Telescope Reviews: Meteoritical EYE CANDY

I thought I would share some interesting meteorite photos I have run across on my web travels. I love "eye candy", and there are few things on this Earth more beautiful than a properly-prepared slice of Pallasite, illuminated from behind. It truly is celestial stained-glass.

Pallasite grabs the most attention due to it's striking gem-quality olivine (peridot) crystals and it's swiss-cheese-like matrix of nickel iron that honeycombs the olivine. But other meteorite types have beauty and are often overlooked. Here is a good mixture of various types, selected for their aesthetic appearance, or just because they are unusual in some way.

BTW, I'll state for the record : I have no connection with any of the sites linked below. Some of the photos are for specimens that are for sale on various dealer websites, I have no connection with these dealers.

First, the wonderful world of Pallasite :

http://www.nyrockman.com/pages/seymchan2545g.htm

http://www.nyrockman.com/pages/seymchan8.3kg.htm

http://www.nyrockman.com/museum/imilac.htm

http://www.michaelbloodmeteorites.com/MK8BrahinW.jpg

http://www.lightningsmiths.com/jwsmith/esquel_pallasite.jpg

http://www.meteoriteman.com/sales_images/Esquel_pallasite.jpg

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/media/2/2/4/8/pallasite.jpg

http://www.bwsmigel.info/gem.essayJPGSnew/Pallasite.slice.gemfrance.jpg

http://meteorites.asu.edu/images/education/albin-big.jpg

http://www.colvir.net/departements/physique/Vinc_Met/Esquel_pallasite_1445g.jpg

http://www.futura-sciences.com/uploads/RTEmagicC_Pallasite-vi_01.jpg.jpg

The best Pallasite photo, I saved for last. Gentleman and ladies, unfurl your drool bibs. Lock away the credit cards. And control your impulses. I present for your consideration, the full glory of Glorieta Pallasite :

http://www.macovich.com/images/CambridgeSliceloreshr.jpg

...

Another of my favorite rarities, Bencubbinite :

http://www.nyrockman.com/museum/gujba-19.1.htm

...

Iron can be beautiful!

http://www.aerolite.org/catalogue/gibeon1013.htm

http://www.aerolite.org/catalogue/glorieta-mountain-188-5.htm

http://www.aerolite.org/catalogue/campo-hole-573.htm

...

Cross-polarized and microscopy reveals new wonders :

http://www4.nau.edu/meteorite/Meteorite/Book-Textures.html

http://www.meteorite-times.com/Back_Links/2006/July/JaH-055-291.jpg

http://www3.sympatico.ca/jeff.rowell/LOSTCREEK.JPG

http://www.geokem.com/images/scans/mosaic-meteorite.jpg

...

I'll dig up some more and post them.

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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, & 35 different falls and types!