Iron. Octahedrite, medium (IIIA) “CM” REF: P. 79, “HBIM” REF: P. 338, and “ARN’S” REF: P. 40. The Boxhole Crater is a 170 meter diameter, circular depression, discovered during a geological surveying of the area in June, 1937 near Dneiper (Boxhole) Station. Several large masses of the Boxhole meteorite have been located, including one weighing 82 kg. It has been concluded, from scientific studies of the meteorites found, as well as from investigations of the crater site, that about 5,000 years ago a large iron body apparently penetrated the atmosphere with no appreciable loss of speed. At a high altitude, small parts of the surface of the meteorite, probably protuberances and other irregularities, were torn off and proceeded as independently falling bodies. The main mass exploded upon impact, created the crater, and hurtled numerous fragments up to a distance of a few kilometers away. A study of etched slices of specimens from Boxhole shows that the Widmanstatten lamellae are usually bent and torn out in long stringers, similar to specimens from Henbury. Slicing would probably reveal the distorted structure in all of the uncut examples below. Each is a complete individual, as field collected, with a very thin, reddish-brown, natural oxidized surface. If desired, a minimal amount of cleaning (i.e., with a wire brush) would expose the bright, silvery-metallic color and luster of the unweathered meteoritic material. Pricing is @ +/- $1.50 / gram.
A) 2.78 grams 5/8 X 3/8 X
1/8”+ $ 4.25 SOLD
B) 3.36 grams 1/2 X 3/8 X
1/8”+ $ 5.00 SOLD
C) 3.60 grams 1/2 X 3/8 X
1/8”+ $ 5.50 SOLD
D) 5.26 grams 5/8 X 1/2 X
1/8”+ $ 8.00
E) 5.82 grams 3/4 X 1/2 X
1/4” $ 8.75
F) 6.48 grams 7/8 X 1/2 X
1/4” $ 9.75
G) 6.77 grams 1 X 3/8 X
1/4” $10.25
H) 7.52 grams 1 1/8 X 1/2 X 1/4”
$11.25
I) 8.08 grams 1 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/4”
$12.25 SOLD
J) 17.80 grams 1 X 7/8 X
3/8” $26.75 SOLD
K) 22.55 grams 1 1/8 X 7/8 X 3/8” $33.75
SOLD
L) 26.50 grams 1 X 1
X 3/8” $39.75 SOLD
M) 36.58 grams 1 1/2 X 3/4 X 3/4”
$54.75 SOLD
For additional information, please refer to the following texts:
1. “Meteorite Craters”, Kathleen Mark, P. 90 and 100.
2. “Meteorite Craters and Impact Structures of the Earth”, Paul Hodge,
P. 62.
3. “Rocks From Space”, First Edition, O. R. Norton, P. 142.
NOTE: If you do not have copies of the books mentioned above in your reference
library, you may obtain them from us by accessing our meteorite book list -- go back to
the home page and click on the Books - Meteorites & Tektites
heading.
Iron. Octahedrite, medium (IIIA) “CM” REF: P. 79, “HBIM” REF: P. 338, and “ARN’S” REF: P. 40.
This very impressive, nicely shaped, large Boxhole specimen is
available from a private collection in Australia.
Specimen weight: 2,170.00 grams (2.17 Kg!)
Size: 51/2" wide, 31/4" high, 23/4" thick
Price: $2,495. (@ $1.15 / gram)
A. 6.02 GRAMS
B. 24.72 GRAMS
C. 56.80 GRAMS
D. 287.25 GRAMS
E. 564.60 GRAMS
The "Catalogue of Meteorites" reports that: "After a fireball and several explosions, a shower of stones fell, totaling about 4 tons, with the largest individual weighing 1770 Kg., analysis 28.6% total iron". This event is also described in "Cosmic Debris - Meteorites in History", by John G. Burke, P. 227 (1986), as follows: "On March 8, 1976, the largest stone meteorite ever recorded as having come to Earth fell at Jilin (Kirin), Manchuria. The total weight was approximately 2 metric tons, and the mass of the largest piece was 1.77 metric tons." An earthquake, measuring 1.7 on the Richter scale, was recorded upon impact of this mass. A map showing the distribution of fragments from this shower of H5 chondrites appears in "Meteorites - Their Record of Early Solar-System History", by John T. Wasson, P. 9, Fig. I-5 (1985).
The physical appearance of these specimens is of a light gray stone matrix with thin, dark gray veinlets included. As mentioned above, there is a high percentage of iron present in this H5 chondrite. The silvery-metallic iron inclusions are practically indistinguishable from the light gray stone matrix, in specimens with no cut surfaces, however, all examples show a very strong response to a magnet. With 10X magnification, small Troilite inclusions can also be seen scattered throughout the light gray stone matrix. Chondrules are usually +/- l mm size, scattered, yet visible with l0X magnification over the uncut surfaces of the matrix.
Items A. and C. each have one unpolished, saw cut surface which exhibits rich distribution of metallic inclusions over the entire cut surface. Items B., D., and E. are natural, uncut fragments without fusion crust. Item E. is a large, uncut specimen with one end showing a natural break, as illustrated in the accompanying photo. This natural break is probably the result of the specimen’s initial contact with the Earth. Ablation marks, demonstrating oriented flight, are exhibited on two sides of the specimen. None of the primary black fusion crust is present, however, a secondary fusion crust has begun to form. This secondary fusion crust was created after the explosion of the original mass of this huge stone meteorite, upon entry to the Earth’s atmosphere. Secondary fusion crust is formed on meteorites when inner fragments of the meteorite are subjected to the intense heat generated by their flight through the Earth’s atmosphere. Item F. is a lot of numerous small fragments in a gelatin capsule, and G. is a lot of 1.50 grams composed of numerous small, granular fragments of the light gray stone matrix in a gelatin capsule -- very interesting for study under the microscope.
| WEIGHT (GRAMS) |
SPECIMEN
SIZE (INCHES) |
NATURAL | ONE CUT SURFACE | PRICE/ GRAM |
SPECIMEN PRICE |
|||
A. |
6.02 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/8 | X |
$5.00 | SOLD | |
B. |
24.72 | 1 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 5/8 | X |
$3.50 | $ 86.50 | |
C. |
56.80 | 1 1/4 | 1 1/8 | 1 | X |
$4.00 | $ 227.25 | |
D. |
287.25 | 3 | 2 1/8 | 1 5/8 | X |
$3.00 | $ 861.75 | |
E. |
564.60 | 4 | 3 | 2 1/8 | X |
$2.75 | $1552.50 | |
F. |
1.10 | Lot of numerous small fragments in a gelatin capsule. | Small fragments |
$5.50 | SOLD | |||
| G. | 1.50 | Lot of numerous small granular fragments in a gelatin capsule. | Very small granular fragments | $2.50 | SOLD | |||
Carnegie, Oklahoma H) 25.95 grams
Stone. Olivine-hypersthene chondrite (L6). “CM” REF: None (NEW!), “ARN’S” REF: P. 54. The write-up on this fairly new L6 appears in “METEORITICS”, Vol. 24, P. 57 (1989). A total mass of 132.7 Kg. was originally found in 1963 by a farmer while terracing a field near Carnegie, Oklahoma, and subsequently recognized as a meteorite by Glenn Huss, of the American Meteorite Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. The examples listed below are all slices, or end cuts, and each has one lapped and polished surface. The polished surface shows very little free metal, with lots of small specks/flakes of metallic Troilite visible. Some specimens also have microscopic gunmetal-black color veinlets running through the dark brownish-black stone matrix. Items A) through J) are slices with one polished surface, priced @ +/- $4.00 per gram. Item K) is a natural end piece, without fusion crust. The front of the specimen is lapped and polished, and this specimen is priced @ +/- $4.50 / gram. If you would like to receive a copy of the write-up published in “METEORITICS”, noted above, please ask and a copy will be sent with your order for any of these specimens. Order item ME-58l, items A) through K).
A) 1.32 grams 3/4 X
1/4 X 1/8” $ 5.25 SOLD
B) 6.33 grams 1 1/8 X 5/8 X 1/4” $ 25.25 SOLD
C) 12.25 grams 1 3/8 X 1 1/8 X>1/8” $ 49.00 SOLD
D) 13.89 grams 2 X 1 X>1/8”
$ 55.50 SOLD
E) 16.15 grams 1 5/8 X 1 5/8 X 1/8” $ 64.50 SOLD
F) 24.42 grams 3 1/8 X 1 5/8 X 1/8” $ 97.75 SOLD
G) 24.92 grams 1 7/8 X 1 3/4 X 1/4” $ 99.75
H) 25.95 grams 2 1/8 X 1 5/8 X 1/4” $103.75
I) 20.00 grams 1 7/8 X 1 3/8 X 1/4" $ 80.00
J) 38.05 grams 2 1/4 X 1 7/8 X 1/4” $152.25
K) 35.34 grams 1 3/8 X 1 1/4 X 5/8” $159.00
L) .46 grams lot of small fragments in gelatin capsule. $ 2.00 SOLD