Meteorites

Last updated Dec 31 2006 HRJ (c)Copyright Herb Johnson 2006 except for quoted remarks. More information at retrotechnology.com

Gibeon meteorite

At the 1999 Rockland (NJ) Astronomy Forum, I bought this bit of Gibeon meteorite. It weighs about 18 grams. The black area is the outside crust, with a little thumb-sized depression due to ablation during its fall. The edges are sharp and flat from cutting. A photo of the polished back shows the Widmanstatten pattern of fine crystalline line structure, revealed with an acid etch: a clear indication this is meteoric material. This is part of 18 tons of meteoric material recovered in the 1990's, from an 1836 fall in Namibia. Pieces up to 1400 lbs in weight were recovered.

In Dec 2006 Gibeon fragments seem to sell for several dollars a gram.

Sikhote-Alin meteorites

I bought this nickel-iron meteorite in late Dec 2006, from a rock dealer near Lambertville NJ. It weighs just above 40 grams, and is about an inch square and a little less thick. Here's a photo of the other side. It's from the Sikhote-Alin Mountains of Siberia, probably the fall from 1947. I paid $20, or 50 cents US per gram; the dealer said that was "dealer price..half retail".

I bought this Sikhote-Alin meteorite at an NJAA meeting of Aug 24 2002, from Jeff Cintron at Island Meteorite. It's about 1.5" long, and just over 40 grams. At the time, I paid $60 or $1.50 a gram. Here's a photo of the other side. Obviously a nickel-iron.

In Dec 2006, Island prices similar objects at about $1-$3/gram. Other dealers seem to have prices in the $1-$2/gram range for small samples.

NJAA is the New Jersey Astronomical Association - check their Web site for more info.

Copyright © 2006 Herb Johnson