There is a point that a specimen will easily break if cut too thin. Some material can be cut to 1mm thick but cutting losses can mount up to over 60% even when using a wire saw after applying a polish. We had over 50% cutting loss on Martian meteorite NWA 1195 which was cut on a diamond wafer saw and then diamond lapped on both sides. I think a 2 to 2.5mm cut is reasonable on most ultra rare material if polished on both sides. The thickness has to be greater on friable material like Nakhlites otherwise you will receive a pile of crumbs. It also has to be thicker on large specimens to support the weight on a display easel.
Most collectors go by the price per gram first so dealers who cut ultra-thin will take a loss when weight is the main consideration. I know that the weight-to-surface area ratio is a secondary consideration for most collectors due to experience. There are other factors like a decent polish being applied, proper preparation and specimen status including provenance that can affect price. Best Regards, Adam ----- Original Message ---- From: Richard Kowalski <[email protected]> To: meteorite list <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, March 7, 2011 3:08:41 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Point of Diminishing returns (Slice thickness)? These discussions about aesthetics of specimens vs their weight is rather interesting, but it seems the lines of the subject are a bit blurred. It seems the subject has come to comparing fragments to slices. I'm not sure this is a fair comparison, but I understand it. I am wondering what others think represents a point of diminishing returns in making a slice paper thin. IOW at what point does cutting losses become too great to make the aesthetic function of the prep & price excessive? I guess I don't understand the desire for some ultra-thin prepped specimens. For example, if a ultra-thin 1mm thick slice is being sold for the equivalent $80 per gram, and a slice of the exact same material, the exact same size, but 4 times the weight (4mm thick) is being offered at the exact same price, I'd be inclined to purchase the latter. I understand the appeal of of thinner specimens and of course you can polish a slice so finely it becomes a thin section, but is there some point where the prep becomes so costly that is is in fact "too thin" for the buyer? Thanks -- Richard Kowalski Full Moon Photography IMCA #1081 ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
