Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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I'm relatively new to meteorite collecting. And I have fallen in love with space rocks! 
My personal collection is growing pretty quick, and I'm curious if there are any "serious" collectors here on CN - as I consider myself amateurish in this respect. I have a lot to learn, and would love to chit-chat with some CN experts in the field - if we have any here.
Here is a photo of my latest find - a giant one pound chunk of chondrite from Morocco. It's my largest specimen at the moment - about 3x6x2 inches. I have nicknamed it "The Slab" because of it's flat "slablike" appearance. I have others in my collection I am more fond of, but this one is the biggest.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
Edited by Glassthrower (01/20/08 04:47 PM)
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Here is one of my favorites - a chunk with a nice exposed matrix of metal inclusions. This one is obviously metal-rich.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Here is another of my favorites - one of two lunar-origin specimens. These are tiny fragments from a larger mass (NWA 3160) in the Hupe Collection. I also have another single larger fragment which I have not photographed yet - it's about the size of all three of these fragments combined, times 2.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Currently, my collection stands at about 200 specimens - mostly unclassified NWA chondrites. Although I do have a decent collection of classified specimens. I have some aubrites and a rare eucrite. But even though the aubrites are more scarce, I think some of the chondrites have more character and interest, due to their high metal content.
Serious "professional" collectors tend to shy away from unclassified specimens, but these same specimens represent quite a bargain for us collectors on a limited budget. They have all the same magic as a classified specimen, but without the pedigree - like a purebred dog without AKC papers.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 27173
Loc: montana
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Mike, great photos! This is extremely interesting, & I hope many that have the knowledge about Meteorites will post!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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RandyR
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 13708
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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Nice, Mike!
I've become an 'addict' due to Mike's "pushing".. 
My wife wanted to know why I was carrying "rocks" in my briefcase in little ziplock bags.
I'd love to see some discussion on "acid etching" of meteorite materials (the way they use acids to enhance contrast and show the metalic alignment)...
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / NQ0R
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5539
Loc: Eastern PA
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I have a Campo. It is currently on loan to a co-worker (she wanted to show it to her family).
As soon as I get it back I'll post a picture. It is mostly iron, but here is the data on the rest of the elements:
Weight: 1751 grams
Structural Class: Coarse octahedrite, Og, Widmanstatten bandwidth 3.0 ±0.6 mm.
Chemical Class: Group I
6.68% Ni (Nickel)
0.43% Co (Cobalt)
0.25% P (Phosphorus)
87 ppm Ga (Gallium)
407 ppm Ge (Germanium)
3.6 ppm Ir (Iridium)
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Hi Marcus,
Campo meteorites are great. I don't own one currently, but I am looking for one at the right price to add to my collection.
Iron specimens like Campos have lots of character - the larger Canyon Diablo specimens can also be interesting.
Definitely post a photo of your Campo specimen when you get it back. 1751 grams is pretty darn BIG for a Campo. The ones I am trying to get are much smaller, in the neighborhood of 5-8 grams each.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Jim7728
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/05
Posts: 3813
Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC
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Meteorites are so cool. 
Thanks for sharing!
BTW, did anyone notice that AM now has a Meteorites classified section?
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Jim
TV76 -40mmHa/5mm BF
TeleVue Genesis SDF
Swift 8.5x44
and other tubes.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Hi Jim,
I noticed that. It popped up right after my second meteorite sale in the S&S. Coincidence? 
I'm surprised there wasn't a meteorite category over there all along - there is a strong interest in the astronomy community for them.
It will be interesting to see what kind of specimens get dragged out of the woodworks for potential listing over there.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15718
Loc: Hoover, AL
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I have one meteorite, it is from the Sikhote-Alin fall in the old USSR around 1947 or so.
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
Its not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. Its brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5539
Loc: Eastern PA
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Mike,
I have been thinking about having my campo sliced in half, so I can get a view of the inside. I basically looks like a big old rock on the outside. Do you think that is a good idea? Any thoughts on how to get that done?
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Marcus,
There are a couple of ways to cut your meteorite, or expose the inside.
One is a diamond bladed saw - the type of saw is secondary, as long as it has a diamond or carbide blade - or at the bare minimum, a "masonry" grade blade. Use the usual safety precautions (eye protection is key when cutting metal and rock!) and start slowly and carefully cutting. Place the specimen in a padded vise and clamp it down tightly to hold it for cutting. Exact techniques probably vary, and I am an amateur at this, so don't take this as "according to Hoyle". 
(save your dust and cutting-debris fragments BTW!)
You can also clamp your meteorite down into a vise and get a metal file. Again, get the hardest file you can find - and quite fine, nothing jagged. And just pick a protruberance or knob or lobe, and start filing on it - firmly and in measured strokes. Work your way down past the outer crust until you begin to expose the interior. Clean off the filed area and you now have a window into your specimen to peek at the inside. Classified meteorites like Campos are pretty consistent for the most part - don't expect anything other than what the literature says to expect inside. Classified meteorites have "pedigree" so to speak and command more respect amongst the serious collectors, and a higher asking price. Unclassified meteorites are, IMO, like Easter Eggs, or perhaps analogous to a geode. A lot of different things could be inside there. Gem-quality mineral inclusions, exotic metals, iridium, even tiny diamonds or amino acids (or not much at all).
Once exposed, you can polish the face and bring out the detail and leave a shine. This can be accomplished with buffing tools or by hand if you have the time.
Randy mentioned that there is acid etching as well.
A lot of the same techniques used for more common rock and mineral specimen handling could be used for meteorites in this respect.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5539
Loc: Eastern PA
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Mike,
Thanks for the info. I let you know if I cut it open (I'll send you some pieces if I do).
Here is a picture of the bugger.
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 5868
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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This is interesting!
Are there any reputabe online suppliers?
How about some recommended info sites?
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 *Step-by-Step Lunar Sketching*
CN Gallery
Photo Gallery
8"SCT ~ 120achro ~ 90Mak ~ 80ST ~ 11x70s ~ 22x100s
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 1928
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Here are several pieces from my collection. I purchased some from eBay and some from various gem and mineral shows.
Top row (L to R):
Moldavite (impact glass, Czech Republic), Camel Donga (achondrite, ca-rich eucrite, Australia), Canyon Diablo (iron, Meteor Crater, AZ)
Bottom row (L to R):
Desert glass (impact melt, Libya), Sikhote-Alin (iron, Russia), tektites (impact ejecta, China)
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 1928
Loc: Central Coast, California
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And some more. I scored some great finds in the "misc. bin" at a mineral show once. The dealer hadn't sorted the mixed unclassified stony meteorites well and missed two that should have gotten better treatment. One is almost fully fusion crusted and is oriented (shows flow lines of molten rock on the surface). The other shows some beautiful chondrules (spheres of very primitive minerals from the solar nebula). I might get that one cut one day and possibly pay for classification (payment via surrendering a portion of the stone to the lab).
Top row (L to R):
Unclassified NW Africa (stone, chondrite), close up of chondrules, Campo del Cielo (iron, Argentina)
Bottom row (L to R):
Unclassified NW Africa (stone, chondrite, with flow lines and fusion crust), Brahin (pallasite, mix of iron w/ olivines, Belarus), Iridium-rich clay (from KT boundary, Alvarez outcrop, Gubbio, Italy)
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
Edited by molniyabeer (01/25/08 06:18 PM)
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Mike Casey
Postmaster
Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 5860
Loc: Pasadena CA
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Those of you looking to purchase a meteorite might find the below site of interest.
http://www.arizonaskiesmeteorites.com/
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Mike (tVA)
"The series of weapons tests had fused the sand in layers, and the pseudo-geological strata condensed the brief epochs, micro-seconds in duration, of thermonuclear time." ~ J. G. Ballard
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15718
Loc: Hoover, AL
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I have been looking at this site quite a bit lately.
http://www.meteorites-for-sale.com/
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
Its not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. Its brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Hi Folks!
Nice photos! Keep them coming!
Steve, you have some interesting specimens there. My personal collection is mainly limited to an assortment of small classified chondrites (lots) and a mish-mash of "token" pieces - small samples of Canyon Diablo, a lunar origin meteorite (NWA 3160), some Pallasite (not as nice as your piece!), a small unclassified eucrite, and a really nice fusion-crusted H5/6 chondrite mass with lots of metal inclusions that weighs about 150 grams.
I don't have any decent photos handy of my personal collection, but will try to get some posted here soon.
I have a new display case coming, so I'll wait until that gets here to snap photos.
Man Steve, I need to get some of that Libyan desert glass. That stuff is cool. I was shopping for some just the other night!
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Holy Cow Marcus! What a whopper you have there.
I don't recall offhand if that type of Campo has any inclusions or chondrules inside - it might be solid metal. You have me curious now, I need to go look it up.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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I thought you folks might enjoy these meteorite photos - it is the "Space Rock Photo of the Day" and there is an archive full of them - some of the photos are spectacular.
http://www.rocksfromspace.org/January_7_2008.html
http://www.rocksfromspace.org/
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 1928
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Mike,
The Campos I've seen have all been solid metal with maybe small cruddy bits here and there. The desert glass is neat stuff. I paid a bit higher price on mine because it is a bit less included than some. I've seen it range from pale yellow to darker straw with a range of bubbly inclusions. A couple of eBay vendors had a wide selection the other night.
A nice reference book is "The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites" by O. Richard Norton. Lots of great info on types, falls, and classification.
Cheers,
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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Mike K
sage
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 420
Loc: Central Texas
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I have had this one for a few years.
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Clear skies,
Mike K.
30°31" N 97°44" W, LP: Red
Observe: Once or twice a week back yard, once a month under dark skies
Favorites: Globulars, planets, face-on spirals
Equipment: CPC925/XT10i/TMB-92SS/PST
Eyepieces: Naglers, Ethoi, UO HDs, Hyperion Zoom
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Mike K
sage
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 420
Loc: Central Texas
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I recently acquired this faceted peridot taken from the Esquel pallasite. It is to be included in the design of an orrery being made for me by this interesting fellow in Australia.
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Clear skies,
Mike K.
30°31" N 97°44" W, LP: Red
Observe: Once or twice a week back yard, once a month under dark skies
Favorites: Globulars, planets, face-on spirals
Equipment: CPC925/XT10i/TMB-92SS/PST
Eyepieces: Naglers, Ethoi, UO HDs, Hyperion Zoom
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 1928
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Mike, very cool to have a faceted gem from meteorite olivine! I'd love to see pics of the finished piece when you can post them.
Clear skies.
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14423
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Yes, very cool. Gem-quality minerals often show up in meteorites, even diamonds.
And I just thought of something I'd like to add about cutting meteorites - one of my meteorite friends says you should use a oil-fed saw. Water cooling is not enough for cutting all but the smallest of specimens.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 32 different falls and types!
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