces left (and only because I had them set aside). The small piece is a bit small to really get an appretiation for the texture of this stuff, but is a good size for thin-sectioning (the main reason this one was put back). The large slice I set back because it was a large piece and it has an interesting zone of dark and fine-chondruled material blotched through the center. The end piece shows some thumb-prints and actually still shows a little bit of black crust. Its internal texture is really mostly the finer dark material but it does have one end showing the "anomalously large" chondrules (including one that is nearly 1cm across) that I more associate with this meteorite.
a) 2.5 gram slice - 25mm x 12mm x 2.5mm - $30
b) 92.6 gram complete slice - 115mm x 80mm x 4mm - $1000
c) 99.6 gram end piece - 75mm x 42mm x 25mm - $800

NWA (5488): (Lodranite), brecciated. Found 2008. Tkw = 110grams +.
Here are a few more pieces of this rare and interesting stuff. I quickly sold out of all I had when I first offered it. I managed to beg for a few more pieces so I would have some for people waiting for pieces as well as some for my upcoming show and such. This is fairly dark material, but it does show a great breccia texture with angular to sub-rounded fragments of all sizes.
a) .4 gram slice - 13mm x 7mm x 2mm - $32
b) 1.4 gram slice - 16mm x 15mm x 2mm - $112
c) 2.0 gram slice - 23mm x 20mm x 2mm - $160
d) 4.0 gram slice - 37mm x 19mm x 2mm - $300
e) 6.8 gram slice - 40mm x 27mm x 2mm - $500
f) 15.7 gram END PIECE - 40mm x 30mm x 6mm - $900 - shows really nice breccia texture including one large 12mm x 8mm clast.
.
SULAGIRI, India: (LL6). Fell September 12, 2008. Tkw = 110kg.
This is a large cut fragment (with 2 patches of crust) of a large piece (the "Attakuruki" mass) that landed in a road next to a cow pen. This piece even has a small (1cm or so) blotch of cow dung to lend a bit authenticity to its fall history. This has a 80mm x 60mm cut face, 2 crust patches (one about 65mm x 50mm that shows scratches, coloration from contact with the dirt and rocks as it made its crater in the road and the other a dark, clean 70mm x 30mm triangular shaped patch). This comes with a card telling a bit of its history that also has a photo of the impact pit it came from in the road with a couple cows lying beside the road with people gathered around the hole. This is NOT cheap stuff. Most others I know that have gotten pieces of this fall paid close to $18/g (and sometimes more). This is less than half of that (but the weight does make the raw number quite large none the less).
994.8 gram cut fragment with dung and crust - 80mm x 60mm x 80mm - $8000


Saturday, 31 October 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites List 78 NOV09

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax: (970) 874 -1487
………………………………………………………..LIST 78

November 2009

Dear Collectors,

Here is the e-mail (now blog post) version of my new mailed list that was recently sent out by mail to my customers. If you see anything of interest or have questions, please contact me. Phone is usually best (for those in the US anyway) for me (I am a lousy typist and we can cover more in just a couple minutes than hours of typing e-mails back and forth). However, I will be in and out of the house the next couple days working on a project (attempting to install a couple solar heating panels I recently picked up). So leave a message and I will call you back when I get back in. E-mail (brmeteorites@yahoo.com) is obviously best for overseas people, but I can be a bit lax in checking it from time to time (kind of a pain turning on the computer, booting up, signing in and all of that. Close to half an hour gone before I even get "down to business" so I sometimes end up going quite awhile without checking if things are otherwise busy).

CAMPO DEL CIELO, Argentina: Coarse octahedrite (IAB). Found 1576.
Here are some nice complete slices of highly silicated material. These are loaded with various silicate minerals, graphite and troilite. They look every bit as good as the famous Zagora, Udei Station or Landes meteorites but at a fraction of the price. I just finished polishing these up but did not etch them. First, most pieces have very little metal field areas that would show much of an etch anyway. Secondly, I had received these unpolished and un-coated. They showed no rust (except a thin brown staining on a couple pieces). Remembering a warning I got many years ago from Glenn Huss that the acid when etching potential problem irons will often set off a serious rusting reaction, I decided to just leave these beautiful slices alone as they were quite stable in their current state.
1)Slices of a highly silicated individual (all are complete but the 16.1g):
a) 16.1 grams - 45mm x 35mm x 3mm - $30.00
b) 24.3 grams - 47mm x 33mm x 4mm - $45.00
c) 39.1 grams - 63mm x 36mm x 4mm - $70.00
d) 74.0 grams - 80mm x 54mm x 4mm - $130.00 - has several olivine or pyroxene crystals.

NOKTAT ADDAGMAR, Mauritania: (LL5). Found October or November 2006, Tkw = about 1kg.
To stones (581grams and 188grams) were originally found (and a good number of tiny stones later) by a mineral collector near the cravansary of Noktat Addagmar after local reports of "stones that recently fell from the sky". These are very fresh (weathering grade of W0), but scientific studies of short-lived radionuclides indicate that they fell at least several decades earlier. These are all small individuals as found. They all have nice black crust (though there is some wind-polish shine to some portions) and most show contraction cracks and small chipped areas that reveal the fresh light-colored interior. Neat little pieces of a moderately rare type stone.
1) Individuals as found:
a) .25 grams - 9mm x 7mm x 6mm - $4.00
b) 1.44 grams - 12mm x 9mm x 8mm - $17.00
c) 2.45 grams - 12mm x 12mm x 10mm - $28.00

NWA (2136): Ordinary chondrite. (L3.5). Found before February 2004, Tkw = 1045 grams.
I can't believe I have had this hidden in storage for over 5 years now! But then I have been digging in older material more and more lately as there seems to be very little new available the past year or so. This is interesting and rare material (there are only around 5 L3.5 meteorites reported). This shows lots of gray chondrules of many sizes in an almost orange matrix. It is also quite porous. I had assumed that this was from weathering, but probably not as there are still plenty of fresh metal grains scattered throughout the specimen. I suspect that this just has not seen much shock in its life. At least not enough to compact and consolidate the material to a great degree.
1) Slices:
a) 3.4 grams - 36mm x 15mm x 2mm - $20.00
b) 6.3 grams - 33mm x 33mm x 3mm - $38.00
c) 13.0 grams - 60mm x 30mm x 2mm - $75.00
d) 23.5 grams - 60mm x 43mm x 3mm - $130.00
e) 37.9 grams - 75mm x 48mm x 4mm - $200.00

VIEDMA, Argentina: (L6). Found Feb 12, 2000, possibly fell Nov 5, 1998. Tkw = 6.9 kilograms.
A single stone was found by a gold prospector on Balneario el Condor Beach. There were local newspaper reports of a fireball traveling from west to east that detonated over Viedma on November 5, 1998. The find location of this stone was very close to the fall location suggested in the newspaper. This is indeed quite fresh material. It has a very light gray interior that shows only minor light brown oxide spotting. The crust is dark gray/black with only minor brown spotting as well. I have no trouble believing that this meteorite is indeed the one that fell in November of 1998. Unfortunately, I have very little of this material.
1) Slices:
a) 5.0 grams - 30mm x 14mm x 4mm - $30.00
b) 9.7 grams - 45mm x 18mm x 4mm - $58.00
c) 26.2 grams - 50mm x 32mm x 5mm - $150.00 - one crusted edge.
d) 63.1 grams - 95mm x 64mm x 3mm - $350.00 - 2/3 edge crusted.
e) 159.3 grams - 130mm x 90mm x 5mm - $800.00 - 90+% edge crusted.

NWA (2822): Rumurutiite. (R4), polymict breccia. Found before February 2005. Tkw = 1675 grams.
This is another one of my longer term stored items. I personally like R - chondrites and think they are a bit under appreciated in general. But then, I remember the early days of their discovery (the Carlisle Lakes, Australia material) and the excitement it generated in the research community. I had not realized how long it has been since I have offered an R-chondrite on one of my mailed lists (I have had the odd piece or two float through my e-mail offerings, but not many). Digging through my old records, it seems that the last R I listed was in October of 2004 - before this one was even found! This is nice material. It has a nice mottled medium orange to brown matrix that contains lots of lighter colored chondrules and the occasional odd dark clast. This is indeed a breccia containing pieces of rocks of different compositions, hence the "polymict" breccia classification.
1) Slices:
a) 3.0 grams - 18mm x 16mm x 3mm - $36.00
b) 6.1 grams - 33mm x 25mm x 3mm - $73.00
c) 16.7 grams - 58mm x 32mm x 3mm - $200.00 - complete slice
d) 25.6 grams - 60mm x 43mm x 3mm - $300.00 - complete slice
e) 33.5 grams - 68mm x 54mm x 3mm - $385.00

NWA (5745): Achondrite (Ureilite). Found before January 2006. Tkw = 1.5kg (9kg including pairings).
Here are some slices from some material that Mike Martinez and I picked up at the Tucson Show in 2006. Mike got the thrill of cutting this for me (NOT easy, this one contains plenty of blade busting diamonds). We had bought several fragments from a large piece that weighed about 9kg that was broken apart at the show. The largest piece (6kg and assigned NWA (2218)) went to Canada with David Gregory and is going to be donated to the Royal Ontario Museum (no idea where the other pieces went). Research work showed this material to be mineralogically unusual. It has a lower pyroxene content than most ureilites and is composed mostly of olivine with graphite and micro-diamonds.
1) Slices:
a) .93 grams - 13mm x 12mm x 2mm - $24.00
b) 1.8 grams - 22mm x 15mm x 2mm - $45.00
c) 4.5 grams - 27mm x 14mm x 4mm - $110.00
d) 6.5 grams - 35mm x 25mm x 3mm - $150.00
e) 8.3 grams - 35mm x 21mm x 4mm - $170.00
f) 24.3 grams - 65mm x 36mm x 4mm - $485.00
g) 37.2 grams - 58mm x 57mm x 4mm - $700.00
2) End pieces:
a) 10.7 grams - 33mm x 19mm x 8mm - $210.00
b) 71.3 grams - 60mm x 40mm x 20mm - $1250.00 - stands up nicely on its own.

MOLDAVITE: Tekitite. Beautiful green colored.
Here are some beautiful LARGE pieces. I have not had pieces this large for a long time (my bigger pieces seem to sell fastest, a different problem from other dealers and items). I got these in trade in Tucson this February and was thrilled to get them offered to me. They are all nice complete specimens (the largest has a chip on the underside, and others may have some tiny chipping that isn't noticeable without very careful inspection) that have very nice shapes and surface sculpting.
1) Complete specimens as found:
a) 7.9 grams - 22mm x 20mm x 12mm - $40.00
b) 11.2 grams - 38mm x 20mm x 9mm - $56.00
c) 14.9 grams - 42mm x 20mm x 12mm - $75.00
d) 18.3 grams - 40mm x 34mm x 12mm - $92.00
e) 21.3 grams - 55mm x 32mm x 9mm - $125.00
f) 32.6 grams - 60mm x 40mm x 8mm - $225.00

Please include postage; a couple dollars on small U.S. orders and about $2 per pound on larger items for 1st class (insurance is extra). On small overseas orders, $3 to $5 is generally plenty, and about $1 per ounce (28 grams) on larger items for air-mail. Registration is also recommended on overseas shipments - an extra $10.00.
If you are sending a fax, simply begin transmitting when my line is answered. My new machine will automatically start and receive just as the manual said.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Blaine Reed Meteorites- List #77 29SEP09

Blaine Reed
P.O. Box 1141
Delta, CO 81416
Ph/fax: (970) 874-1487
…………………………………………….LIST 77
September 29, 2009

Dear Collectors,
Here is an odd-timed offering. It should have gone out on the 15th but I was just opening up for the Denver Show. Last Tuesday I was still traveling home, so this is the earliest I could send something out.
The show was a bit slow on attendance, but not nearly as bad as might be expected (and actually, not as bad as last year). Those that did show up were serious about buying, so I did quite a bit better than last year (where I barely covered the show expenses). I guess being the only guy with a substantial amount and variety of collector's specimens really helped keep my place the place to hang out (I am sure the cooler full of beer had nothing to do with it though).
The only sour note that I hate bring up is the ever increasing theft issue and what it may mean for consignments in the future (and many of you have consigned items at one point or another over the years). I have been loosing more and more to theft every year lately. I have lost more in the past few years than all the previous 20 plus years combined (I will have officially been in business 25 years in October). I talked with a police officer and he commented that it is pretty much the case in all fields right now (so I shouldn't feel singled out). Interestingly, he commented that he thought that it is not really due to our difficult economy as much as it is the development of sites like E-Bay ("the biggest and best fencing operation ever conceived of and created by man" in his words). These sites make it very easy for a thief to dispose of stolen goods and too the end buyers in the field at a higher price no less. In earlier years the thief would be stuck trying to sell the goods back to other dealers at the same shows (hoping word had not spread to them about the missing items) or sell them very cheap to people not really related to the field who couldn't pass up a bargain. This is a BIG problem though and has me having to consider very serious, unwelcome changes to my show style.
Many have told me that I need to lock everything behind glass and only open cases for serious customers that are willing to wait for me to do it for them (and that can be quite delayed when things get busy). I personally don't like this option (though it may very well become a necessity soon the way things are progressing) . I, as a customer and "educator" like being able to handle things and look them over carefully (and letting people just learning about meteorites do the same) with out having to have a person hovering over me waiting for me to finish so they can lock up the case and move on to the next potential customer (this is why I pretty much avoid the locked case sections in antique malls when I am out hunting for "treasures" - too much time too much trouble, only to find that the price (usually the item is sitting on its tag) is too high). A fairly large number of my sales are to people that got interested by handling something from out of this world and were easily able to hand it too me and find that YES, they could actually afford it (things stuck behind glass tend to tell customers "if you have to ask, then you cannot afford it", so they usually do not ask). I do try to generally put small expensive items behind glass. I keep a careful eye on just who is opening up any of my cases (and will quickly appear next to them if they are anyone I do not recognize). This show showed me that this is not fool proof either. Matt Morgan's beautiful 86.4 gram Millbillillie end piece (I can send a picture too those that need one) not only managed to disappear under such conditions, but managed to do it on a slow day (no crowd confusion)from a case that is nearly impossible to open (so a quick casual slick open and close was NOT possible).
I am not sure what the answer security wise is in this case (a number of cameras recording everything - an easy task for Blake to set up, is one possible but expensive starting point). BUT, I probably need to change (and maybe eliminate?) my consignment policies for shows for the time being. I have been noted as being "easy" (to the point of winning a Harvey for "the dealer most willing to") and actually prefer to be that way (within reason and with a few restrictions) . But this quick loss just cost me around 20% of my profits from this show. This is serious business. If something of mine turns up missing (and plenty has the past couple years) that is very painful but at least it was ALREADY PAID FOR. A consigned item disappears and I have to pay for it out of show profits (and I try to not mark these up much so I don't make much on them even if they do sell). Right now I am considering simply shutting down accepting consignments for shows completely (no problems for mail-order sales) for a while. But then consignments allow me to have a really filled room with a really large assortment of things I would never be able to offer otherwise. Yet, the risks and cost have become so high, this seems my best option at this point.
I am considering (on Linda's advice) of having show consignors sign some kind of agreement that I am not responsible for stolen items (obvious negligence excluded of coarse). She tells me that all of the consignments she has done to clothing and construction materials shops has exactly such a clause in them (basically saying that they will do their best to protect the items but they are not responsible for loss or damage). This would mean that consignors could pull their material (or not submit it) if they did not like how I was handling it or planned to display it. One person has already commented that they certainly would NOT accept such a contract under any circumstances. Others have suggested a split of the lost value (I pay half of what I was going to have to pay if the item sold, the consignor looses half). I am hoping some of you out there will contact me and give me some of your thoughts on this (the reason I am bringing up this ugly issue in such a public way). Any and all comments are welcome and are helpful (no wrong answers here), I am truly confused, angered and disheartened by all of this right now and am hoping to find a workable solution for all of us.

Any way, on to some neat little specimens!

BELLE PLAINE, Kansas: (L6). Found 1950. Tkw = 96.4kg.
23.3 grams slice - 55mm x 38mm x 4mm - $60

GOBABEB, Namibia: (H4). Found 1969. Tkw = 27kg.
1.98 gram slice - 15mm x 13mm x 7mm - $20

HaH (222), Libya: (L6). Found 1997. Tkw = 3393 grams.
1.9grams slice - 16mm x 10mm x 4mm - $10 - 50% crusted edge.

HOLBROOK, Arizona: (L6). Fell July 19, 1912.
1.6 gram complete individual - 11mm x 10mm x 7mm - $30

OCHANSK, Russia: (H4). Fell August 30, 1887. Tkw = 500+kg.
.4 grams fragment - 10mm x 6mm x 4mm - $15

SONGYUAN, China: (L6). Fell August 15, 1993. Tkw = about 40kg.
19.6 gram slice - 48mm x 24mm x 5mm - $175 one crusted edge.

TOLAR, New Mexico: (H4). Found 1972, recognized 2002. Tkw = 5350 grams.
9.8 gram slice - 30mm x 30mm x 6mm - $30
15.3 gram slice - 60mm x 20m x 6mm - $45

WAGON MOUND, New Mexico: (L6). Found 1932. Tkw = 87.5kg.
2.0 gram "slice" - 14mm x 5mm x 10mm - $5

WICKENBURG, Arizona: (L6). Found 1940. Tkw = 9.2kg.
21.7 gram slice - 30mm x 29mm x 8mm - $80

IMILAC, Chile: (pallasite). Found 1822.
1.3 gram fragment - 12mm x 8mm x 5mm - $15

ESQUEL, Argentina: (Pallasite).
8.6 grams thin slice - 30mm x 20mm x 2mm - $215 - really clear crystals!

LIBYAN DESERT GLASS: Ancient stone tool
I got this from a professional archeologist that knows what he is doing (it comes with a signed card). It is a nice Neolithic Blade that was made from a really nice and clear piece of Libyan Glass.
2.0 grams - 33mm x 15mm x 3mm - $100