Kerig3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/09
Loc: NW Chicago Suburbs
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Newbie needs help
#5403418 - 09/04/12 04:44 PM
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I love space rocks, I watch Meteorite Men devotedly, and have even inherited a few pieces from my father. Were I a richer man I would probably be investing in this hobby to start my own collection.
But today I simply want to buy an inexpensive meteorite pendant to wear as a conversation starter. I've done enough research over the last few days to know that buying meteorites from ebay can be a sketchy endeavor, but it's been just about the only place I've found pendants that I can afford ($20-$35 range). Most are touted as Campo del Cielo rocks, but in this price range I'm finding that you won't get a whole lot, if any, documentation with it (one seller offered an email COA). I would hate to buy one and not be able to confidently tell everyone who asks that it's a real space rock when it could have a good chance of being a fake. 
I then noticed that some of the Campo del Cielo pendants had a weird-looking flat end that didn't look like any sort of saw cut I've seen in my research. These looked like someone made their own meteorites on a cookie sheet! Some more research told me that those are actually "Campo Crystals" that were broken into smaller pieces using liquid nitrogen. Is this true? Is this a normal practice and does the result lessen it any as a "rock from space"? I just want to avoid buying a "meteorite" that has such an obvious chance of being fake that I should avoid it at ALL costs.
Here are some examples of what I was looking at from 3 different vendors:
Here's an example of the flat sided meteorite
And another...
Another Campo del Cielo Pendant
Here's a Sikhote-Alin Pendant
Am I wasting my time? I want to have a better-than-fair chance that what'll be dangling from my neck isn't just some out of work metal-worker's skill being used to make an easy dollar (or $20+).
Any help is very much appreciated! 
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sealevel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/09/09
Loc: Florida
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5403799 - 09/04/12 08:22 PM Attachment (88 downloads)
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Hi Kerig,
Your first three links are legitimate dealers. Flatoprocks is Mike Miller - http://www.meteoritefinder.com/
I don't know e-bay seller - butw (12953). When purchasing meteorites on e-bay always look for the IMCA member logo or member reference number - http://imca.cc/index.php?option=com_cb_search&task=usersList&Itemid=11
IMCA members are the best in the business. You can always buy with confidence with that endsorement. I hope this helps.
Note: I was born and raised in Chicago Heights. Our next door neighbor city is "Park Forest".
Davio R.
Park Forest meteorite data - http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=18106
Encyclopedia of Meteorites (EoM) - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collections.aspx
Edited by sealevel (09/04/12 08:54 PM)
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Kerig3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/09
Loc: NW Chicago Suburbs
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: sealevel]
#5403962 - 09/04/12 09:50 PM
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Hi Davio,
Thanks for that info! It sets my mind at ease. I knew about the IMCA members, but most of these cheaper rock auctions didn't mention whether they were a member or not. This threw me. 
BTW, in 1996 we moved from Park Forest to the western 'burbs. Our Park Forest house had been 8 houses down (we were on Herndon and Indiana) from the house that got hit through the roof (I believe that's the Garza stone?), which was on our block. No doubt my old backyard had been picked through and still wonder if anything was found there. Weird how things work out, LOL. 
What do you know about "Campo crystals", those stones with that flat side?
Thanks again for the help. 
-Kerig
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peter scherff
sage
Reged: 07/11/06
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5404408 - 09/05/12 07:17 AM
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Hi Kerig,
I often give away Campo crystals. Here is the info I include with each meteorite:
Meteorite from
Campo del Cielo, Argentina
These iron meteorites were first shown to Spanish
Conquistadors in 1576, by native inhabitants of the region. The area where the meteorites are found is called “Field of Heaven” (Campo del Cielo in Spanish). It is believed that the native people witnessed the meteorite shower 5,000 years ago and named the area after the meteorites. The largest meteorite from this shower is about 10 feet tall and weighs 37 tons and is still in Argentina.
This meteorite is an Iron meteorite. It is 93% iron, 6% nickel with and 1% trace elements. Your sample of Campo del Cielo is known as a “shattered crystal”. Shattered crystals are produced when a large meteorite is super cooled then fractured. The pieces are then polished.
Some of the meteorites do have flat sides. The flat areas are natural crystal faces.
Peter
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sealevel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/09/09
Loc: Florida
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5404523 - 09/05/12 09:18 AM Attachment (86 downloads)
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Hi Davio,
Thanks for that info! It sets my mind at ease. I knew about the IMCA members, but most of these cheaper rock auctions didn't mention whether they were a member or not. This threw me.
BTW, in 1996 we moved from Park Forest to the western 'burbs. Our Park Forest house had been 8 houses down (we were on Herndon and Indiana) from the house that got hit through the roof (I believe that's the Garza stone?), which was on our block. No doubt my old backyard had been picked through and still wonder if anything was found there. Weird how things work out, LOL.
What do you know about "Campo crystals", those stones with that flat side?
Thanks again for the help.
-Kerig
Hi Kerig,
In the mystical world of crystals different geometric shapes have different powers, so I've been told. In the world of the pure sciences they are nothing more than geometric shapes found in nature, including meteorites. The Campo del Cielo (that you saw for sale) is a IAB-MG coarse octahedrite. This means it's crystalline structure has an octahedron lattice structure at the atomic level. It is basically 2 - four sided pyramids stuck together at their bases (see diagram). This is also know as twinning. In the psychic world this structure has some sort of "crystal" power. Some gem, and unfortunately meteorite dealers, promote their specimens using the word "crystal(s)". This sometimes confuses people. However, meteorites do have crystalline structure. If octahedrons have power, and if you're a psychic, the Campo del Cielo is for you. Personally I have never seen an octahedrite meteorite that was found in its naturally occurring atomic octahedron form. I do know you can artificially cut one from a cube, the most basic form of a octahedron.
Note: All Geology undergraduates take a crystallography course prior to or along side their mineralogy and petrology courses. Today it's x-ray diffraction crystallography and less the basic geometrical oriented diagramatical crystallography.
Davio R.
Edited by sealevel (09/05/12 02:17 PM)
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5404673 - 09/05/12 10:59 AM
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Were I a richer man I would probably be investing in this hobby to start my own collection.
One nice thing about a meteorite collection, is that you don't have to invest a lot of money. I'm on a fixed income, and have a collection that I have built up, after a friend sent me 6 metorites.
Most of my collection are micro, that can be purchased for about $5.
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Kerig3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/09
Loc: NW Chicago Suburbs
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: peter scherff]
#5405353 - 09/05/12 06:05 PM
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Some of the meteorites do have flat sides. The flat areas are natural crystal faces.
Thanks Peter, that's the info I was looking for!
I was just concerned why some of those Campo pendants that were being sold on ebay had a somewhat flat side. A google search only turned up one mention of these meteorites being super-cooled and shattered into smaller pieces. This info was found on another message forum so I wasn't sure whether it was true or not, so I thought I would find out the real story here on CN where some of the smartest people on the planet meet! 
I'm not really into all that hocus-pocus crystal "powers" stuff...I just wanted a nice meteorite, a rock from space, that I could wear around my neck!
Carol, maybe I'll start a collection after all, once I sell a few scopes that I promised my wife I would (it's just so hard to let them go, lol). I wish the meteorites that I had inherited from my father had some sort of identification with them, but that's how he bought them back in the early 60's. I had a discussion with him last weekend about the importance of having a certificate of authenticity, which I found out about during my research and which he wasn't aware of. Last year my father purchased a Canyon Diablo meteorite from the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art and as far as he knew it came with nothing but the stand it sits on. It sounded odd to me that his meteorite would have been sold without any ID by such a reputable lapidary museum.  
Thanks again for everyone's help!
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peter scherff
sage
Reged: 07/11/06
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5411224 - 09/09/12 07:14 AM Attachment (88 downloads)
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Hi,
Here is a photo of a Gibeon crystal.
Peter
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5411529 - 09/09/12 11:54 AM Attachment (82 downloads)
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Carol, maybe I'll start a collection after all,
Kerig; I know you would enjoy collecting them. You can do as little or as much as you feel comfortable with.
I used my old aquarium to house my collection. I started with 6, that a dear friend gave me; and bit by bit added to it. The maximum I've paid for any one meteorite, is $40. This way, I can have a nice assortment. Granted they are very small, but nonetheless; they are meteorites!
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5411530 - 09/09/12 11:56 AM
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Our Park Forest house had been 8 houses down
Hearing your personal history with Park Forest, I'm going to add one to my collection!
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Kerig3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/09
Loc: NW Chicago Suburbs
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: csa/montana]
#5421733 - 09/14/12 11:08 PM
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Carol, thanks for sharing your wonderful collection. It's impressive what you've been able to obtain affordably, which has really inspired me!
I bought this Sikhote-Alin in a pendant mount (wearing it right now) just before my 7 year-old computer breathed its last breath. So until I've set up my doppelganger replacement iBook that I received yesterday, my meteorite search is on hold. The little netbook I'm using right now sure wasn't made for my older eyes! 
But before I start my own collecting, can anyone recommend the best site to learn about the different types of meteorites? (I did check the sticky links here) I guess I could just collect stones for their individual look, but it would be nice to educate myself about all the different types.
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peter scherff
sage
Reged: 07/11/06
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5421935 - 09/15/12 06:56 AM
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Hi Kerig,
Here is a link to a good book. The best part is that it is a free pdf download:
Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites by Norton
Peter
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Kerig3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/09
Loc: NW Chicago Suburbs
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: peter scherff]
#5422986 - 09/15/12 09:36 PM
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Hi Kerig,
Here is a link to a good book. The best part is that it is a free pdf download:
Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites by Norton
Peter
Wow, that's sweet!
Thanks Peter, now I really can't wait to get my new laptop running!
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: Kerig3]
#5426565 - 09/18/12 12:32 AM
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You're welcome! I really enjoy meteorites. As I mentioned it doesn't cost a lot to start a collection, adding to it as you can.
Sorry about your computer; that always puts a kink in one's plans.
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christinam
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/29/07
Loc: Duncan BC Canada
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: peter scherff]
#5436031 - 09/23/12 12:38 PM
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Hi Peter
I can get the first chapter to download for free but for subsequent chapters it says you have to pay....is this everyone's experience with this book? It looks very interesting and I would love to read the rest.
Chris
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peter scherff
sage
Reged: 07/11/06
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Re: Newbie needs help
[Re: christinam]
#5436077 - 09/23/12 01:09 PM
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Hi Chris,
Sorry, I never tried to download it. And yes it is an excellent book.
Peter
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