My Meteorite Collection

[jjjnettie]

I figured this was the most appropriate section to post these Solar System Objects. :)
If not, just move the thread to where it should be.

On my recent trip to the US I returned home with a small cache of space rocks to add to my collection.
It's been a cold, wet and miserable weekend, so I thought I may as well take some shots of what I've got. (as well as ones I already had )

[jjjnettie]

The NWA 869, shows a nice fusion crust on one side, but the other is fast disintegrating. Even with gentle handling my fingers got covered in fine powder.
If anyone wants to know what 4 billion year old meteorites taste like, they have a distinctive metallic flavour.
Am expecting to mutate into a super hero at any time now. :)

[jjjnettie]

The Campo del Cielo's are so beautiful. Twisted and contorted from their fiery flight through our atmosphere.
These samples are not much bigger than a fingernail, but that doesn't detract from their beauty. :)

[jjjnettie]

The last two photos on this page are of a couple of Micro Meteorites we collected.
After a spell of dry weather, we put a chux over the sieve on the water tank, and waited for the roof and gutters to be flushed clean.
We sorted through the misc. stuff and came up with a few nice micro meteorite samples.
In the first photo the micro meteorite on the right shows a dark fusion crust, the next photo, I turned it over to show the brighter interior. :)

[venus]

cool, were they expensive?

[jjjnettie]

The most expensive was the Sikhote-Alin. I think I paid $70 for it.
The little pieces of Mars and the Moon were around $40-$50.
The rest were less than $10 each and the Campo's were $1 each. :)
I just received a notice from ebay that I am now the owner of 2 pieces of the Chelyabinsk meteorite. :) Both cost less than $40 each. :)

[Astroman]

Looked at one of your pics that looked similar to one of my Meteorites, only to discover they were from the same fall :D My Meteorite was happy to see one of it's little brothers in your collection :D

[Astroman]

How big is your Sikote? mine was 25mm long got it for $20.. :)

[AstralTraveller]

Very nice collection. I wouldn't have picked many of them as meteorites.



Oh ... you did that a few years ago. ;)

[jjjnettie]

My Sikote isn't much bigger than yours, about 3cm long.
The flow lines on it are exquisite.

[jjjnettie]

If you're thinking of buying Meteorites off Ebay, I found this site that has some important information you should read before bidding.
It also has a list of Ebay sellers who are sellers of fraudulent meteorites.
http://meteorite-identification.com/index.htm

[Brettstar6754]

And a great Aussie road trip too,

In April we visited Henbury, Arltunga, Harts Range, Box Hole and Hukitta.
Found a small Henbury too.

And no trip to the USA is complete without visiting the Barringer crater.


Planning to camp in the Mundrabilla strewn field next year.

Meteorites add to my interest in astronomy in a very tangible way.
Heres some info on Aussie meteorites
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?sea=&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&valids=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=Australia&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&rect=&phot=&snew=0&pnt=Normal%20table&dr=&page=1
Great thread Thanks!

[Peter Ward]

Cool! I love these pieces of space debris!

I have a much cherished Mundrabilla iron (attached pic), recovered from the Nullabor, many many moons ago, that weights in at 2.7kg :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

That's a real beauty Peter.

[Peter Ward]

Ta.

But I don't want to hijack your post... space rocks are unique, and very collectible IMHO.

My "space rock" has some history.... recovered when the Eyre Highway was first sealed back in the late '60s (yes, I've been a space nutter even before then :D )...it nearly got tossed :eyepop:...but for one nerdy young fella

[jjjnettie]

:) At the right place at the right time.
I wonder how many more were in the same region?

[Peter Ward]

A few.

UWA (ah...my old school :)) did mount several excursions to in the Nullabor over the years to find samples....and found quite a number....but there is a slight kink in the Eyre highway (read: due small crater) just a few Km east of Eucla ;)

[Asso]

Very nice pictures jjjnettie. I read about the Russian meteor in last months issue of Australian Sky & Telescope

[Matt Wastell]

Great collection (and images). I love the history of meteorites - I have a small collection and one sample (Campo del Cielo) was found by the Spanish while they were 'touring' South America in 1576!

[bkm2304]

Hi Jeanette,

I'm amazed but not surprised that it is possible to collect micrometeorites from one's tank collection pipes. How big are the micro meteorite samples you got from your drainpipe? And how do you sort them from sand, dust and dirt?

I'd love to know how to identify them because we have a really big collection area and it's about to become the Clarence Town Micrometeorite Collection Facility if I can figure how to sort real ones from falseys!

Richard:thumbsup:

[Brettstar6754]

Treasure map attached.

The Mundrabilla Meteorite Monument is between M1 and 2

[jjjnettie]

My little samples from the Chelyabinsk event arrived. :) :thumbsup:

[astronobob]

Wow jjj, a bit of super glue and you can start building your own Death Star ;) Some facinating pieces there, Nice show ! Have been seeing all what you have been upto last few months, great to see you having such a great time of it all , , ,:thumbsup: