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By admin, February 27, 2010 8:58 pm

Recently on the Meteorite Mailing List, there has been an interesting discussion about labeling meteorite specimens.  I usually don’t post on the mailing list (I’m more of a lurker), but this is an interesting topic to me.

First, for those readers who don’t know what I’m talking about, the discussion regards this sort of labeling – painting numbers on meteorites so they can still be properly identified many years later.  This is more than just a tool to assist with forgetfulness – it’s so future collectors can identify our meteorites after we’re gone.  Many collectors are in favor of this sort of labeling, but I’m not so sure.

It seems to me that even if we paint numbers on our specimens, their identification still relies on whether or not our documentation accompanies them.  A number #47.02A doesn’t mean anything to future generations unless there is a catalog to indicate what it means.  And if all of this is going to rely on a paper/digital catalog, then why bother painting numbers on them at all?  I think a catalog with detailed photos can do the job just as well without harming the aesthetics of the piece.

I imagine a future collector trying to identify an unlabeled 5.5g meteorite from a known collection.  They look in the paper/digital catalog, sorted by weight, and find the photos of any 5.5g pieces.  Then they can quickly identify the specimen without having a number painted on 25% of the surface.

I guess what I’m saying is that digital cameras make documenting our collections easier than ever before – so let’s take advantage of this!  Documenting a collection with photos is fun, too.  Painted ID numbers may have served a purpose in the past, but I don’t see the need for them anymore.  I mean, come on.  Really?

As a side note, I do wonder if maybe specimens should still have a “mark” to indicate whose collection/catalog they belonged to.  This mark could be smaller and less obtrusive than a full ID number would be.  Maybe something like the owner’s initials would suffice.  I just don’t see the point of individual ID numbers painted on everything when it’s so easy to take photos nowadays.

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By admin, December 8, 2009 3:55 pm

I received the following unsolicited email today from someone trying to sell me something:

Hello !

Let me proudly presents the most anorthositic rich outstanding one of a kind Lunar meteorite ever seen in history, a real attractive eye-catcher dream from Highland of Moon, with beautiful and absolutly freshest dark FUSION CRUST !!! ( 48gram )

Much more photos, 48gram extreme Lunar anorthosite meteorite !!!

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/556563765wPuQit .

Best Wishes /// Göran Lindfors

mars@tele2.se

There were about 20 images attached to this email, and they all looked suspect to me.  Some of them vaguely resembled a lunar meteorite, but none of them looked genuine.  My personal opinion is that they look like a mixture of rock, coated with some sort of substance and then blowtorched.  Within a matter of seconds, I knew that I wouldn’t be purchasing anything from this seller.

It’s also worth pointing out that in my years of meteorite collecting, I had never heard of this seller or this 48g lunar meteorite.  Meteorite collectors are smart, and most of us know to look for lab classification and subsequent publication in the Meteoritical Bulletin – especially for something as important as a lunar meteorite.  So, certainly someone wouldn’t ignore all that and try to sell a fake, right?  Intrigued, I decided to do a google search of their name.  This is what comes up.  I found the 4th search result (here) to be particularly illuminating.

So, are they fake?  Well, I’m not in any position to definitively say that.  However, I can say with certainty that I will not be doing business with this person.  I would also like to recommend that everyone be very careful about offers like this.  Always do your research!

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By admin, August 15, 2009 2:09 pm

I finally got around to adding my meteorite collection to the IMCA Encyclopedia of Meteorites today.  You can view my collection page here.  Of course, I still have my own collection page on this website.  So I guess you can see my meteorite collection in two different formats now.

The Encyclopedia of Meteorites site has shown me a couple of interesting stats.  Apparently, 21% of my meteorites are witnessed falls and 79% are finds.  That’s a much higher percentage of falls than I expected, because I’ve never really gone out of my way to collect falls.  I have a few of the classic falls, of course – like Sikhote-Alin, Allende, etc.  I also have some recent falls, including Tamdakht and Ash Creek.  I guess those pieces really add up.

Another piece of info I learned today is that my collection is 75% stony, 11% iron, 8% stony-iron, and 6% unknown.  Those “unknown” types are provisional NWAs – all of which are stony meteorites.  These numbers are about what I would expect.  I’d like to get a few more irons, including Miles, Toluca, and Chinga.  In the meantime, I have two other irons on the way: Dronino and Lanton.

If you have a meteorite collection and you haven’t been to the Encyclopedia of Meteorites lately, give it a try.

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By admin, August 10, 2009 4:16 pm

I just added two new features to the site: a meteorite glossary and a meteorite classification tree.  These two features, along with my meteorite links page, now comprise the “Resources” area of the site.

There are already other places on the internet to find definitions of meteorites terms.  For example, David Darling has a good Internet Encylopedia of Science.  Still, I wanted to make something of my own – something that would include meteorite slang as well as the usual “textbook” terms.  If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.  I think this could be a could tool for beginners who might be confused or intimidated by some of the words we use in this hobby.

The meteorite classification tree has also been done before online, in a few different ways.  Again, I wanted to put my own spin on it.  By making it an interactive collapsible list, I tried to make it easy to navigate and understand.  I included 1-3 popular examples for each classification, which I think makes it more fun and interesting.

Besides these two pages, I also I have a couple of other ideas for the “Resources” area.  My hope is to turn this site into a place where people can learn a little about meteorites… oh, and maybe buy some meteorites, too.

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By admin, July 25, 2009 3:40 pm

Introduction

This guide is intended for the beginner interested in buying meteorites on eBay. Meteorite collecting is a niche hobby, so eBay is an excellent resource for buying and selling. Let’s get started!

Getting Started

Ready to buy your first meteorite? Before you begin, you should educate yourself on the basics of meteorite collecting. A quick search for “meteorite ” (or a link into eBay’s Meteorite & Tektite category) finds well over 1,000 results. How do you know if you’re getting a good deal – or even an authentic piece at all? With prices ranging from under $5 to over $5,000, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Let’s start by looking at inexpensive pieces.

Let’s say you’ve decided to look for meteorites under $50. As of the time of this writing, eBay shows 851 results for “meteorite” in that price range. Including global sellers expands the list to 1001 results. This is still a lot to look through, but you’ll soon learn how to spot the highlights. First, you’ll notice that many of these “meteorites” aren’t meteorites at all – they’re meteorite impact glass or impactite. Two common types, tektites and moldavites, are often seen on eBay. While these items can be interesting for their own reasons, they’re not really the focus of this guide.

The vast majority of eBay meteorite dealers are genuine and a pleasure to deal with. Some of them hunt pieces themselves, making trips all around the world in search of new inventory. Most of the big dealers attend rock shows like the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral show, where they buy material at wholesale.

Types of Collecting

Before you commit to buy anything, you should browse around just to see what’s out there. This will help you decide how to focus your collection. Are you interested in getting dozens of tiny pieces of various of meteorites, or would you rather just have one really big one? Are you more interested in meteorites of scientific value (such as a piece of Mars), or would you rather have meteorites of historic value (such as a piece that hit a car)? By seeing what’s out there, you can get a feel for what you’re drawn to. Many collectors look for modest specimens of “all of the above”.

Micromounts

It shouldn’t surprise you that inexpensive pieces are often smaller than expensive ones. Small collection pieces, or micromounts, are typically the size of a fingernail and usually come in plastic gem cases. Many people begin their collections this way, and some collectors never purchase any large specimens at all. If you’re interested in meteorites for their science and history, then micromounts are the easiest way to amass a varied collection. They make great conversation pieces, and it’s fun to have a shelf in your home with specimens that landed all around the world. Unfortunately, micromounts don’t offer much in the way of aesthetic value – for that, we move on to bigger pieces.

Bigger Pieces

Although your home might not be ready for a 37-ton iron monster, you’ll probably want some pieces that are bigger than gem case specimens. Every meteorite piece is unique, and as a buyer you should be aware of the different types. Since we’re just getting started, we’ll keep it simple: meteorites are either stone, iron, or (you guessed it) stony-iron. They are sold as individuals, slices, partslices, fragments, and endcuts. There are pros and cons to the way a specimen is prepared: individuals display the dark, melted outer surface of the meteorite (known as fusion crust), while polished slices display the interesting interior. Endcuts offer a little bit of both.

The most inexpensive meteorites on the market are stone meteorites from Northwest Africa (NWA). This is due to the large influx of pieces from the region in recent years. Many of these are classified and identified with a number (i.e. NWA 869), but some are not. A few are in pristine condition, but this is generally not the case. In fact, NWA’s can be some of the most weathered meteorites on the market – with fusion crust all but gone and discoloration throughout the interior. Despite this, there are excellent finds from the NWA region. Although most collectors prefer the classified/numbered pieces, even some of the unclassified meteorites can make fine additions to a collection.

A Note on Pricing

You’ll notice that meteorites are often priced “per gram”. Also, as you might expect, the price per gram is usually lower when you buy in bulk. Never buy a meteorite if you do not know the weight or size! Fragments of rare meteorites, such as a piece of the Moon or Mars, are often the size of a grain of sand. This is fine, as long as you know what you’re getting! High resolution scans can make a grain of sand look like a mountain, so always ask a seller first if they do not mention the mass or size. Thankfully, most dealers include an object in their photo for size comparison, such as a coin, hand, or centimeter cube.

Although mass provides a good basis for pricing, it is not the only thing to consider. The quality of specimens, even of the same meteorite fall, can vary. Most meteorites are at risk of rust, due to their iron-nickel content. A stony-iron meteorite like Brahin can be a superb quality slice ($10/g) or a jagged rust bomb ($1/g). This brings us to another issue – the cut of the piece. Meteorites, especially iron ones, are not easy to cut. When meteorite dealers slice a piece, they have to factor “cutting loss” into the price. Thinner slices are more visually appealing, because they have a larger surface area than a thick slice of equal mass. This, combined with the increased cutting loss inherent to thin slices, drives the value up.

Advanced Collecting

As your collection grows, you will undoubtedly want one or two “museum quality” pieces. As discussed already, many things can make a meteorite valuable. There are too many classifications to list (this is a beginner’s guide, after all), but you will see angrites, howardites, and a variety of others that are exceedingly rare. Some of these materials are much rarer than diamond, so it is no surprise that they sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars per gram. In addition to rare classes, there is also value to be found in particularly nice specimens of common classes. Sikhote-Alin, for example, is a witnessed iron fall with some stunning individuals. Entry into the earth’s atmosphere has given some pieces an oriented shape, with flow lines and even tiny impact craters on the surface.

Witnessed meteorite falls tend to be more valuable than average finds of the same class, and for good reason. When a piece is randomly found, it may have been outdoors for thousands of years. Moist areas lead to rust, and dry areas may have sandstorms that erode the piece. On the other hand, meteorites from a witnessed fall are usually recovered before much weathering can be done – and often have interesting stories. Although this is not always the case, many witnessed falls have a “fresher” appearance – making them fine additions to any collection. When a meteorite fall hits a manufactured object like a car or house, it is referred to as a “hammer”; due to the rarity of these occurrences, such pieces are significantly more valuable than an average find of the same class.

Buyer Beware!

A guide to meteorite collecting can not be complete without some warnings. As mentioned above, the majority of meteorite dealers are eBay are authentic and excellent to deal with. Many offer money-back guarantees. However, like any item on eBay, the saying “buyer beware” applies. Every day, there are fake meteorites on eBay. Some of these sellers are unaware that their rock is not a meteorite – often they are described as “I found this in my backyard and it looks like a rock from space.” These auctions typically do not receive any bids. Unfortunately, some sellers are more mischievous. Earth rocks are polished, tumbled, or even burned with a blowtorch to resemble meteorites.

Over time you will learn the names of sellers you trust, and you will be able to spot the fakes immediately. Until then, here are a few pieces of advice:

• Always look for a good feedback history and return policy. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, will the seller refund your money?
• If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• If you are not sure of something, do not bid. It’s never worth the risk of losing your money.

Closing Remarks

I hope you’ve found this guide useful. Good luck with your collection! If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks go out to members of the Meteorite Central mailing list for advice.

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By admin,

What is a meteorite?

Most “shooting stars”, or meteors, burn up in the earth’s atmosphere never to be seen again. When a piece survives the trip and impacts the surface of the Earth, it is known as a meteorite. Thousands of meteorites have been identified and cataloged, with many winding up in museums or research institutions. Luckily for us, many also wind up in the hands of collectors. Meteorite collecting can be a fascinating hobby – the specimens are interesting for their science, history, and aesthetic value. Like crystals and fossils, meteorites are a great way to bring a part of natural history into your home.

How do we know when a rock is a meteorite?

Hundreds of meteorites fall to the Earth each year, but most go unnoticed. Still, an average of 5 or 6 meteorite falls are witnessed and documented each year. By recovering these rocks and studying them, scientists have determined several differences between Earth rocks and meteorites. Of the 300 or so minerals found in meteorites, there are about 40 that are not normally found on Earth. In addition to these mineral cues, most meteorites display telltale characteristics including a blackened outside (known as fusion crust), attraction to a magnet (due to the presence of iron-nickel inclusions), and small spherical structures within the interior (known as chondrules).

Using this knowledge, “meteorite hunters” have combed the Earth and found thousands of previously unobserved meteorites. Many have also been found purely by accident – for example, by a farmer plowing their field. Before a suspect meteorite is made official, it must pass a series of stringent chemical tests. Only then can it be officially named and accepted as a true meteorite.

What are meteorites made of?

Most rocks that impact the Earth are thought to originate in the asteroid belt, between the planets Mars and Jupiter. When two asteroids collide, rock and metal is strewn into space. With each collision, many tons of material are sent out into space. These fragments may drift for millions of years before eventually impacting the Earth, Moon, or another planet.

Most meteorites are primarily stone, consisting of minerals like olivines and pyroxenes. The most abundant meteorites, known as chondrites, represent the solar system’s most primitive rocks. These specimens contain small spherical inclusions known as chondrules – the solar system’s first solid matter. Other meteorites come from parent bodies that are less primitive, having undergone igneous activity. These meteorites include achondrites, stony-irons, and irons – each originating from a different depth within an asteroid.

On rare occasions, impacts with a larger world are forceful enough to send planetary material out into space. Meteorites have been identified that are believed to be from the planet Mars, the Moon, and possibly even Mercury. In the case of Lunar meteorites, samples have been compared to rocks brought back by the Apollo missions and shown striking similarities. In Martian meteorites, trace elements have been identified that are in the correct proportions for the atmosphere of Mars, as measured by spacecraft like Viking 1 & 2, Pathfinder, and more recently by NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

How are meteorites named?

Each meteorite is named after the location where it is found. When a specific city name is not available, it is named after the region (such as NWA for Northwest Africa). Many have been found in desert regions such as the Sahara, where black meteorites stand out against the otherwise featureless terrain.