I Adding more meteorites to my collection

[davenn]

I'm thinking of something a little more classic-meteorite than a tektite, which I understand are located near the impact crater: debris that goes up and comes down again.

WOW ... I'm only a year and a bit late in responding, must be a record for me, sorry mate
I have been pretty inactive on PF of late ... for quite some months actually ... all sorts of crap going on...

Actually tektites can fall far from the source ... Australites, Australian tektites, obviously haha and found all over
Australia have their source in SE Asia... same location as the other Indochinites in this group Cambodia/Laos area.
I do have a better map and location info somewhere for this.

The Indochinite tektite group has the largest strewnfield of all the ones known.

I'm imagining something that goes up, stays up, and comes down later - probably many years later - somewhere else.

That would have to be injected into some sort of low Earth orbit, maybe ?
I haven't so far not heard of anything like that, not saying it's impossible, just never heard of it having been spoken of.

They should be pretty easy to spot: a chunk of limestone with a fusion crust would do it. For a bonus, it could have a fossil in it.

The problem most likely is, that the rock wouldn't be lumps of limestone or whatever Earth rock. The force of the impact
would at best form a significant breccia ( melt breccia), like we see with stuff from the Moon, Mars and some of the asteroid
meteorites. At worse, it would be completely melted, aka the tektites we see, with much the same consistency, physically and
chemically as obsidian ( volcanic glass).
cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

hey everyone,

well my meteorite collecting has slowed down over recent months after a major splurge over 2020 and a lot of 2021.
It took my collection from around 30 samples prior to Jan 2020 to over 260 as of today.
Till a few days ago my largest meteorite was a 1.5kg specimen from Morocco, Northwest Africa ...

This last photo shows the leading surface as it came into the atmosphere

This 1.5kg stone has now my well superseded by my latest acquition ... a 5.25kg meteorite, also from Morocco

Like the 1.5kg met., this one is also an OC - Ordinary Chondrite.
I don't plan on cutting it to get a sample classified. It's just too nice for that !

cheers
Dave

 

[Vanadium 50]

after a major splurge over 2020

Would that be a meteor shower?

 

[davenn]

Would that be a meteor shower?

YES! Definitely LOL

 

[hutchphd]

This 1.5kg stone has now my well superseded by my latest acquition ... a 5.25kg meteorite, also from Morocco

You know, at the point you need a backhoe to manage the collection, you might want to reconsider...

 

[Hornbein]

Agreed, I have never heard anyone claim that they have one that is from outside of the solar system

I have heard this. There is also recently a meteor that was tracked at such a speed it must have been interstellar.

 

[ISamson]

Hey @davenn, you really have an intriguing hobby!

As many others have said earlier, I imagine it would be really amazing to hold something from space right in your hands!

But I am wondering, how do you differentiate, how do you know that the rock you find or buy is really a meteorite? I have tried Googling this, but it's really quite generic. For instance, when global sellers ship them to you, how do you know that you are not being tricked? ;)

And if I were to go on a walk in the Outback and find an interesting rock, how could I know if it comes from space or not?

For example, this US Gov website https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/i-think-i-found-meteorite-how-can-i-tell-sure outlines some features of meteorites, but how can you definitely be certain that it is from space? Are there any tests or specific features that are unique solely to meteorites and can not be present in any other rocks on Earth?

I'm a beginner, and don't know much about this hobby to be honest, but I think that you as an expert by now would have your own methods :)

Thanks.

 

[davenn]

Hey @davenn, you really have an intriguing hobby!

Thanks ... it is so cool

But I am wondering, how do you differentiate, how do you know that the rock you find or buy is really a meteorite? I have tried Googling this, but it's really quite generic. For instance, when global sellers ship them to you, how do you know that you are not being tricked? ;)

if it is a relatively fresh fall .. less than around 1000 years, it will still have some or all its fusion crust as in the 1.5 and 5.25 kg examples above. The fusion crust will dull with time and erosion. Other features on the surface also show it to be a meteorite rather than an Earth rock ... Orientation = obvious flight direction markings that show the way it came through the atmosphere, Regmaglypts = those hollowed out depressions, also known as thumbprints.
Internally Ordinary Chondrites are VERY different to Earth rocks ... they have a nice sprinkling of metal throughout them and little spherical chondrules that is not seen in any Earth rocks ...
eg, these 2, from my collection ... a Western Australia one and a Canadian one

easily seen chondrules in this one from Morocco

The difficult ones to differentiate from Earth rocks are the Achondrites, and most of them need to be
analysed to get mineral content to determine their origin. Many Achondrites are breccias and look just like Earth breccias ... like this breccia from the Moon ...

The other 2 main types, the Irons and the Pallasites also have distinctions not found in Earth material

All but a small variety of iron meteorites ( from an asteroid core) show a distinctive crystalline pattern with the iron and nickel.
This is called the Widmanstatten Pattern is easily seen wen an iron meteorite cut surface is polished and etched with acid ...

Pallasites are iron meteorites from the asteroid mantle layer ( surrounds the core). they have a nice mix of iron/nickel and olivine. Pallasites are called stony-irons

 

[davenn]

. For instance, when global sellers ship them to you, how do you know that you are not being tricked? ;)

I only buy from trusted sellers ... Sadly, there are many people selling Earth rocks as meteorite
I belong to a number of Facebook groups that have good trustworthy hunter, collectors and sellers and we are all quick to denounce any fake sellers

And if I were to go on a walk in the Outback and find an interesting rock, how could I know if it comes from space or not?

First, visual observation experience, then testing. ~95% of the time, breaking/cutting a rock to see the interior will instantly determine if it is a meteorite. The other ~ 5% of the time it will need lab. testing

For example, this US Gov website https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/i-think-i-found-meteorite-how-can-i-tell-sure outlines some features of meteorites,

That's reasonably good ... but the magnetic thing is a catch with many newcomers ... Not all meteorites will be attracted to a magnet. and there are a lot of Earth rocks that will be attracted to a magnet. It isn't a reliable test

but how can you definitely be certain that it is from space? Are there any tests or specific features that are unique solely to meteorites and can not be present in any other rocks on Earth?

Read the stuff I have posted in the previous post :)

I'm a beginner, and don't know much about this hobby to be honest, but I think that you as an expert by now would have your own methods :)

Skilled, Yes, but I don't claim to be an expert ... there are many in my circle of meteorite friends that know much more about the subtleties than I do. But I am confident that I could, just visually ( external view) identify around 80% of meteorites, seeing the inside would add another 10 - 15 %. the other ~ 5% I would need to see a lab analysis

cheers
Dave

 

[pinball1970]

"if it is a relatively fresh fall "

I thought you were going to say, "like last week/month/ year!"

Do you ever get requests from Unis or private research labs for samples? On your face book page/other?
Some pretty old stuff in meteors as well as clues to how abiogenesis may have got started.

I may have asked you about Murchison before

 

[davenn]

I thought you were going to say, "like last week/month/ year!"

Haha ... anything less than ~ 1000 yrs is relatively fresh in the big scheme of things.
Very fresh as in within the last year ... there was a new meteor/meteorite seen in Mississippi
at the end of May 2022 ( mite have been end of April - months flying by so fast) ... the sonic booms were heard and a bunch of my meteorite friends converged on the area and managed to find samples. I have managed to purchase a small bit, less than 1g. Because there has been less than 500g (0.5kg) recovered and it was a new fall, prices are ~ US$800 - 1200 / gram.

Do you ever get requests from Unis or private research labs for samples?

No I havent... most of my samples are less than 50g. I have only 5 samples greater than 100g

Ohhh, as I was typing this, the courier just arrived and I now have my little bits of the Cranfield, MO samples.
wooohooo This is from Matthew Stream ( Streaming Meteorites) who found some samples. Several hit the road and shattered into tiny pieces. I got some of those tiny pieces

Awesome timing

I may have asked you about Murchison before

I can't remember either. Most of the Murchison samples are in museums
I only have about 4 tiny samples much like the Cranfield ones above

cheers
Dave

 

[Baluncore]

Do you have any Darwin Glass, or does it not qualify for your collection?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_glass

 

[davenn]

Do you have any Darwin Glass, or does it not qualify for your collection?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_glass

Hey, Baluncore

Yes, have a few pieces of that. It is an impact created glass similar to tektites.
But it more closely is akin to Moldavites and Libyan Desert Glass with its
rougher/non-symmetrical appearance.

Anything meteorite/impact related will go into the "meteorite" collection
The Tektites, D.G., LDG and Moldavites are kept together in their own sample tray.
Will add a photo when I get home from work

cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

Dis you get a piece of the big one or the little one? Or both.

Here's another dumb question - why are there no meteorites from earth? i.e. an Earth rock with a fusion crust.

2 years ago, almost to the day, you asked this, and I had no reasonable answer for you.
Today a meteorite collector/studier friend made this post on his FB page.
Maybe an answer to your question

cheers
Dave

Jose Garcia​

4 September at 09:42 ·

Nobody would say this fragment is a meteorite. It looks like an igneous rock, basalt, simple and without mystery. But analysis in the laboratory determined that it was much more important than it appears. This rock is NWA 14635, an achondrite (brachinite-like), one of only two officially classified. This type of meteorites were formed in the terrestrial fractionation line, and for some reason still unknown, it is believed that they are fragments of the primitive Earth that jumped into space in some past event, perhaps in its collision with Theia. After incorporating solar wind particles and other interstellar particles into their composition, they returned to our planet in the form of meteorites. An amazing story, for an amazing rock.
This specimen, a complete section of 2.10 grams, together with another fragment of 1.14 grams, are part of the laboratory repository. It really is an amazing material.

 

[davenn]

hey guys and gals

Since my last post there have been several new meteorites arrived in the post for my collection. They didnt get posted to this thread

A few days ago, a new parcel of meteorites arrived. This is from my friend, Topher Spinnato, in Arizona. A couple of times a year
he will hold an online, "Zoom", live sale. They are always a lot of fun as up to 30 of us vie for what's on offer.

here's my purchases shown with a parcel opening video.

OK for those interested, my latest meteorite parcel opening, from Topher Cosmo Spinnato and Sue Mollica Spinnato .
Be aware that it's about 30 minutes long LOL
Sue is a real sweetie and does such a wonderful and cute job of packing up each meteorite individually

https://youtu.be/0pvY4qQogSA

 

[berkeman]

What an amazing extension on a "rock collecting" hobby...

 

[davenn]

What an amazing extension on a "rock collecting" hobby...

Yes, it is. The rock and mineral and fossils came first at around 20 years earlier
and still going to mineral shows and getting many new ones.
This latest parcel arrival has put my meteorite collection at well over 300.cheers
Dave

 

[Bystander]

at well over 300.

Jaw drops....

 

[pinball1970]

Yes, it is. The rock and mineral and fossils came first at around 20 years earlier
and still going to mineral shows and getting many new ones.
This latest parcel arrival has put my meteorite collection at well over 300.cheers
Dave

I reckon I could have a decent crack at recognising a meteor from a terrestrial rock just from your threads!
Brilliant!

 

[davenn]

After a week delay, following my heart attack. I finally got the parcel opening video ready for the new Met's from Brett Joseph .
Thanks so much buddy, always good to get some new stuff from you. Enjoy, everyone

 

[Ibix]

my heart attack

Is that what you described in the solar photography post as "a major health hassle"? Glad you're still in one piece.

 

[davenn]

Is that what you described in the solar photography post as "a major health hassle"? Glad you're still in one piece.

yes, it is ....thanks mate, it was a close call. After a week at home, am feeling much better

 

[Andy Resnick]

Always feel free to ask questions about any I post or just about meteorites in general.
I would appreciate it if the thread has some good discussion rather than just a show and tell

I'm currently considering purchasing a 'thin section' to try imaging through crossed polarizers- most of the samples on eBay seem to be chondrite (for example, this one). Not sure what I am looking for, to be honest- the chondrules appear to give nice colorful images, but....

The site you mentioned earlier www.meteorites-for-sale.com was very useful to parse some of the identifying lingo, but I'm no geologist..... "H5"? "CR2"? Thin section slides aren't cheap, exactly. A polished slab of an iron meteorite would also (likely) give great results in reflected light, but no nice colorful view through crossed polars.

Thoughts?

 

[Vanadium 50]

but I'm no geologist.....

Hmmm...is there even a word? Geologist seems not quite right, since these rocks aren't from "geo". Meteorologist is clearly wrong. Petrologist?

 

[pinball1970]

Hmmm...is there even a word? Geologist seems not quite right, since these rocks aren't from "geo". Meteorologist is clearly wrong. Petrologist?

Meteoriticist…

Apparently

@davenn is a meteoriticst? If not then he is definitely a meteorphile!

 

[davenn]

I'm currently considering purchasing a 'thin section' to try imaging through crossed polarizers- most of the samples on eBay seem to be chondrite (for example, this one). Not sure what I am looking for, to be honest- the chondrules appear to give nice colorful images, but....

Hi Andy, sorry for the delay, just home from 2 weeks on your side of the planet. 3 nites in London, 2 nites in Paris and 7 nites in Iceland

A beautiful chondrite not one I have in my collection ... US$89 isnt too bad for the work required to produce a thin section
I see it is still available

I used to do thin sections when I was doing my geology degree at uni. it's a lot of messy fun

That sample is a LL3....
LL = Low iron, low metal and the 3 indicates the amount of metamorphism of the chondrules

The 3 main groups are ....
LL = Low iron, low metal
L = Low iron
H = High iron

Then the different grades of metamorphism 0 to 5 and of weathering = W0 to W5

but I'm no geologist..... "H5"? "CR2"?

H = high iron as above
C is for the carbonaceous chondrites and there is quite a range of them .....
The C = Carbonaceous and the following letter denotes the location of the first identified sample of that group ( what we call a type name)
CI = Ivuna
CM = Murchison (Victoria state, Australia)
CO = Ornans
CR = Renazzo
CH = (ALH) = Allen Hills, Antarctica
CB = Bencubbin = Western Australia state, Australia
CV = Vigarano
CK = Karoonda = South Australia state, Australia

for your fun, I will let you look up the locations of the others

A polished slab of an iron meteorite would also (likely) give great results in reflected light, but no nice colorful view through crossed polars.

Yes, polished AND etched brings out the Widmanstätten pattern ( also called the Thompson Structure) of the iron and nickel crystals

from my collection ... Seymchan, Russia

cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

is a meteoriticist ?

yup, that's the one and a lay geologist and astronomer and ..... hahaha

I love the geology of Iceland so amazing with all the new and old volcanics ohhh and the spectacular aurora
Will do a holiday thread in general discussion section

Petrologist?

petrology covers the composition etc of both earth rocks and meteorites

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hi Andy, sorry for the delay, just home from 2 weeks on your side of the planet. 3 nites in London, 2 nites in Paris and 7 nites in Iceland

A beautiful chondrite not one I have in my collection ... US$89 isnt too bad for the work required to produce a thin section
I see it is still available

I used to do thin sections when I was doing my geology degree at uni. it's a lot of messy fun

That sample is a LL3....
LL = Low iron, low metal and the 3 indicates the amount of metamorphism of the chondrules

The 3 main groups are ....
LL = Low iron, low metal
L = Low iron
H = High iron

Then the different grades of metamorphism 0 to 5 and of weathering = W0 to W5
H = high iron as above
C is for the carbonaceous chondrites and there is quite a range of them .....
The C = Carbonaceous and the following letter denotes the location of the first identified sample of that group ( what we call a type name)
CI = Ivuna
CM = Murchison (Victoria state, Australia)
CO = Ornans
CR = Renazzo
CH = (ALH) = Allen Hills, Antarctica
CB = Bencubbin = Western Australia state, Australia
CV = Vigarano
CK = Karoonda = South Australia state, Australia

for your fun, I will let you look up the locations of the others
Yes, polished AND etched brings out the Widmanstätten pattern ( also called the Thompson Structure) of the iron and nickel crystals

View attachment 323816
from my collection ... Seymchan, Russia

cheers
Dave

This is extremely helpful and informative- many thanks!!!!

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's been a while, but I am starting to wonder - why are linar meteorites so rare?

• The moon is big. Much more mass than the entire asteroid belt.
• The moon has had the snot pounded out of it - just look at it.
• The earth is close by - not just physically, but gravitationally. It's easy for a bit of moon to get kicked up and fall to earth,
• Moon rocks are easy to distinguish from earth rocks. No quartz. No water. We have 800 pounds of rocks to compare them against.

So why are they rare? We should be hip deep in them.

 

[pinball1970]

Here is a rare one.

https://www.universetoday.com/16562...ave-been-recovered-and-theyre-really-special/

@davenn

 

[davenn]

Thanks @pinball1970

I havent scored a bit of that one yet .... the $$/gram is very high.
Maybe one day I will get a small piece like I did with the asteroid fall in France last year

This latest one that fell near Berlin, generated a lot of talk amongst us meteorite collectors
that had gathered in Tucson, AZ, for the monster annual mineral and gem show.
I am only a couple of days home from the USA after 2 weeks over there - mostly in Tucson.
I came home with $1000's worth of meteorites and fluorescent minerals and a couple of fossils

I need to go through them all and do photos, but will add pic's to this thread as time goes by

cheers
Dave

 

[pinball1970]

I need to go through them all and do photos, but will add pic's to this thread as time goes by

Yes please do! We have learned a lot from your posts on this subject.

 

[davenn]

Thanks @pinball1970

I havent scored a bit of that one yet .... the $$/gram is very high.
Maybe one day I will get a small piece like I did with the asteroid fall in France last year

Well, in the weekend I scored a tiny piece, around 0.3g for US$100 from a fellow collector in Poland
Yipeeeeee hahaha

Another fall meteorite for the collection

Picked up a few other fall meteorites during my Tucson, AZ, trip over the last couple of weeks

 

[Vanadium 50]

Picked up a few other fall meteorites during my Tucson, AZ, trip over the last couple of weeks

It's Fall in Australia. Here in the US, it's Spring.

(yes, yes, I know...)

I'm still curious as to why we don't see more lunar origin meteorites. The ratio of Mars: Moon: All Stony is approximately 1:15:1000. Not what I would have guessed.

 

[davenn]

Here is a rare one.

https://www.universetoday.com/16562...ave-been-recovered-and-theyre-really-special/

@davenn

Well, in the weekend I scored a tiny piece, around 0.3g for US$100 from a fellow collector in Poland
Yipeeeeee hahaha

Well my micro piece is even smaller than 0.3g it's only about 0.05g.
my piece arrived in the post today.

It's official name is Ribbeck, after the area it fell and was found, around 50km W of Berlin.
The meteorite type is an Aubrite which is an achondrite ( no chondrules).
An Aubrite is a "Type Name" after the location in France - Aubres - when the first identification of
this type was found after a fall in 1836.

They have a reasonably complex petrography and geochemistry as listed on the Metbull page
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?sea=Ribbeck&sfor=names&ants=&nwas=&falls=&valids=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=All&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&rect=&phot=&strewn=&snew=0&pnt=Normal table&code=81447

Anyone interested can go have a look :)
Only about 983g have been found making the fall relatively rare and the rarity by the Aubrite type.
This has pushed price through the roof which range from around US1500 - 1800 a gram.

Like the French meteorite fall around the same time in 2023, this small asteroid was radar tracked in space,
visually seen/photographed in the atmosphere and then was found on the ground.
Pretty awesome

I am pretty sure this is my first German meteorite

Edit: 2024/06/01 an update the total amount recovered is now around 1.5kg


cheers
Dave