[meteorite-list] The trend is that all meteorites....
. are from meteorite showers. And they arrive hot and set houses on fire, even leaving dogs "like ashes in a moment". https://nbc-2.com/news/weird/2023/05/09/possible-meteorite-strikes-home-in-new-jersey/amp/ Kevin __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist2.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Where's the sales list for MARSROX?
Team Meteorite Maybe like me you didn't know that there was a link attached to my email, because I didn't see it (either). Look at the very bottom of the email and click on that URL. - Kevin A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Met Sales prices based on 2015 report.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 271168 bytes Desc: not available URL: < https://pairlist2.pair.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/attachments/20221021/119e033a/attachment.pdf > -- HISTORICAL AMERICAN METEORITE OF OVER 42 KG Bonhams Natural History auction on Sep 21 offers 50+ lots of stellar planetary meteorite specimens, including a superb Canyon Diablo specimen. Browse the auction and register to bid online. Link: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27815/cabinet-of-curiosities-natural-history-entomology-and-minerals/?utm_source=meteroritecentral_medium=banner_campaign=nat-sep-22_id=col-nat-sep-22 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist2.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Meteorites on Mars
Team Meteorite I suspect that most do not read *The Guardian* of London, one of the world's premier news sources, so I am attaching a link regarding the detection in real time of meteors becoming meteorites on the surface of Mars. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/19/meteoroid-shock-waves-help-scientists-locate-new-craters-on-mars Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available on Amazon Measuring 40cm/17" of rain during the last 11 days from a mountaintop in Costa Rica. -- HISTORICAL AMERICAN METEORITE OF OVER 42 KG Bonhams Natural History auction on Sep 21 offers 50+ lots of stellar planetary meteorite specimens, including a superb Canyon Diablo specimen. Browse the auction and register to bid online. Link: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27815/cabinet-of-curiosities-natural-history-entomology-and-minerals/?utm_source=meteroritecentral_medium=banner_campaign=nat-sep-22_id=col-nat-sep-22 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist2.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Twenty Years on and the Meteorite Times remain a-changing
Team Meteorite: We've been enriched for three decades now by the inspiration and hard work of two great men, Joel Schiff with Meteorite! and Paul Harris with the Meteorite Times. They have provided a platform for writers like Martin Horejsi, James Tobin, Bob Verish and John Kashuba to inform and enlighten us with the stories, science and history of the meteorites that keep us engaged in our hobby or life's work. That these guys can turn out such high quality research and prose every month amazes me. You don't have to run to be a marathon man. I have made my earnest contributions to both publications and can report that it was and remains a great pleasure to feel the love both Joel and Paul shared as we worked together to make my features better. I am honored to have both remain as great friends. The Met Times allowed me to complete my 'Martian meteorite triumvirate' by publishing "*The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty*" twenty-one years after a not-so-dead dog lost his pedigree in my 1998 feature on Nakhla, and after Chassigny had appeared in Meteorite! four years later. For me, these iconic Mars' rocks multi-year research/writing endeavors were more than just magazine contributions. I chose to climb a mountain too high, and it appeared that I wouldn't summit. Seeing *Shergotty* finally appear in the *Met Times* in 2019 was an emotional closure, to have solved unsolvable mysteries and to have reached places I feared unreachable. ¡Mil gracias, don Paul! *The Meteorite Times - **Twenty years of excellence*. - Keep on, keeping on. Kevin Kichinka >From the land where Pachimama waters her Aguas Zarcas __ RARE CANYON DIABLO METEORITE Bonhams Natural History auction on May 17 offers 50+ lots of stellar planetary meteorite specimens, including a complete Canyon Diablo example with superb regmaglypts. Browse the auction and register to bid online. Link: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27482/lot/3386/ __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist2.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Congratulations on a successful hunt!
With* Team Meteorite *members Marc and Linda Fries, Roberto Vargas, Mathew Stream and Eric Rasmussen working together, the result was the recovery of four meteorites from the Natchez MS meteorite fall. Beautiful stuff. Read about it here https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/meteorite-falls/updates/meteorites-found-in-natchez-ms-fall Kevin Kichinka Forever due south of Agua Zarcas *The Art of Collecting Meteorites *available on Amazon __ RARE CANYON DIABLO METEORITE Bonhams Natural History auction on May 17 offers 50+ lots of stellar planetary meteorite specimens, including a complete Canyon Diablo example with superb regmaglypts. Browse the auction and register to bid online. Link: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27482/lot/3386/ __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist2.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fwd: For your entertainment - Bringing you Mars rocks
TeamMeteorite: Perseverance on site. Super Hi-Def. Explanatory. I'll bet that you can't watch it just once (Good music, too.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxSOx2DoFN8 The Red Planet remains N x NW of the Pleiades. MARSROX __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Christies auction results
Team Meteorite: Who needs Bitcoin, when you can own meteorites? Please review the prices paid/gram for EVERYTHING/ANYTHING! Consignors were well rewarded. https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/deep-impact-martian-lunar-other-rare-meteorites/lots/2006 Kevin Kichinka Directly under Betelgeuse tonight... __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fwd: Good News!
And good views! Team Meteorite: The OSIRIS-REx mission succeeded in collecting material from the carbonaceous surface of asteroid Bennu a couple of weeks ago. The minimum amount of regolith for a successful mission would be 60 gms, and it is believed they have much more. But some rocks kept the container from closing, and stuff was leaking out. This container needed to be moved carefully and quickly to another container orbiting the asteroid, within which it will make the journey back to Earth, arriving in September, 2023. Here is the report on that maneuver. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-osiris-rex-successfully-stows-sample-of-asteroid-bennu And here is video of the entire collection sequence, which took place at a distance of 1 AU on the other side of the Sun. Yeah! Many of us are familiar with Dante Lauretta, the mission's principal investigator. Congratulations to Dante on a fabulous achievement, and smooth sailing back to Pachamama Please use your ability to turn on 'full screen' for a truly incredible 48 seconds. https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/1322290613232918528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3AOSIRISREx%7Ctwcon%5Etimelinechrome_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fosiris-rex Kevin Kichinka Sent from the fringes of a Nicaraguan Hurricane, with thoughts for the indigenous miskito, engulfed in its fury. __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Organics in chondrites
Thanks to Bernd, Graham and Tomasz for providing me with an opportunity to catch up on my SOM, IOM, CHOS, CHNOS. As for the discussion and science/graphs on the topic, it is like a foreign language, and while I was scanning Tomasz' paper, google popped up asking me if I wanted to translate it to Polish. IT'S NOT ALREADY? It's great that these organics have also been found in Tissint (Mars) and Soltmany L6, and I now wonder if all classes of mets may be candidate carriers, and are we looking for their source asteroids? But Mars? Yet after browsing through three different papers, I admit I still don't understand the bottom-line significance of 'organics', which are different from the excitement implied by amino acids, if anybody wants to share their theory. It's been a tough year for me intellectually. I've had the opportunity to (not) understand Joel Schiff's latest post-doc mathematics book, even with his gentle patient tutoring, "C;mon man! You took calculus in high school, you can do it!". I was only a few paragraphs into one of the first chapters when a definition like, "n-dimensional de Sitter space is a maximally symmetric Lorentzian manifold with constant positive scalar curvature" left me staggering for breath. Since then I've never returned to that corner of the multiverse. I feel safer, too, like 'social distancing' without the virus. Maybe the presence of too many toucans are slowing my brain waves. (Can you ever have too many?). And even less intellectual, last Sunday I was hiking alone in between some mountains in Turrubares, when a pair of Scarlet Macaws flew overhead, always an inspiration, and almost always in loving pairs (unless all that back-and-forth squawking between them is an argument, "Go left here!" "No! The almendro tree is straight ahead!"). Then three more followed, and that's while these birds aren't known to entertain 'threesomes'. Before I reached my 'turn-around river', another pair went by, and on the way back yet another pair went by, now totalling nine birds, all squawking in flight, their long tail feathers drooping. Only around Tarcoles and Jaco, Pacific Ocean coastal towns hard against deep forested mountains, have I seen more in less time. In those towns, there's so many, the trees are crowded, and they sit on the backs of chairs at restaurants, like cage-free pets. (It's extremely against the law to keep them at home). And as I made it back to 'The Beast', I realized I had completely forgotten about 'de Sitter Space', and CHNOS and realized I was no lesser for that. Kevin Kichinka In front of my desktop, the view out the window is nothing but fog covering the mountain top. BOO! __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Hamburg H4 organics?
Team Meteorite: First off , congratulations to Roberto Vargas' for his acquisition of a most fabulous specimen of Tarda C2 UNGROUPED. http://www.tucsonmeteorites.com/mpodmain.asp?DD=10/27/2020 Now I wonder what 'organics' were discovered on Hamburg H4 as noted in the popular media. Wouldn't this auspicious finding be mentioned in the Met Bull? https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?sea=hamburg=names=contains=50=ge==United+States=name=All=All0=Normal%20table=66772 Kevin Kichinka 110" of rain YTD... ...and it's still falling on my Persian Lime trees... due south of Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Fall of Aguas Zarcas - One Year ago (and the Buzz has not worn off)
Team Meteorite: Measured by volume or number, Costa Rica will win every Scarlet Macaw competition. But she will linger in last place when it comes to recovered meteorites. More seem to fall in Morocco in one day, than the sole kilo of stone that fell here in 1857. That is, until a few minutes past nine o'clock at night one year ago today, when around 25-30kg was added to the goodie bag. Enjoying 'home court advantage', I was the first foreign hunter on site and later wrote about my astounding experience for the July, 2019 edition of the Meteorite Times, Paul Harris and Jim Tobins' essential, bi-monthly on-line magazine. While we all cool our jets under self-inflicted house arrest, if you haven't read this feature or realize its worth a second viewing- I'll suggest it will completely remove your mind from the horrors the world presently faces, replaced with a few chuckles, instants of fresh comprehension, and moments of awe. Read it here: *https://www.meteorite-times.com/fall-of-aguas-zarcas-cm2/ <https://www.meteorite-times.com/fall-of-aguas-zarcas-cm2/>* In December past, I returned with Blaine and Blake Reed to clean up what ever was still laying around. In my follow-up feature in the Met Times, the first science on the met is previewed, courtesy of Buckyball World champion Greg Shanos. I share the details of a fun trade of pre-rain AZ CM2 to Blaine for specimens of Bolivian fall Aiquile, PAL Sericho and the DIO NWA 5484, a visual twin to Mars life suspect ALH84001. The 'Meteorite Man' Robert Haag submits a fantastic travelogue of his ten days in-country, along with some deeper profundities that any fan-of-the-man will delight in - LOL!!!. All of this is embedded inside a story of a life in Costa Rica, told under the guise of meteorite hunting. Make sure to click on the linksyou will not regret the detours. The feature begins and ends with two of the most breath-taking photos of a falling meteorite in flight ever published. Read it here: *https://www.meteorite-times.com/high-noon-in-aguas-zarcas-where-the-reed-bros-ride-again/ <https://www.meteorite-times.com/high-noon-in-aguas-zarcas-where-the-reed-bros-ride-again/>* * Lastly. Forever thoughts, memories and strength to all of my friends and acquaintances here, in our time of universal distress. I've 'been with you' for twenty-five years now. You've been with me as I've written here and for JSchiff's 'Meteorite', about the Mars' meteorites we hold in esteem, along with researchers who took us 'inside the rock' to its elemental core, and together with museum curators in London, Paris and Chicago that allowed us to see their secret treasures. I wrote a daily blog back to the m-list during two expeditions to Bolivia, when the internet was our new toy. Writing from a town next to the Salar de Uyuni, the salt flats where I though a black rock ought to stand out, a single skinny cable next to a 19th century train track carried my words to you. Imagine Bolivia, a place where few chose to become tourists, where Butch Cassidy and the Kid called Sundance went to 'get away from it all'. A place where 'you were there' when a team of your friends recovered the country's first authenticated meteorite. And I'll always smile when I think about the prize fight that was a court battle with JPL web-master Ron Ballke, as we argued the evidence (or lack thereof) in regards to a dog "left like ashes in a moment" by the Nakhla meteorite in Egypt. You the court ruled, 'Long live the dead dog'. *Ojala,* that we may together continue these adventures. Please do not 'travel off the trail' of common sense, instead steadfastly cling to the route of uncommon sense. Take all precautions to shield yourself from these clouds of molecular terror threatening our lives and and everything important. It seems that we are in a race where the finish line is not known, and we have become unwilling participants in a marathon where the course is thick with land mines. The mountain is high. But one's every careful step is one step closer to the yet unseen summit, because it does exist. Some will slip from a careless step and fall into a dark infinity, an indescribable infinity without a tomorrow. Endure and survive. Now join me. On to Aguas Zarcas! Kevin Kichinka Nine Degree N x 50km south of the AZ strewn field Costa Rica "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available on Amazon mars...@gmail.com __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Bringin' home the goodies
Team Meteorite: Dolores Hill of JPL has been catching us up on the Osiris-Rex Mission (Oh-sear'-reez). I'm signed up to get updates, and want to share some fantastic video. An orbiting spacecraft has been mapping the surface of Bennu, and soon enough will attempt to suck up a minimum of 30 gms of carbonaceous chondrite. The attached YouTube from NASA will entertain and educate. There are three videos that conclude with a Q Take a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9=1ZPRdvn3Ips Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Costa Rica __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fractional Classification of LL3's
Team Meteorite: A couple of years ago it seemed that researchers were no longer going to sub-divide LL3 mets to classifications like 'LL3.05' or 'LL3.10', or I suppose the most primitive one of LL3.0'. Can someone clarify this issue for me? And regards to Zsolt Kereszty while referencing his acquisition of NWA12692 LL3.00 "Here is the MetBull page of the NWA12692 LL3.00 meteorite:" https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=70116 __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A vote for the Thomson Structure (and previewing 'The Fall of Aguas Zarcas CM2')
Team Meteorite: Richard Montgomery references the 'Thomson Structure' today in a note regarding the sale of a Sikhote-Alin. Let me expand upon this topic, which I first wrote about in *Meteorite *(February, 2004), and again in my book in 2005. On February 6, 1804, the first description of the process that produces the mis-attributed 'Widmanstatten Pattern' in Irons was published, written by William Thomson. For various reasons, this paper was disregarded until some forensic science work was done in 1939 by R.T. Gunther. Alois von Widmanstatten (mit umlauts) duplicated the experiment in 1808. Karl Neumann published those results as a 'new discovery' in 1812. Francois P. Gillet de Laumont repeated the process, identifying the etched results, and published a paper in 1815. Carl von Schrieibers, director of the Vienna mineral and zoology cabinet, again published the results of Widmanstatten's 1808 work in 1820, naming the pattern after him. This was an un-earned honor, and many illustrious people have agreed. R.T. Gunther wrote about this error for *Nature i*n 1939, attributing the discovery to Thomson. Max Hey, Keeper of the Minerals in the British Museum (Natural History) read the article and agreed with its conclusions. F.A. Paneth, in a paper published in *Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta* (1960) wrote"Thomson undoubtedly...has priority." Charles D. Waterson published Thomson's biography in the *University of Edinburgh Journal *(1965) stating, "Thomson's discovery and description clearly has priority over Widmanstatten." Marjorie Hooker found Thomson's 1804 paper, and in 1974 wrote, "One of Thomson's contributions, long unrecognized, was the discovery of the Widmanstatten Pattern..." Roy S. Clark of the Smithsonian, wrote in *Meteoritics* (1977) "...Thomsons 1804 paper seems to have been completely ignored...", then he and Joseph Goldstein emphasized "Thomson's singular achievement" in *Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences*. Richard Norton wrote in '*Rocks from Space*', "Thomson serendipitously discovered the figures first in 1804." In Norton's *Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites*, he also hoped, "In all fairness, this unique texture should have been called the Thomson...Structure." Hap McSween, former President of the Meteoritical Society, advises that he will now credit Thomson with the discovery in all future editions of* Meteorites and their Parent Bodies*. The Thomson Structure. *** I worked the fall zone of Aguas Zarcas before the rains here in Costa Rica, and have written a memoir of my experience for the Meteorite Times. It's going to Paul Harris for his review and lay-up as soon as I finish this message. Look for it in the next issue of this excellent, on-line journal. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Costa Rica "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available on Amazon. __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Phone number needed
Team Meteorite: Can someone share by email direct to my mars...@gmail.com mailbox the number of Graham Ensor in the UK? DHL requires it to accept the package I'm mailing him and he's not responding to email. Thank you. Kevin Kichinka __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Both Aguas Zarcas specimens have been sold
Team Meteorite: Some have said that the M-List has ceded its usefulness to FaceBook. In the case of selling this exciting, brilliantly fresh fall, I beg to differ. I had six solid inquiries and the two were sold in 18 hours. In this aftermath, I humbly suggest that this fall will not soon be forgotten, perhaps joining the ranks of Peekskill and Murchison. Why? - Yesterday's revealed CM2 classification suggest new discoveries that will be made - It is a 'Hammer', significant to those who enjoy that sub-set of collecting - It fell in an exotic place as only the country's second meteorite - both falls (the last in 1857) - Unspoken at the moment, there await 'colorful characters' soon to be revealed - A mountain of video exits of the event, including one of the fireball flying horizontally over the crater of the erupting 'colasis', Volcan Turrialba. Excuse my special excitement at the one, it's a volcano who's crater I once ate lunch in, staring up at 360 degrees of crater rim and sulfur- steaming *fumeroles*. I suggest these factors make this the most important and endearing meteorite so far in the 21st century. Regarding the provisional name of Aguas Zarcas, according to WIKI, "comes from the hot spring waters that could well be called "*Aguas de azul suave* ". Sweet. The "soft blue waters". Pura Vida. I hope that this name sticks. The town of Aguas Zarcas has a post office, a requirement for being named. The University of Costa Rica and all news media in the country call it that. The local people call it that. The name 'sounds like' something Costa Rican. The various pueblos that adjoin the town are merely scattered houses and cow pasture. But if another name is deemed necessary, the only other candidate worthy of a chondrule of consideration would be 'La Cocaleca' for reasons of witness testimonies, volume of recoveries, and in honor of the families who have lived there for decades and did the initial recovering. "Papa, es eso un meteorito en nuestro patio delantero?" "Dad! Is that a meteorite in our front yard?" I hope that Paul and Jim allow me to share the story that will likely grow into a legend. Thanks to all that wrote me here at Nine Degrees North. Kevin Kichinka Where Two Toucans flew by my door at dawn today. Somewhere west of Puriscal, "Chicharone Capital of Costa Rica' "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available as an eBook on Amazon __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] ...at when?
...when the electric goes back on following that glitch. I'll accept Paypal, 'Kevin Kichinka'. Write me first, I have photos but my primitive camera doesn't do well with all-black objects. Thank you. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com The Art of Collecting Meteorites is an ebook on Amazon __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Agua Zarcas CM2 for sale
Team Meteorite: For a five hour drive over-and-through two mountain ranges sandwiched around the grid-lock of the Central Valley, I left my home on a mountain top in west-central Costa Rica at 5:15am Friday. I had an appointment with four Costa Rican scientists (didn't happen), and a TV reporter who lived nearby and did all initial coverage. The buzz was about the rock that penetrated a tin roof, then cracked a fiberglass table. There's some broken, semi-rotted wood that also was broken that I suggested they conserve. On Thursday, they had luckily not swept the floor where small frags of met mixed with broken fiberglass and dust bunnies. Later I was able to interview them, although at the present I am sworn to secrecy. Obviously, a one kilo+CM2 (now confirmed) met with exquisite regmaglypts, packaged with the hole and table, and 1x2 wood will bring excitement to any auction where it is consigned. I left them info from Bonham's. I had the strewn field to myself for awhile, and viewed three kilo+ specimens, none for sale. I was interested in interviewing everyone I met that had heard or seen the fall and took copious notes over the five days I was there. I also collected phone numbers with the intent to go back in later days. Paul Harris/Jim Tobin may want me to write a feature for 'Meteorite Times' and I look forward to the opportunity. Ultimately, I have seven specimens I will sell, but today, because the shipping via UPS is $130 for up to 250 grams, I am offering only the two largest. The first is a 15% crusted, 18.55 gram individual with visible CAI's. The second has one fully crusted surface, and crust on AZ's has a velvet texture, CAI's and weighs 25.20 grams. There's small "bubbling" on one edge which may have something to do with a 'roll-over' lip, but I am not an expert on that. Both were purchased from neighbors who told me they were collected on the mowed lawn around there homes, so they are not nicked up road kill. I'll suggest the word, "Pristine". I'm going on the day long journey to San Jose Monday, leaving a __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] 'Heart-shaped' meteorite - Worth more than my house in Costa Rica?
Team Meteorite: (Not yet for sale) - Lux 1/1 120m2 *cabina* on 1750m2 of mountaintop at 1000m altitude in western Costa Rica. Perfect, always spring-like climate. Coffee removed and replaced with multiple tropical fruits and grafted Haas avocados thriving on manicured terraces sloping down to rain forest. Sits on huge aquifer generating endless water. Best sunset views in the country (Pacific Ocean). Separate rancho for witnessing Scarlet Macaw fly-overs and up to a dozen toucans sitting in the next tree. Double, concrete-block garage built to same earthquake-resistant standards as house and designed to be two more bedrooms and bath. Quartzite countertops, marble shower and coral-rock fireplace. Spanish floor tiles, wood ceiling beams throughout. The 17th century window 'bars' copied from a cathedral in Nimes, France were crafted by the same Italian brothers that did these on my first home here, 'LaQ'. Fifteen running meters of panoramic windows rise up to the 4.5m high ceilings, offering dramatic close-up views of mountains cascading-to-the-sea. Property located at the end of a dirt road and is hidden behind block wall for complete privacy (and security). Sat and cable TV, high-speed internet. But in the always slow CR real estate market full of such 'trophy properties', getting $300,000 cash, same as the expected low-bid on the Iron meteorite Darryl offered for V-Day, would be difficult. Does anyone know what the Iron brought at last week's Christie's auction? Curious Saludos a todo. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com "The Art of collecting Meteorites", an ebook on Amazon. __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The 'Lunar Puzzle' is Solved...
Team Meteorite: or at least, sold. A seemingly expensive lunar meteorite consisting of fragments which obviously fit together well has found a buyer. Read about it here: https://www.geekwire.com/2018/12-pound-lunar-meteorite-known-moon-puzzle-sells-auction-600k/ Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' is available on Amazon __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fire Guts Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro
Team Meteorite - Very sad news that Brasil's National Museum has suffered a fire that seems from photos to have burned the building to a skeleton of bare walls open to the sky. Every possible type of object typically on display or stored in such a facility, the national heritage of Brasil, is likely damaged or destroyed. Imagine the Smithsonian turning into 'ashes in a moment'. Some objects were apparently saved by workers, but no inventory is possible at this time. Angra dos Reis (ANGR), the country's most significant meteorite was displayed there. Anne Black recently submitted a fantastic image of a specimen for 'Meteorite Picture of the Day'. The Cat of Mets shows a TKW of 1.5 kg, and the Museum had a single specimen of 101 gms. Oddly, only about another 46 gms. were assigned homes. Where did the rest go? Kevin Kichinka Somewhere above the clouds near Puriscal, Costa Rica 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' (available on Amazon) __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Nothing beats Nature for Entertainment (Lightning Dep't.)
John Lutzon observes: " I just witnessed the most spectacular spider lightning in my 65 years. The only way I can describe it is -- from ocean horizon to 90+ degrees overhead and 180 degrees north/south there were hundreds of spider connections. It appeared to me as over half of an umbrella. Never have I witnessed Anything like this. I forgot my words of being so overwhelmed." Oddly, and I beg your patience for being doubly off-topic, I just wrote about something like this myself. Last week I submitted a feature to the Costa Rican periodical 'Tico Times', a paper I've written for since the early '90's, about an extremely venomous snake locally called the* terciopelo*, known to others as the* fer de lance* . The publication asks authors to write a three sentence bio, and I mentioned: *".I watch the silent night lightning caress the mountaintops with a dozen fingers."* Joel Schiff and I still trade attaboys while arguing the best attributes of rugby (he - All Blacks) and futbol (me - Real Madrid) and he found that description a little, ahem, over-the-top. So I further explained: "I've never seen this anywhere else in the world before moving to this mountaintop. It may be caused by the nearby warm Pacific air bumping into chilly mountains-to-the-sea downdrafts. It is horizontal lightning, filling an entire quadrant of the sky with multi-forked silent flashes, often BELOW EYE LEVEL from my viewpoint. And flashes are separated by only a few seconds, the show lasting up to an hour. One could ooo and ahhh as one does during a fireworks show. "That was a really good one!" It's most common just before the rainy season begins in May, and just as it ends in November." He responded that they have a similar phenomenon in New Zealand. On the topic of meteorites, I'll mention that I continue to subscribe to the list, greatly enjoy the 'Meteorite Times', suspended my bi-annual "The Global Meteorite Price List" for lack of an internet connection, and last month purchased a 19 gm crusted frag of Bolivia's *Aiquile *fall, which likely makes me one of two people in the world (with Blaine) to have samples of both of Bolivia's authenticated mets. I have about half the met collection here, but only material not harmed by living in an environment where cigars don't need a humidor. Once in awhile I'll take out a few, open Monica's version of the Cat of Mets to recall the circumstances of the find/fall/petrology and look under a loupe at one to take myself to another place far, far, away. Collecting meteorites will always be the *Best Hobby *for me. * I'm wondering where's Baalke? ** A fallen star? \ \ *** Joel has yet another book soon to be published, 'The Universe'. He rejected my alternate title, 'The Multiverse'. Anyone interested in reading about the extremely aggressive venomous snakes I have in abundance on my mountainside, click here: http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/07/20/costa-ricas-hidden-enemy-the-terciopelo And part two http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/07/23/dont-panic-top-snake-bite-tips-and-tricks-to-prevent-them >From Nine Degrees North Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" on Amazon __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] In Passing - Distinguished Doctor Ehlmann
Team Meteorite: There was a time when I had a reason to exchange a couple of emails with Dr. Ehlmann. That was back when AOL was dial-up, so they are presumably lost. I recall that he replied quickly and courteously to someone unknown at that time within the greater meteoritic orbit. The years are passing, and with each additional orbit another star in our galaxy of legends falls into the Sun. Lacking a worthy sentiment to add to those already expressed, I looked in 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' for whatever I once reported that might matter. In a piece about David New. "New also became friends with Dr. Arthur Ehlmann, the Curator of the Oscar E. Monnig Collection at Texas Christian University. Beginning in 1993, they worked together for several years to label and exchange material, building the collection from 368 localities to 1,115 as of this writing. "It has truly been a pleasure, seeing the collection develope with good balance in all types of meteorites" said Ehlmann." Working together. That reminds me to add condolences to Geoff Notkin, who was close to Arthur and must be grieving tonight. Kevin Kichinka __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' auction
Team Meteorite: Don Merchant wonders about the result of early December's auction of two copies of this book. The first went for $55 and the 'signed' copy brought $60. I used the proceeds and other funds for materials I have donated to the 'Fuerzo Publico' as well as the local 'Asociacion de Desarollo' in my Costa Rican pueblo. I wait for school to re-open to turn over a dvd player and a box of English-language books and magazines. I have had extremely poor internet here since November and my update message prior to the close of the auction appeared on the m-list AFTER the auction closed. I thank those who took me up on making an opening bid and special thanks to the two winners for their contribution. While in Florida for five days at Christmas at the home of my 86 year-old mother, I discovered four more copies that I had packed for sale several years ago that she had stashed under her bed, revealed only due to her purchase of a new mattress. These will be up for sale this year or next. Many of you, actually 499 of you, have purchased signed and numbered copies of this book. Signed number #500, the last copy that will be sold, remains to be offered in later days. Meanwhile, the electrons have been precisely arranged to replicate the book on both Amazon and Nook, with extra chapters. You will be pleased. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Knee-high in toucans at Nine Degrees North Costa Rica __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' auction- last chance
g for pump facilities, and barbed wire and the labor to install it around the facilities. But this fencing needs to be replaced with chain link. They asked me for $500 3. The 'canton' I decided to invest in was judged 'safest' in all Costa Rica by the government in 2013. I was amazed that most homes lacked window bars and walls weren't crowned with barbed wire. This tranquility was broken when a couple of men introduced cocaine in powder form a few months ago. This business is only new here. Between the CR police and US Coast Guard, an average of 450kg of coke are 'captured' daily as it passes through on its way to Gringolandia. There are no police in this pueblo. At an emergency meeting with the police chief from the nearest city, people talked of being terrorized in their homes by the tinny buzz of small motorcycles delivering $8 baggies of powder at all hours. There have been daylight robberies. Normally it is so quiet and boring here that the crickets go to bed at eight o'clock. Most of the campesinos join them as work begins anew at 5am. Because some dealers are selling their product nightly outside my gate, and neither my gentle persuasion nor chocolate bar bribes have changed any behavior, I have worked especially hard to get a police station opened. This happy event occured two weeks ago with part time officers. But without providing these policemen with at least 'burner' cellphones, a copy/fax machine, new tires and fuel for their vehicles, they will leave. While I alone won't be providing these essentials, chipping in with others is prudent. I am designing and purchasing 'neighborhood watch' signs along with the posts and cement needed to install them. 'Residents only' on a sign gives the good guys an excuse to clear the bad guys off of a public road. The first is going in as I type. Being charitable is easy when you observe the direct effects of your generosity. So monies paid for these two books, along with sales of stuff here I don't need are being earmarked to help/solve/avoid things that matter to me. *** BF is presently high bidder at $55 for one of the last existing new copies of 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites'. Do I hear $60? MS is presently high bidder at $60 for a signed copy. Do I hear $65? Please email bids to mars...@gmail.com. Bidding ends at 7pm EST. Gracias a todas. Kevin Kichinka Somewhere uphill __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites" - hard copy available
Team Meteorite: In 2005, sales of this 232 pp book began, two-hundred copies sold the first week. While still electronically available today on Amazon and Nook for $9.95, almost all 1,200 'hard' copies were sold and it has been out-of-print for several years. Back then, 'Sold' copies were individually packed and hand-delivered to the post office one-by-one, helping define the term 'labor of love'. I have six pristine copies left here in Costa Rica. No eBay auction today, but I'm offering one or two copies ONLY HERE to loyal list members. What is this book about? It is a history of meteorite collecting and the influential players from the 17th century leading up until 2005, perhaps a unique period for our hobby. Barrels of NWA had not yet diminished the perceived value of these rocks. The internet had not yet entirely replaced mailed pricelists. With ALH84001 fossil-bacteria discovery pushing met prices to Mars in the mid-1990's, the energy and sense of 'specialness' surrounding the hobby was widespread and exploding. Now those of us, like me, who are still thrilled by these objects of our remarkable universe will find this book very helpful in seeking and curating the best specimens at the best prices. Some things never change. But there's so much, much more. A couple of my features are re-purposed from Meteorite magazine. You will learn that Alois von Widmannstatten was not the discoverer of the iconic pattern etched into Irons in 1808, William Thomson was in 1804. Why not honor him and re-name this the 'Thomson structure"? With the current recovery of Bolivia's second authenticated meteorite making news, you can read about the expeditions leading to the recovery of the country's first in 2001. Then there's that tale of a dog... ORichard Norton wrote the foreword. Joel Schiff, the founder/publisher of Meteorite! edited. Geoffrey Notkin designed a magnificent book. Tom Phillips allowed the first-ever publication of his meteorite micro visions. Darryl Pitt inspired me to greater things with word and deed. Jeff Grossman, Norbert Classen, Blaine Reed, Matlin Cilz, David New, Mark Bostick, Al Mitterling, Dean Bessey, Bernd Pauli, Monica Grady and Steve Schoner contributed personal stories and important insights. Robert Haag shared his adventures in becoming the next meteorite-marketing driving force, expanding upon the techniques of Harvey Nininger and gave the book "Three thumbs, way, way up!" I am suggesting an auction, starting bid at $40 for one copy mailed within the US, extra postage outside those boundaries. Additionally, I will sign one other copy, same conditions, starting bid at $50. I am donating these small proceeds along with other funds I'm raising elsewhere to my local pueblo here in Costa Rica. There's some issues that aren't being addressed that compel me to do something. I'm not wealthy, but luckily its one of those places yet where $10 'means something.' Feel free to post bids on the m-list or privately E-mail me offers at mars...@gmail.com. I will respond to all, assuming an internet signal. Auction(s) ends this Saturday at local sunset (about 7pm EST). Please, someone start at the opening bid price. I'll send the m-list one update Saturday morning and reveal any winning bids Sunday. Book(s) will be mailed upon my return to Florida just before Christmas and certainly before December 28. I'll send a Paypal invoice Sunday and funds must be deposited by Monday afternoon so I can pack the book(s) for my trip. I am forever grateful for all those who contributed to 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites'. Here's your chance for a copy. Now bid! >From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Captain's Log - Jeff Grossman(?)
Team Meteorite: An article today on CNN.com regarding a sample recovery NASA mission designated OSIRIS-REx to asteroid 'Bennu' quotes Program Scientist Jeff Grossman. Is that THE/'our' Jeff Grossman? Kevin Kichinka Seemingly swarming with scorpions and snakes near Puriscal, Costa Rica "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available on Amazon or Nook __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Why do we collect anything?
Anne Black wondered if "We need a proper definition of what constitutes a collection? (Is it) stuff properly curated and catalogued (or) stuff picked up here and there?" Col-lect- v 1.To bring together in a group; gather; assemble. 2. To accumulate as a hobby or for study. I found insight re Anne's question on p3 of a book titled 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites'. The author quotes Harvey Nininger who said, "There is hardly an object under the sun, made either by man or nature that you cannot sell today if you look around for a buyer." Then we learn that research anthropologist Margie Akin called collecting a universal impulse deeply rooted in evolutionary biology. "Comparing, categorizing and collecting helped people survive." She said that noticing differences in rocks and mushrooms gave early people an evolutionary advantage when it came to making tools or looking for food. Akin identified three ways to evaluate collections: Sense of completeness (although what's complete to one person may lack totality to another) Level of formality (the state of perfection of each object) Intensity (the amount of time spent searching for and researching the collection) The guy who wrote this book way back early in the 21st century concluded, "Perhaps the 'meteorite-collecting impulse' should be considered a cutting-edge of evolution. Darwin would be intrigued." Or maybe not. Typed with one finger on my Samsung J7 here on a mountaintop in Costa Rica while butterflies the size of a 'Ruddy Treerunner' fly by creating a breeze that will ripple around a world near you. Kevin Kichinka __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Predicted terrestrial temps of fallen mets
Team Meteorite: Although having been subscribed to the m-list for almost twenty years, I don't recall ever seeing a rigorous mathematical analysis predicting possible parameters for surface temperatures of meteorites picked up soon after they fall. I admit to wondering still how the resultant 'equilibrium temperature' of the freshly fallen meteorite relates to the apparent 'surface temperature', i.e. how hot or cold the chondritic meteorite will feel in your hand moments after landing. Do we know this? Rob's work considers the parent bodies' albedo while various scenarios are offered factoring in the objects shape in space, orbit and distance from the sun. Taken together, he's brought clarity to a topic that has puzzled the field forever. Fantastic contribution Rob! Kevin Kichinka Santiago de Puriscal , Costa Rica "The Art of Collecting Meteorites" available on Amazon and Nook __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Meteorite by any other name...
Thanks to BigJohn Shea for tracking down the belated bio of the meteorite formerly kown as 'Tissint 2'. This name became popular due to the proximity of its fall zone ajacent to the 2011 fall 'Tissint of Mars'. An L4, the 3.79 gm specimen I won on eBay is an individual cut in half. This allows me to easily judge the thickness of its thick, satin- black crust. There's also one perfectly globular round chondrule protruding like a golf ball sitting in a divit. The interior is wall-to-wall chonrules in every shade of gray. There's almost no matrix but the 'starry sky' of metal comes out when you rotate the rock. >From early reports some thought a TKW of 3-4kg was likely but the metbull stopped the meter at 1,500 gms. W=0. Glad to have it. Kevin Kichinka __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Tissint '2' classification
Team Meteorite: This 2015 fall seems not yet to have been classifiedor has it? Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' available on Amazon.com __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Have you been hit by a meteorite lately?
Andres Bordeleau writes, Generally speaking, I am *extremely* suspicious about the claims of people being hit by meteorites. Or dogs. Kevin Kichinka Rio Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015' 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' (Amazon or Nook) mars...@gmail.com __ Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Recovering Sikhote-Alin Iron in the field? Careful. There be tigers....
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/first-ever-photos-taken-amur-tiger-family/ __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fireball over New Zealand
Team Meteorite: 'Meteorite' magazine's Joel Schiff informed me in a note yesterday that he had been interviewed by the media after multiple dash-cam recordings were made of a NZ fireball. Here's a newspaper article with a couple of the embedded recordings. http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/66079293/meteor-lights-up-new-zealand-sky Saludos a todos. Kevin Kichinka Rio Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 (available now) The Art of Collecting Meteorites - 232 page eBook on Amazon.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fwd: Last Call - The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015... in Time for Tucson (ad)
Team Meteorite: The bi-annual edition of The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 is available. Note - I will not be offering this on the met-list again until I publish the next report for 2017. Purchasers will receive it as a pdf file attached to an email. I've been selling this report on the meteorite-list and on eBay since 2004 because I knew it would be helpful to collectors. It is the only source in the world of retail meteorite 'price discovery'. It is good to know what your meteorites are 'worth' or what new ones might cost. This edition has been expanded to cover dealer prices for 264 meteorites and their permutations. Expanded from the last edition, there are now also 52 'generic classifications' so you'll even learn esoteric like What does a typical NWA monomict-eucrite cost? * Nice publication overall and very well written. Thanks, it's a great guide, glad you take the time to put it together! WoW! This is wonderful Kevin! Keep up the good work! I appreciate the effort you put in to these and it always makes interesting reading. Excellent report. I will be re-reading this for the next 2 years until your next. Kevin, thanks for giving me the opportunity to get your 2015 meteorite market survey. I really enjoyed your book on meteorite collecting and I often used it for reference. A must for all interested in meteoritica. ** The report begins with a description of the methodology I used in interpreting the information. The data is now professionally presented on an Excel spread sheet. You will find prices for some meteorites beginning in 2005, even more meteorite prices for 2007, even more for 2008, 2010, 2012 and then the 316 items surveyed for this year. Many meteorites have pricing for most or all of these years making trend spotting easy. No stone (or Iron) was left un-turned :) The 'State of the Market' considers whether meteorite collecting is a fading fad. I review the results of a survey sent to several International dealers to gauge their confidence in the future of our hobby. The long-term impact of NWA's is revealed. Next, we go to the Campo del Cielo strewn field where questions about the origins of 'New Campos' and another possible pretender are entertained. My take on The Collapse of Lunar and Mars Meteorite Prices is certain to be controversial. (Update - This week AHupe had a sub-gram slice of Lunar NWA 5000 sell at a rate of $216/gm on eBay.) For those unaware that there never was a dog left like ashes in a moment by the Mars Nakhla meteorite fall, the truth will set you free. I warn of certain (cheap) numbered and nameless NWA's having the potential of being sold as certain (expensive) historic meteorites. The 'Meteorite Price Analysis' completes the report, parsing price movement and availability of the most important meteorites in all classifications. ** Nice study, and very helpful! The price list is great! Just what I needed. I like to stay plugged into the market and really dig your reports. Thanks Kevin, Great work! Thank you my friend, I am always trying to learn and add to the Collection and with your help with the Global Report this will make collecting a lot easier. Hi Kevin , just want to say - thanks for your wonderful work :) *** But the report is not just words and numbers, it's dense with photos of people we know, places we wish we could visit, and meteorites. Totaling 33 pages- by far the biggest edition yet- this price report will enlighten, entertain, and likely save you a lot of money on your next meteorite purchase. It might be useful in determining insurance coverage for your collection (ask your agent). Dealers can check their sales prices against their competitors. Researchers and museum met curators can follow market trends. I haven't raised the price of this report for years to keep it affordable to all and I hope you will agree that it remains a bargain at $15. I offer this work because I think it is good for you... for everyone... not just dealers, to know the current market prices of different meteorites along with which direction they are going. I asked a dear friend, the former editor/publisher/founder of Meteorite! magazine to take a look at this report to save me from my errors and omissions. He did so, adding Well done – it’s a real contribution to the meteorite scene. - Dr. Joel Schiff ** Please visit Paypal.com, use my name - Kevin Kichinka - to reach my account and deposit $15. I
[meteorite-list] The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available NOW! (ad)
Team Meteorite: The bi-annual edition of The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 is now available. Purchasers will receive it as a pdf file attached to an email. I've been selling this report on the meteorite-list and on eBay since 2004 because I knew it would be helpful to collectors. It is the only source in the world of retail meteorite 'price discovery'. It is good to know what your meteorites are 'worth' or what new ones might cost. This edition has been expanded to cover dealer prices for 264 meteorites and their permutations. Expanded from the last edition, there are now 52 'generic classifications' so you'll know What does a typical NWA monomict-eucrite cost? The report begins with a description of the methodology I used in interpreting the information. The data is now professionally presented on an Excel spread sheet. You will find prices for some meteorites beginning in 2005, even more meteorite prices for 2007, even more for 2008, 2010, 2012 and then the 316 items surveyed for this year. Many meteorites have pricing for most or all of these years making trend spotting easy. No stone (or Iron) was left un-turned :) The 'State of the Market' considers whether meteorite collecting is a fading fad. I review the results of a survey sent to several International dealers to gauge their confidence in the future of our hobby. The long-term impact of NWA's is revealed. Next, we go to the Campo del Cielo strewn field where questions about the origins of 'New Campos' and another possible pretender are entertained. My take on The Collapse of Lunar and Mars Meteorite Prices is certain to be controversial. For those unaware that there never was a dog left like ashes in a moment by the Mars Nakhla meteorite fall, the truth will set you free. I warn of certain (cheap) numbered and nameless NWA's having the potential of being sold as certain (expensive) historic meteorites. The 'Meteorite Price Analysis' completes the report, parsing price movement and availability of the most important meteorites in all classifications. But the report is not just words and numbers, it's dense with photos of people we know, places we wish we could visit, and meteorites. Totaling 33 pages- by far the biggest edition yet- this price report will enlighten, entertain, and likely save you a lot of money on your next meteorite purchase. It might be useful in determining insurance coverage for your collection (ask your agent). Dealers can check their sales prices against their competitors. Researchers and museum met curators can follow market trends. I haven't raised the price of this report for years and I hope you will agree that it remains a bargain at $15. I offer this work because I think it is good for you... for everyone... not just dealers, to know the current market prices of different meteorites along with which direction they are going. I asked a dear friend, the former editor/publisher/founder of Meteorite! magazine to take a look at this report to save me from my errors and omissions. He did so, adding Well done – it’s a real contribution to the meteorite scene. - Dr. Joel Schiff Please visit Paypal.com, use my name to reach my account and deposit $15. I will have the report on its way to you in 24 hours. Collecting meteorites is the greatest hobby and I am proud to contribute. Thank you for your support of this project. (See below for fellow meteorite enthusiasts appearing in this 2015 edition) Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' is available on Amazon.com as an eBook for $9.95. 'The Global Meteorite Price Report -2015' is yours now for $15. mars...@gmail.com (and everywhere else...:) Mentioned in this report were: Larry Adkins Steve Arnold Ron Baalke Linda Barany Dean Bessey Michael Blood Charlie Brown Norbert Classen Nakhla Dog Michael Farmer Ron Farrell Darryl Futrell Everett Gibson Dr. Jeff Grossman Robert Haag Paul Harris Jim Hartman Tim Heitz Charlton Heston Adam Hupe Art Jones Russ Kempton Jim Kriegh Linus Jean-Claude Lorin David McKay Ray Meyer David New Harvey Nininger O.R Norton Geoff Notkin Bernd Pauli Darryl Pitt Blaine Reed Dr. Joel Schiff Steve Schoner Snoopy Paul Swartz Dr. Derek Sears Jim Tobin Meenakshi Wadwa David Weir Walter Zeitschel __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fwd: Announcing the Winner of the Chely Contest!
Team Meteorite: Almost two years ago I solicited you to guess the average retail price for the then-new Chelyabinsk LL5 fall, as calculated for my next 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015'. The report will be available momentarily, but We have a winner. I calculate that the average dealer sale price for average specimens of Chelyabinsk is $24.85/gm based on eight dealer websites as of mid-November, 2014. Both Larry Adkins and Linda Barany guessed $30, and those guessing lower than $24.85 weren't closer. So we had to go to the tie-breaker! Larry predicted that there would be twelve dealers and Linda hoped for twenty-five. Congratulations, Larry. Your copies of the pdf price report, which I will offer world-wide either tomorrow or Saturday, along with an electronic pdf - file copy of my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites will be on its way to you attached to separate emails no later than Sunday night. And Larry, if you have a 'hard copy' already, send me someone else's email address and I will send the eBook to them in your name as a gift. Thanks to all that entered. There is a little more joyful back-story about the Chelyabinsk contest entrees in the upcoming report, which has been expanded to pricing out 264 meteorites and 52 generic classifications for a total of 316 sampling points. At 33 pages, by far the biggest 'issue' yet, it will enlighten, entertain, and likely save you money on your next meteorite purchase. It is full of photos of people, places and meteorites :) I've added essays on the Campo del Cielo strewn field questioning the origins of 'new Campos' and am including a chapter dedicated only to Mars and Lunar price trends. I have also included warnings about certain common NWA's being sold as certain (expensive) historic meteorites. Unlike the stock exchange, or Blue Books for cars or price sheets for stamps or coins, there is nothing published anywhere showing current or historic prices for meteorites - except for this report, which I've done every two years since 2004, maintaining the same statistical methodology, actually refining it over the years. I hope you will agree that it is a bargain at $15. I think it is good for everyone, not just dealers, to know the current market prices of different meteorites, along with where they have been and in which direction they are going. You will be surprised. Stay tuned as I hope today to finalize the report's transmission logistics Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015' - coming up next 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' available on Amazon.com mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Forget the Dog, Sixty Years Ago Today....
. Ann Hodges was 'Hammered'. http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/11/30/sylacauga_meteorite_60th_anniversary_of_a_human_hit_by_a_space_rock.html Kevin Kichinka Rio Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites - now an eBook on Amazon.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available in a couple of weeks. mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Managua, Nicaragua meteorite?
Team Meteorite: There appears a photo of an alleged meteorite crater in the news just a few moments ago. It's being well-guarded by armed Sandinista's. Does anyone beside Nica jefe Daniel Ortega think this looks like a met crater? http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/09/07/meteorite-smashes-into-nicaraguan-capital Kevin Kichinka Rio Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites (Amazon and Barnes and Noble eBook) The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 out in late December mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Available: A Signed copy of The Art of Collecting Meteorites - ad
Team Meteorite: It's been a couple of years since I last offered one of the hard copies of my book on eBay. I do have a couple of copies left to sell, but I live in Costa Rica and wouldn't take the chance of mailing one from here where it couldn't be tracked. However, I will be back in Florida next week helping my mother with a legal matter and I can do the USPS post office run. Consequently, if there is any one that doesn't have a copy of one of the meteorite hobby's 'Best Sellers', a crisp, First Edition copy signed by me is on eBay this moment. I won't be selling another for 'awhile'. The auction will end Sunday morning. BTW - If you don't mind 'eBooks', the entire First Edition including other features not found in the hard copy is available for less than $10 on both Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook). Just search The Art of Collecting Meteorites. I'm proud to have played this small part in the hobby, but couldn't have done it without the help, inspiration, contributions and editing of Darryl Pitt, Joel Schiff, Bernd Pauly, Dr. Jeff Grossman, Robert Haag, Steve Schoner, Dean Bessey, David New, Jim Hartman, Norbert Classen, Dr. Monica Grady, Meteorite Men Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkin, Dorothy Norton and the late, great Richard Norton. Here's the link to the eBay auction. http://www.ebay.com/itm/221462505345?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 From Nine Degrees North Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015' available this December. mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://three.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Moving Big Iron Meteorites fro here to there...
Team Meteorite: I'm building a house here in Costa Rica. One purpose is to finally create a space conducive to storing meteorites in an otherwise humid climate more conducive to storing cigars - Costa Rica is an open air humidor. My collection has been sitting in storage in Florida and I want to bring it here. The main logistic problem will be 1. a bowling ball size Campo that is anything but a bowling ball shape 2. A Gibeon that is extremely oriented, so its flat and smooth on one side, 'ripped' on the other. These weigh under 10kg each, and could go in a carry-on suitcase. I would never consider checking them in at Miami airport and expecting to find them in San Jose. Shipping them via DHL would be costly, and could be a problem in customs. I have asked TSA people about them during the last few trips and it was unanimous that they aren't 'prohibited material'. And ironically, bowling balls are OK to carry on. But they do have a prohibition about anything that could be used as a projectile. These once excelled at that skill. I called TSA this morning and was told it was up to the gate agent. Fine if I reach the TSA guys and they deny passage if someone is driving me to the airport. But I drive across Florida from Ft Myers to reach the airport, and there is no one there to give them to for storage if the TSA tells me no way. How are all the dealers moving their stock from country to country these days? Saludos. Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites available on Amazon/Barnes and Noble The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available in December, 2014 mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://three.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Colin Pillinger
Team Meteorite: The 'Michael Faraday Prize Lecture' video linked here yesterday in a list member's heartfelt obituary for the late Professor Colin Pillinger earns a 'two thumbs up' from this reviewer. Professor Pillinger offers insights into the falls of Ensisheim, Sienna, Wold Cottage and Chassigny full of content I have never known, and I consider myself somewhat of a met history buff. Did you know that 'Wold Cottage' was a mansion? That the owner's sense of humor was exposed when he named his black dog, 'Snowball'? The photos and drawings used to illustrate Pillinger's stories were also unknown to me, and are exquisite. I wish for copies to hang over the fireplace. And speaking of dogs, Professor Pillinger calls the Nakhla dog story apocalyptic. And I'm here to tell you well, you know how I feel about that :) A discussion of ALH84001 and EETA79001 and their revealed carbonates led him to state, Life on Mars could be contemporary. But here's some words to consider, as we all soon enough will be 'falling stars'... All you that do behold my stone, O, think how swiftly I was gone. Death doth not always warning give, Therefore be careful how you live. Watch the celebration of a man's life given to meteoritics. See it here. https://royalsociety.org/events/2012/stones-from-the-sky/ Kevin Kichinka Rio Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites on Amazon and Barnes and Noble The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available December, 2014. mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://three.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Did All CI's Originate on Mars?
Team Meteorite: David Weir just shared this paper with me. He exuded shock and awe. I read it, and although not doing further data follow-up, I am sitting here with the sun setting in the mango orchard, stunned. Can we get some other discussion about this? http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/pdf/1143.pdf Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites' available as an eBook on Amazon/Barnes and Noble The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available in December, 2014 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Digest Volume 131 Issue 19 (and a personal note)
Team Meteorite: A little (no,a lot) off-topic, but I need some help celebrating an important personal moment. I will comment on that first, then about the last 'edition' of the meteorite-list. While I am proud to be an American and always will carry that passport, the small Central American nation of Costa Rica is where I prefer to live. I like to climb to the edge of gently erupting volcanoes, trek through deep green forest where the sky-scraping trees are the theater for a concert of rare bird song, while living among gentle people who live for adventure. The women are really hot, too. Back story - It's been twenty-nine years since I first stepped foot here, twice since 1990 that I've jumped the high hoops to become a 'Rentista' (a type of provisional resident) so I could stay here, although with stipulations. After some years of maintaining that status, one can apply to be a 'permanent resident', and its been ten months since I applied to live here forever. It's 'home' now. Were there no problems, I should have achieved this status last September. There were no problems, I just needed a bureaucrat's signature. In January I petitioned the Supreme Court to force a decision. Moments ago, this message arrived from my attorney, Lic. JJ Valerio Hello Kevin, Very good news, you are now a Permanent Resident in Costa Rica. I went to Immigration today and I got the resolution. I hope you be on time with the payments of the CCSS because we will need it to get the new Residency ID. I'm very happy about this. But while I'm a mile of smiles chuckling at the intensity of 'the moment', there's more, because just before this email arrived, I read the last 'digest' of the m-list. I got sentimental. Note to Team Meteorite - For privacy reasons (see 'NSA'), I don't participate in FaceBook. I was immediately spell-bound reading Alan Rubin's riveting discussion of the origins of CK's, and his conclusion of no separate parent body. Alan has helped me many times during days past when I contributed to 'Meteorite' and that help is not forgotten. I read his article twice to make sure I understood it. Fantastic! I doubt that such work is found on Facebook. I have not yet had the privilege of working or exchanging messages with Carl Agee, who's attitude (and love?) of mets I perceive to be like some collector-genius. His dissertation of 'UNG's' and Mercury meteorites was like everything else he contributes to this venue, it increased my knowledge in the field. Perfect. I doubt that such work is found on Facebook. Mike G has evolved to become a 'voice', an 'opinion leader' and tonight he asks relevant questions that merge the lines between collectors and researchers about pairings of a strange orphan met 'without a home' wondering why it is so darn expensive! Super Sonny shares another one of his incredible US finds, a scattering of OC's using dice in situ for size comparison -he rolled all Lucky Sevens , not a 'Snake Eyes' in sight- and Paul Gessler offers a witty comment calling it 'desert pavement'. Bob Verish, Tom Randall and even 'Steve Arnold (Chicago) make guest appearances 'this issue', not to forget relative 'newbie' Shawn Alan. But the list would be lifeless without the spirit of Herr Bernd Pauley, the guiding light of meteorite collectors worldwide. And here he is tonight, all 69 years of him, sitting in his rocker, a comforter in his lap, wife Pauline shuffling into the living room offering a cup of hot chocolate stirred with a cinamon stick, Bernd sits in front of the fireplace tapping out his message to us on a iPad (Will you still need me, will you still feed me...) I would be remiss not to mention the almost twenty years (!?) that my best buddy and fellow Nakhla Noogie Ron Baalke has served our community with constant updates on the American space mission. Thanks to Ron, we have all journeyed to Mars, starting with the first lander, Pathfinder, on July 4, 1997. We crossed our fingers while another spacecraft neared Comet Temple, another craft succesfully inspecting 4Vesta we've gone just about everywhere together in the Solar System thanks to Ron. That's something special. And he loves (dead) dogs, too. I doubt that such work is found on Facebook. But I broke out in that LOL when Senor Garcia wondered who the heck was 'Proud Tom'? I know Ruben, but if I tell you I'll have to re-crystallize all your L3.05 chondrites... Lastly, Art offers this venue that we all come out and play in. Long may we play. Bueno. Una fiesta ahora comenzarán en mi casa en la celebración de mi residencia permanente en la hermosa Costa Rica. (Good. A party now starts in my house in celebration of my permanent residency in beautiful Costa Rica.) Saludos a todos. Jajajajajajajaja...:) Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites an eBook on Amazon/Barnes and Noble The Global
[meteorite-list] 'Black Beauty' - the Movie
Team Meteorite: I have avidly followed the work being done on Mars meteorite NWA 7034. For me it is a meteorite as exciting as Nakhla or Chassigny or Shergotty or ALH84001. I have been looking for an opportunity to purchase an affordable slice, and when I realized that there were pairings, my hopes grew for purchasing something that I could afford of a representative size, a size that allowed for the viewing of the various lithologies, the contrasting clasts. Matt Morgan was a 'first mover' on internet sales of this meteorite, but my budget wouldn't stretch that far. The value was solid. I believe he sold out. When I saw that Peter Marmot and Marc Jost were offering exquisitely prepared slices of 'Black Beauty'-pairing NWA 8171, I was pleased to make arrangements for one to land in my personal strewn field. It's enroute as I type. This auspicious event caused me to review again during the last week all I could learn about what I now consider one of the most important meteorites from Mars. 7034 might give us a treasure-trove of missing data absent until we have a sample-return mission of targeted specimens. 7034 is the first breccia from Mars, a collection of bits and pieces of material dating as far back as 4.4 billion years, barely after the solar system had a physical address. The youngest clasts date to around 2.2 billion years ago. This newly recovered assortment of paired rocks is a hard drive of retrievable data 'stored' during the time of monsoons on Mars. Is it an 'impact breccia'? Is it a 'sedimentary conglomerate'? (!) 'Other'? And is it another new class of Mars meteorites? What workers have already learned is worthy of the word 'incredible'. If you are interested, and if you are on this list how could you NOT be interested, please invest the time and learn about it. For starters, a condensed review of what we already know backed with the pertinent research papers is available on David Weirs' excellent www.meteoritestudies.com. I've recently communicated with him and he's updating the '7034' web pages constantly with new findings. This meteorite is aggressively being parsed by researchers, a sign of its significance. And its there that I found a link to Dr. Carl Agee's one-hour Youtube discussion of the investigative work already accomplished on NWA '7034' (see link below). Dr. Agee's video is the 'Cliff's Notes' of Meteoritics 101, with some post-doc work thrown in to keep it interesting for more advanced students. Nearly every type of lab work that can be done on a meteorite, especially one suspected of being planetary, is performed and explained. Don't miss this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0njmkc2XOys '70-34'... it's a number now reverberating in my mind like '84-0-0-1'. Saludos a todos. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica The Art of Collecting Meteorites - now available as an eBook on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015 available December, 2014 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Rob Matson's Chelyabinsk Market Data
Team Meteorite: This excellent work contributed by Rob confirms an historic trend regarding meteorite pricing that is indicative of the overall financial nature of collecting new falls. Some will always pay the most to get the first available specimens of a fall. Others will wait until the market is sated and grab pieces at the lowest price. This could even be a dealer's own special specimen that he'll sell to recover capital for the next 'big thing'. Those of us that worried that little would be recovered from this fall paid US$60-80/gm for the first marketed specimens. Moreover, the price/gm was bumped by an unusual long lag time before the first fragments surfaced on the market. Additionally, due to the source country, others eager to purchase may have been dubious of the authenticity of these first offerings adding to the allure. Factors in these buyers purchase decisions were valid at that moment. Certainly, these first offered pieces would be the freshest (W=0). Some dreamed that they would be the only ones ever found of an incredibly publicized and therefore historic fall. Maybe they would be a C1 or Mars or Lunar or fragments from Pluto or Mercury or Earth itself. But patient collectors have been rewarded by an ever lower 'ask price'. It's 'just' an LL5. We all roll the dice and hope for 'sevens'. That's the nature of falls. But now we learn that Chely has special sauces such that a careful collector will not only want 100% crusted indis, a nice slice, a thin section, but will seek out an alternate lithology. Wow. Somewhere on an 'importance scale' between Allende and Campo lies this little babushka. And it's Russian. With no apologies to Lenin or Stalin or Putin, it's The People's Meteorite. It's locally for sale for cash. That's so stellar sweet in a 'shock stage S4' capitalistic way. Related to my next edition (2015) of The Global Meteorite Price Report I have an active contest ending December, 2014 with contestants guessing the 'average dealer price' of this met at that time. I have a long list of contestants. There are prizes :) But I must admit- already begging your future indulgence- that determining the 'average dealer price' for a gram of Chely will probably be more subjective than I ever imagined... Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 Rio de Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Traveling at Cosmic Velocity - Bernd Pauli
247553 Berndpauli Discovered 2002 Sept. 8 by R. Matson on NEAT images taken at Haleakala. Bernd V. Pauli (b. 1945) is a respected meteorite aficionado and collector with keen interests in astronomy and Egyptology. Co-author of the Electronic Catalogue of Meteorites and Meteorite Craters, he has been a long-time member of the Meteoritical Society and a prolific contributor to the Meteorite Mailing List. * Follow Bernd's dizzying flight among the stars in this animation http://sajri.astronomy.cz/asteroidgroups/hildaorb.gif (courtesy Petr Scheirich) Thanks to Rob Matson for making it so. Hilda asteroids are asteroids with a semi-major axis between 3.7 AU and 4.2 AU, an eccentricity greater than 0.07, and an inclination less than 20°. We all know about Bernd's generous 'inclination', but we can only wonder if this revelation of his additional interest in 'Egyptology' confirms that he is traveling in a highly 'eccentric' orbit :) Glückwunsch an meine stellaren, ich meine 'asteroidal', mein Freund! Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Carancas (Not)
Thanks to all that managed to navigate YouTubes 'link issue' and were able to locate the subject video and chose to comment to me on this pseudo meteorite. And coincidentally, I received yet another request to identify a rock found in my old town of Fort Myers, Florida today. When it rains, it (meteorite) storms :) Saludos. Kevin Kichinka __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Multi-kilo Carancas
Team Meteorite: I need to be 'polite' with an older couple I respect and don't want to die from a heart attack who are helping to sell this 'Carancas' meteorite of many kilos. Can somebody smarter than me make a 99% guess what this boulder really is? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRpulc8fhUclist=UUeoADnKx-xMdVOCCiVsBs0Q Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Worm Hole to a Parallel Universe
While wandering the internet on a rainy night in Costa Rica... List members: Is anyone familiar with this? http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/05/the-eridanus-black-hole-a-monster-one-billion-light-years-across.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eridanus_Supervoid Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] How NASA Maintains and Tweeks the Missions of Mars and Stellar Spacecraft
Team Meteorite: Max-engineering. Clever and cutting-edge repair of navigation and propulsion failure by earthbound computer programming. Understandable science. Why we can be proud to be Americans. Worth a look. http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21578513-space-technology-fixing-unmanned-spacecraft-thousands-or-millions Then vote to 'Pardon Edward Snowden', the whistleblower de-camped in Hong Kong who revealed the secret doc contents of the NSA's program to collect of all our personal phone and internet data in disregard to the US Constitution's Fourth Amendment restraints against 'Search and Seizure'. Wow! This must be a ground-breaking (pun) moment. As I typed this there was just now an earthquakeI'll guess a 4.5 :) Voice your opinion! Stand up and be counted in support of your freedom ! https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.the artof collecting meteorites.com 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Historic Price Trend of Mars v Moon Mets revealed (ad)
Buenos noches a todos: Honored list-member Martin has offered for our review a dealer price list he put together back in 2000 to help list members compare the subsequent price DEPRECIATION of Mars v Lunar specimens. The price drop is dramatic. But not unexpected to some. List contributor Darryl Pitt predicted to me in the first years of this century that the price of Lunar meteorites could fall to around $500 per gram. At the time it took a check written for US$oogoogle/gm to purchase the first DaG from the Zeitschels, a bargain compared to Bob's Calcalong Creek, yours for a check of $ with many zeros and commas after the '1'. Now Darryl's price seems prescient. And why not? The moon just again got blasted by an impactor (http://www.space.com/21248-moon-meteor-impact-lunar-risks.html) which might even have sent some more NWA our way, and of course the Moon is much closer to us than Mars. And the Moon has a lesser escape velocity than Mars. Do the math. Or check out the data. OK, actually, we collectors haven't yet decided a winner in this popularity contest, because keyword here is 'depends'. There are no historic Lunar falls. Mars 'wins' that category. I'll even suggest that some collectors find the 'Moon in June' more 'romantic' than 'Mars at War'. And vice versa, but I'm (Marsrox) biased. Having prepared and offered for sale a meteorite price list since 2005, I congratulate Martin for his work, it is a list difficult to compile and logically format. I apologize to Martin for some skepticism though about the validity of his list, since I wonder how rigorous his methodology was. I see many instances of price 'ranges' where his list shows only one dealer offering a specimen. 'Ranges' suggests at least two samples :) And one must also subjectively decide when an offer price is so high or so low or the specimen so small as to be discarded as statistically irrelevant. While not proclaiming myself to be the Gottfried Achenwall of statistical discipline, if anyone not yet owning a copy of my The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 would like to verify Mars and Lunar meteorite price trends back to 2005, a methodology I've honed since 1995 to calculate the value of my own holdings, please deposit $10 in Paypal at mars...@gmail.com and I'll send a copy of my color-illustrated 13 -page report as an Adobe pdf email attachment before the Earth rotates once again. For this edition I am reporting on the prices of 241 meteorites, nearly triple the number first surveyed in 2005. If it's for sale by at least two dealers, I have looked at it for inclusion. The most historic and/or rare meteorites show price quotes even if only one dealer has it on offer if I feel his specimen and its price are legitimate. If you’re wondering what exceptional insights I might have about collecting meteorites, well, I wrote the book on it. I am the author of “The Art of Collecting Meteorites” (Bookmasters, 232 pages - for your copy please visit www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com. The book is also available as an eBook at a vastly reduced price on Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook). I wanted to promote the best of hobbies, review the history of meteorites using a bright light, offer curating tips, and explain current business trends to help you save money. With contributions by O. R. Norton, David New, Robert Haag, Bernd Pauli, Dean Bessey, Jim Hartman, Norbert Classen and Dr. Jeff Grossman, help and inspiration from Darryl Pitt and Joel Schiff, editing, art and lay-up by Geoff Notkin, “The Art of Collecting Meteorites” has become, “…a must for every meteorite collector’s bookshelf.” - Astronomy magazine. From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] I've been a miner for a heart of ....
of associated base metals either of which would call for a variable processing regime. Today's Conclusion by this mini-peer - At this point in the discussion, I remain skeptical of the economic viability of this scheme. I have some expertise in 'mining' because I follow precious/base metals and mining companies daily while trading equities (my main 'job'). While the price of gold might seem high this year, the miners are not enjoying higher share prices, in fact they are being crushed (that's a pun). Why? They borrow a lot and/or dilute shareholders with additional share offerings because it costs a lot to be a mining company even before political risks (acquiring permits, taxation/royalties/expropriations) are considered. It's a bad business. The 'low apples on the tree have been picked' and the remaining resource metals are now either deeper in the ground or of lesser concentrations. Coupled with higher energy, labor, and transport costs from ever more remote regions, this means 'owning a gold mine' ain't what it used to be. The processes described in those two websites work well with gravity and when power to create high temps, fuel to power machines, and water for everything else is readily available. Engineers like difficult problems so - - hauling machinery millions of miles away or - - setting up 3D fabricating machines (and you still need refined metal to duplicate the machine you want to manufacture), - then controlling rocks blown into small pieces in a weightless environment, - in an airless setting where O2 is needed for bubbles in a tank of (yep) water (need to make that, too) - so that your specific crushed rock particles float to the top when in a weightless environment there is no 'top', - to be concentrated, fluxed, separated, leached and refined, - THEN freight the finished product home as 'foam balls of concentrate' to - safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere 'somewhere' to be collected and shipped for further refinement and sale on an ongoing basis from a planetoid millions of miles away all without direct adult supervision, - while accountants on Earth calculate the revenues and sales and declare some risk-taker wise and wealthy ...will make a lot of engineers ecstatic. Did this first appear on April One? Sure FOOLED me. I want to live, I want to give I've been a miner for a heart of gold. It's these expressions I never give That keep me searching for a heart of gold And I'm getting old. Keeps me searching for a heart of gold And I'm getting old. Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Friday Thoughts
Team Meteorite: Ron Baalke just posted a news article regarding 'mining asteroids'. Here's a quote: Platinum-group metals, or PGMs, are among the most valuable (and most talked about) resources that asteroids could yield. The price of platinum is currently just a bit less than the price of gold - about $1,520 per ounce. Anderson said a single 500-meter-wide (quarter-mile-wide) asteroid could contain more platinum than has been mined during the history of humanity. Planetary Resources is looking at a process that would turn the extracted platinum into 220-pound, 7-foot-wide wiffleballs of foamed metal that could be sent down through the atmosphere without breaking up. The balls would hit the ground at a velocity of about 60 mph. This makes me wonder. - what government entity will permit 220 lb. spheres of metal to rain down on their population and, - how come we haven't recovered any platinum-rich meteorites? Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Sign Up Now for your Mineral Rights (Mining Asteroids for Platinum)
Team Meteorite: When Ron Baalke forwarded today a news article about mining asteroids for platinum, I at once thought of science-fiction movies I have seen from behind a box of artificially-buttered popcorn. You know, those flicks where slaves from Earth work 84 year-days far beneath the surface of some bare rock-moon in space partnered with creatures normally viewed among the protozoa. Of course there is no possible escape from this living death, but movies need happy endings so our heroes always make it home to their Honey. Mining asteroids seems a bit far-fetched to me. But ask a question or make a comment on the m-list and someone opens the door to knowledge for you. Just walk through. Thanks to Randy Korotev, I know that OC's may contain Pt at ore-grade concentrates of 1ppm. But really, how concentrated is that I wondered, ever the sceptic. Two seconds research informed me that Platinum is an extremely rare metal, occurring at a concentration of only 0.005 ppm in the Earth's crust. Looking deeper into the topic (research is like mining, just keep digging and you'll always find your bone) ... Platinum exists in higher abundances on the Moon and in meteorites. Correspondingly, platinum is found in slightly higher abundances at sites of bolide impact on the Earth that are associated with resulting post-impact volcanism, and can be mined economically; the Sudbury Basin is one such example. And... From 1889 to 1960, the meter was defined as the length of a platinum-iridium (90:10) alloy bar, known as the International Prototype Meter bar. The previous bar was made of platinum in 1799. The International Prototype Kilogram remains defined by a cylinder of the same platinum-iridium alloy made in 1879. Those two paragraphs were uncovered from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platinum Sterling Webb's ever astute comments and links gave me leads and info so that with a little follow-up I've also learned - - the total mass of all asteroids equals about 4% of our Moon's mass. (I had always thought the sum was equal to a 'broken' or 'aborted' planet the size of Mars or larger). - C-type asteroids are carbonaceous and the most common. Consisting of clay and silicate rocks they exist furthest from the Sun in the outer Belt and are the least altered by heat. They may consist of up to 22% water. - S-type 'silaceous' asteroids are primarily stony materials and nickle-iron and are found in the inner belt. - M-type asteroids are mostly nickle-iron and range in the middle region. One linked article allows that because C-type asteroids are expected to have water they will be targeted first, the hydrogen and oxygen split to create fuel. (H-m-m-m-m-m, but 'closer' asteroids is 'better' asteroids). Most importantly, is mining platinum on asteroids and delivering it to Earth like so many storks bringing babies from outer space cost effective? It was estimated that a single 30m asteroid might yield $25-50 billion worth of Pt, more or less 40,000 to 80,000kg at 'today's prices'. The world's total Pt output was 192,000kg in 2010. From the 'Economist' article link (BTW - my favorite magazine, Sterling) we learn, ...the real doubt over this sort of enterprise is not the supply, but the demand. Platinum, iridium and the rest are expensive precisely because they are rare. Make them common, by digging them out of the heart of a shattered planet, and they will become cheap. The most important members of the team, then, may not be the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who put up the drive and the money, nor the engineers who build the hardware that makes it all possible, but the economists who try to work out the effect on the price of platinum when a mountain of the stuff arrives from outer space. . leaving me calculating the 'present value' of all this precious metal in 'Bitcoins' :) Happy week-end. Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Contest Entry Results
Team Meteorite: I note the comments on average eBay prices for the Chelyabinsk met. For your entertainment and instant comaprison, here are the final received entries for the Guess the per gram average dealer price for the Chelyabinsk meteorite on November 30, 2014 and win an ebook copy of The Art of Collecting Meteorites AND The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2015. For the tie-breaker, also indicate how many dealers will be offering this meteorite. The full contest rules can be found in the archives for March 25. Before viewing the list, but of note... I listened to the PBS interview with Meenakshi Wadhwa, a distinguished meteorite researcher, from a link posted here on the list, who would like a specimen or two predicting a price of hundreds of thousands of dollars per gram... Anyone selling this Russian meteorite would be advised to shoot Meenakshi an email inquiry. But why not surprise her with your low-priced offer? Final contest entries, from high to low are: Michael Brooks - $50/gm - 50 dealers Jan Woreczko - $37/gm - 8 dealers Bob King - $32/gm - 14 dealers Linda Barany - $30/gm - 25 dealers Jim Brady - $17/gm - 17 dealers Fed Hall - $15/gm - 25 dealers Mark Murphy - $11/gm - 22 dealers Don Hurkot - $7.47/gm - 27 dealers Paul Gessler - $7/gm - 12 dealers Ben Fisler - $6/gm - 15 dealers Anne Black - $5/gm - 8 dealers Gary Steward - $4/gm - 32 dealers Larry Atkins - $3/gm - 12 dealers Rob Holcomb - $1.50/gm - 15 dealers Good luck to all, the winner will be announced in December, 2014. Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Off Topic - Are 'Bitcoins' a way around Paypal/eBay?
Team Meteorite: I'm sitting in my office trading stocks and came across a headline re: the bank crisis in Cypress. Some people there are exchanging or receiving money in the form of 'Bitcoins', a digital credit. I sense that meteorite purchaser payment with these would allow meteorite dealers to avoid credit card fees in exchange for one 1% transaction fee while avoiding eBay enforced product guarantees and customer negative feedback. But I also wonder about US Federal tax and currency regulations that one would bump into along this road. I looked at this quickly but was fascinated by the concept, though wary of the dire consequences of digital pirates taking your account hostage and wonder if anyone has experience with this form of 'barter' (?). Happy Thursday. Kevin Kichinka Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] From Russia (with love) - a contest with prizes!
secure servers and the archives are lost. Or just destroys the State of California, leaving the rest of us wondering what to drink now that the Napa Valley is one with the fishes. This list of entries will be stored in a hermetically sealed box next to my collection of rare Cuban cigars and in front of my bottles of thirty-year old Scotch. I hold all of these treasures very closely to my heart, protected by multiple security installations, including devices to ensure that if the wrong sequence is punched into the code box immediate electrocution/vaporization will permanently 'dissuade' the interloper, leaving him/her like ashes in a moment. Trust that if you win, your prizes will be awarded. Let the contest begin. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 - ad
Team Meteorite: For those who missed it, I am offering again my semi-annual world-wide market pricing report on 241 popular meteorites. I have it listed on eBay, but don't buy it there, buy it direct from me. To learn what it is about though, here is the explanatory link http://www.ebay.com/itm/221201138736?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Purchasers wanting this report, which I will transmit as an Adobe pdf attachment to an email addressed to you, please skip eBay and go directly to my Paypal account at mars...@gmail.com, deposit $15, and I'll send the report within 24 hours. Those still not owning my popular book, The Art of Collecting Meteorites can also find that here www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com less than twenty 'hard' copies remain and no more will be printed. Those with a Kindle can buy it as an eBook for $9.99 (or even 'borrow it' for less) on Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Collecting-Meteorites-ebook/dp/B009PPCII8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8qid=1363283699sr=8-2keywords=the+art+of+collecting+meteorites O those with a Nook can buy it here... http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-collecting-meteorites-kevin-kichinka/1113461735?ean=2940015572629 Thank you! Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013 Rio del Oro, Santa Ana, Costa Rica __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Urgent Note re:Paypal address for Price Report (and response to Don Merchant's book question)
Team Meteorite: re: Paypal I am receiving notes that payments for 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013' made to Paypal searching 'Kevin Kichinka' don't go through. *Please try depositing funds at mars...@gmail.com and you will be successful.* And thanks to those already figuring this out. I am sending out both pdf files as fast as I can. re: 'The Art of Collecting Meteorites' - Don Merchant wonders how many copies were ever available, and would like to know their history. With pleasure I will describe this. In December, 2004 I purchased 1,000 paperback copies (I tend to call them 'hard copies' as differentiated from eBooks) from self-publisher Bookmasters in Ohio. Per contract I was liable for paying for 1,100 copies if their printing presses 'forgot' to stop at 1,000. Surprise! I got to pay for the extra 100 copies which was another $1,500. OK. In early 2011 I was running out of copies and realized that I was still selling one copy/week. I didn't have time to do the eBok thing yet. I didn't want to 'leave money on the table' nor did I want to disappoint new collectors, so I ordered up another 100 copies at a much higher per copy rate because of the small order and high shipping to Florida. I had to raise the cover price $5 to cover the difference. I am now down to about one dozen copies, Gary and Blaine, as mentioned, have a few more that they will likely offer at Tucson. As for 'signed and numbered copies', the first large batch - and the first week I offered the book I sold 300 copies- were signed, maybe signed and numbered. After that, I did it only when requested. Then after that, I put 'signed and numbered copies' only on eBay because they bring more $ sometimes. After that, I only offered signed copies on eBay. Now I have a couple left that will be signed for eBay and only #500 left of the numbered books. Next year I will de-activate the book's website as it is not needed for the eBook.. How 'bout that, Don! Thanks to all for your support of this project. Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com mars...@gmail.com Rio del Oro, Santa Ana Costa Rica __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Discovered! The Meteorite-List - February,1998
blasts off higher than the rockets he literally sends into the stratosphere these days, Steve Arnold is a 'Meteorite Men' in training, and astute and courteous comments are contributed by: Michael Blood, Jim Strope, JJ Swain, Al Mitterling, David Weir, Paul Harris and Tim Heitz... ... and then there is 'O', who's subject title always is 'No Subject'. There are many others that write that are no longer 'with us' but whom you may remember. But I saved the best for last. It's February 24, 1998. Martin Horejsi writes that he has found errors in Rocks from Space. Oh, oh. The author responds - Martin To read Richard's full and fascinating explanation go to the link. RIP, ORN. This and much more transpired in only one month. Amazing! Grab a cup of coffee, a spot of tea, a cold one and check it out, there's plenty to chuckle about and fondly recall 'back when we were young' :) http://www7.pair.com/arthur/meteor/archive/archive4/Feb98/temp/threads.html#00020 From Nine Degrees North Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] On Mars
Team Meteorite: From blast off to deployment, here's an HD video of Mars Rover Spirit. I've never seen it, maybe you haven't, either. Either way, it's a fine way to spend 6min 33sec on a Saturday. http://www.youtube.com/embed/XRCIzZHpFtY?rel=0 Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com mars...@gmail.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] One hundred and forty-seven ago, Shergotty fell in Bihar, India... (ad)
. and if you search the literature, very little detail is available regarding the circumstances of this August 25, 1865 fall of an iconic Mars meteorite. But that is about to change. Most list-members know that I have uncovered the complete story after literally hundreds of hours spent sifting through a thousand 19th century archived documents written by civil servants of the British Raj. I began collecting copies of original documents on this challenging historical event in 2003. Personal details into the lives of the 'players' were discovered only in the last months as it all came together. It is a wildly colorful tale like no other. I am certain that the story of the fall of Shergotty will assume a lofty rank among the legendary lore of meteorites. Background of the event has appeared in the May issue of 'Meteorite Magazine.' However the incredible conclusion, planned to honor the fall's anniversary, 'didn't qualify' for inclusion in this month's issue. No worries. Read on to the bottom of this message and see how you can obtain the entire fantastic story! *** Team Meteorite: re: scheduled release for 'The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2013'. Since 1995, I have prepared reports estimating the value of each meteorite in my collection. The results were a true snapshot of each year's market values and gave me an idea of over-all trends in price, availability and popularity. In 2005, realizing this work would benefit others, I began offering a more comprehensive report at a modest price to collectors and dealers with average retail values for 85 different meteorites. I expanded the survey to 121 meteorites in 2008. For 2011, I covered 185 species of meteorites plus the prices of their 'permutations', i.e. whether specimens were individuals, slices or fragments. Since I began this endeavor, each subsequent report has sold more copies than the last with many dealers and collectors becoming repeat buyers. I've had requests to offer it more frequently, but it takes months to compile and prices are not that fluid. I humbly believe it has become one of the most valuable 'tools' you can purchase to enhance your collection or dealer experience. I have begun to outline this next effort, and I will manually review over 15,000 individual data points having already identified 305 of the most popular meteorites to sample for dealer availability and pricing. The Global Meteorite Pricing Report - 2013 with have expanded coverage of NWA's, tektites and my always unbiased and pointed commentary on the present state and future direction of this hobby. I accept no advertising and favor no dealer. The multi-page document will be transmitted as an email attachment converted to Adobe upon my receiving payment in Paypal. 'Making lemonade out of lemons,' I will be including the full 'uncensored' version of The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty. Expect to hear more about the price and publishing schedule of The Global Meteorite Pricing Report - 2013 in early December. From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Curious about Curiosity
Team Meteorite: I found these compelling explanatory videos regarding aspects of Curiosity's scientific and power functions while on Mars and believe that many members will enjoy learning about these. http://www.space.com/16856-mars-rover-curiosity-cameras-vision.html *** Curiosity rests tonight in Gale Crater (155km/96 mile diameter). Nearby 'Mount Sharp' (5km/3 miles high) is the target destination. Questions - Isn't Mt. Sharp the impact formed uplifted central peak of Gale Crater? If so, why is it anticipated that water-formed minerals formed around this paticular area but not typically around other similar Mars crater central peaks? That this craft successfully landed and seems operational is an incredible accomplishment. How important? No other Mars landers are currently planned or budgeted by NASA. I do read that the European Space Agency is partnering with the Russians for a sample retrieval mission before 2020. The plutonium powering Curiosity should help it outlast the ongoing mission of solar-paneled Opportunity, which roves still in Meridiani Planum after more than eight years. Pondering Mars during a rainy night from deep in the mangoes at Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] An Imaginary Letter to Kevin Kichinka from Meteorite Publisher Derek Sears
Kevin, In regards to your concerns that I have chosen to not run your latest contribution, the conclusion to The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty in the August issue of Meteorite, although as you claim 'our' subscribers expect to see it and should not be disappointed, let me clarify some things. First, quit calling them 'our subscribers' even though I did put you on the Board of Editors after you declined, then asked you to write me a business plan for the magazine, which I ignored. They are mine. It's all mine. OK? I know you feel uncomfortable that I didn't thank you or even acknowledge that you sent the conclusion to the Shergotty feature in early. I know that some think it unreasonable that when they received the August proof of the issue to review for errors on a Saturday at 10pm, I only allowed a 48 hour turnaround (or else!) meaning they worked for me on a Sunday. That's how it is, kind of like you are all my employees and owe me overtime. As I like to say, I have twice as many writers as I can use anyway, i.e. you are all expendable. And after I recklessly marked up your story, creating at least ten 'unforced' errors, like changing the year of the Shergotty fall and crediting an English official for recovering it instead of the Indian farmer, or inventing a new God for Dorothy Norton's illustration, or taking a sentence fragment from the middle of a paragraph and making it a new title though it lacks any meaning, that's my right, it's my magazine. If I want to change your title, too, I change your title, deal with it. And when you whine you spent 400 to 500 hours to research and write this story that you give me for free, well, learn to write faster. Why did I shorten and re-write your 'heartfelt thanks' to Joel Schiff and Dorothy Norton that you added at the end of the story? You took up too much space. And if I cared about Joel, I would have mentioned my new edits to what he had already edited when I emailed him last weekend. It's not his business anymore. And if I cared about Dorothy Norton, I wouldn't have misspelled her name, another 'correction/'edit' you think I should make. Have you noticed I have never thanked her for anything? Just because she is dear friends with Joel from Day One of Meteorite and is one of the journals most important contributors, and just because she was married to Richard Norton, does it seem I care? And as for deleting your bio at the end of the feature to this 'contribution' while running all twelve other contributors bios, so? And your offering to still keep your bio out to make space for your thanks to Joel and Dorothy? How precious. And when you want me to correct these 'typos', as you tried to fool me into thinking by writing they were probably created by computer software in the translation from my Adobe doc, read again my email, I am very sorry that you feel this way. Given that these are your feelings, and your inability to accept our editorial decisions, can I assume you want to withdraw the paper?' That's my plan. Let people know that (try this on for size) sadly and regrettably, Kichinka would not accept our usual edits to his fine article. It is in the best interests of the readers of Meteorite that they never see this featrue. Sad. Regretable. Gotcha! Haha :) Kevin, I am one of those old-time researchers that believe meteorites should only be possessed by us smart people, and you unwashed masses of dealers, collectors, hunters and general public need to go away. I'm not unreasonable, let's compromise. They all should learn to respect us scientists and send their praise. I like if they send me money for magazine subscriptions and send me papers I can publish for free. That's cool! I know people like to see their names in print so I leverage that to my own advantage and profit. And because I'm me, I get to ride blimps in the sky on the public dime to look for pea-sized meteorites in the tall grasses of California. Do you? Why would I publish your 'circumstances of the fall of Shergotty' when no one else has done it in 147 years? Why are you so special that you should get this honor? Aren't you content with your discovery that no dog could have been killed by Nakhla, or discovering that Nakhla's TKW is less than 10kg and not 40, or that the Widmanstatten Pattern is mis-named? You are very selfish. And don't tell me my wonderful 'edits' are necessary because Joel Schiff had previously edited your Shergotty feature. I did what I thought 'made it better', and if you don't like my changes, well, as I also wrote, we can leisurely discuss these changes and your feature for possible use in a future issue. Unfortunately, the November issue is already full. Oh well. Maybe the readers don't care. I don't. And when you offered to call me from Costa Rica to discuss this at a time convenient to me on your dime? I'm BUSY! Maybe in my next letter, assuming you are so dense you don't get my message here, I'll write you about some past history
[meteorite-list] Meteorite Magazine.... Just Like Baseball over the Internet
are children and/or I would ever write something remotely vulgar for Meteorite- especially related to an historic event... I'll say this... Forget me. I am nobody. Except that I am the luckiest guy to sit here and still exchange almost daily emails with Joel Schiff for the last 15 years. He vetted the Shergotty feature, as he has peer-reviewed anything else I have ever contributed to Meteorite. So Robert's censorship really questions Joel's judgement. And their lack of respect for Dorothy Norton is beyond the pale. Robert, let me 'damm' you. Derek, 'damm' you, too. Meteorite dealers advertising in 'Meteorite' are also among those writing me and I am accumulating a file of information about failed and upsetting business relationships with this journal since Derek Sears took over, which included another unfortunate event involving honest and caring people. I own every issue ever published, including two of issue #1. I have contributed around twenty features. The ongoing continuity of this magazine that I have supported during my interest in the 'hobby' is at risk now. Robert and Derek - For the benefit of your paid and loyal subscribers, I suggest you work to support your advertisers. Your contributors deserve your highest praise as they put your bread on the table and earn nothing for this. And I sincerely request you publish The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty - Conclusion as I transmitted it following Meteorite's founder Joel Schiff's review. From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Survey Complete
Team Meteorite: Many thanks for all that took a second to email me regarding the one question survey I proposed on Sunday. I have the data I need. Happy Solstice! Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Fun Survey for Meteorite Students
Team Meteorite: I've just completed writing the conclusion to The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty which should be featured in the August issue of Meteorite. I will reveal for the first time in history the circumstances of the fall of Shergotty. If you missed part one, it might not be too late to subscribe and have the May issue start your subscription. Subscribe here... http://www.meteoritemag.org/ Now, the survey. As Joel Schiff was editing my work, 'something of interest' came up and it may be resolved by the members of this bulletin board. Question: If you were to read the expression, a certain Egyptian Dog following the word Nakhla in the pages of Meteorite Magazine what would be your FIRST thought? If you have no thoughts, that is a valid and important response. No animals will be harmed by this survey. Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Survey Response Should Be Sent...
. to me privately at MARSROX @gmail.com. Sending your information to the m-list will prejudice the survey. On Tuesday I will mention the results. Many muchismo gracias. Kevin __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Is there any religion that invites doubt, skepticism, or a freely inquiring mind?
Team Meteorite: It's a chilly, damp night here in south Central America. The rain is pounding on my tin roof making for a happy rain forest. Subscribers to 'Meteorite', and I hope that is everyone reading this, may have already read part one in the May issue of my feature 'The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty'. It's the first-ever published account of that 1865 fall. I'm honored to have been chosen for the assignment. Well, time is of the essence for me to complete the conclusion of the feature for the Aug issue (don't worry Derek) and tonight I'm working on 'Mr. Peppe's' bio. Subscriber's know that he was a British Gov't employee in India working as a sub-opium agent. Just as it was about to be discarded, Peppe ID'd Shergotty as a meteorite. Then he went back to work the opium fields. I find that interesting :) Oh, there's a lot more to this most excellent story but you'll have to purchase the next issue to find out. Call now to subscribe, operators are standing by. But as crucial as this article is- I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight sorting through google-scanned 19th century docs on Indian farming practices- I'm momentarily diverted by a treasure gifted to me by M-Lister Michael Gilmer. Backstory - I offered here for sale this weekend the three-volume Burnham's Celestial Handbook. Lazy me, never read it. Michael wrote me and shared his enthusiasm for the author. Copied me on a link from the 'Village Voice'. It's an interview with the author. I had no idea of the plus genius of Robert Burnham, perhaps you don't either. I wouldn't dream of wasting your time. I invite one and all to pull up a beer, slip on some comfortable Coltrane, and settle in for a sublime hour of logic and common sense on matters of the heart, mind and soul set somewhere in the multiverse. You'll LOL, you'll nod your head in agreement. Your brain will visit places it hadn't gone before. Not off-topic, pallasites are in play. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/robert_burnham_j.php Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Burnham's Celestial Handbook - ad
Team Meteorite: Before I offer these on eBay, I thought perhaps a list member with an interest in astronomy might enjoy owning this trilogy of imminently collectible hardcover books. All three are in like-new condition with only slight creasing on the dust covers. They were published in 1978. I've simply never gotten around to reading them after thirty-four years. Where does the time go? I live in Costa Rica and my mother living in her double-wide in Florida just told me to get rid of those books, I need the space!, so one way or the other I need to move them from where they are stored. Volume One covers Andromeda to Cetus, Volume Two is Chameleon throught Orion, Volume Three details the stars of Pavo thru Vulpecula. They apparently sell for around $55 for all three volumes when new. I checked and the post office wants about $8 to ship them 'Media Mail' within the United States and $60 for First Class to Europe and beyond. If anyone would enjoy reading and owning them for half-price, I will accept Buy them now @ $35 including shipping to an address in the USA. Those of you 'living dangerously' can 'take a chance' and make me an offer. I'll even consider a couple of grams of a pretty LL3.2 if that helps :) Paypal will be the preferred money manager for this transaction. My 82 year-old mother in Fort Myers will be my preferred courier to take them to the post office. C'mon Mom, how much space do three books take up, anyway!? Here is a link to a honest review of these volumes with a photo of the books. http://astroguyz.com/2009/10/09/review-burnhams-celestial-handbook/ Please email me at mars...@gmail.com if you are interested. Regards to all, Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] We have a Winner!
I am relieved that at least two members of the m-list want to make my mother happy and allow her more space in her home :) and would like to purchase those Burnham books. Thanks to all for your kind attention. Kevin __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Derek on the Dirigible
Team Meteorite: Up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a what? Fly like an eagle. The publisher of Meteorite magazine, Derek Sears, is enjoying the view of the strewn field today from 'up there'. http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-seti-airship-hunt-meteorites-big-fireball-124333005.html Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Art of Collecting Meteorites, 'Signed by Author' copy on eBay - ad
Team Meteorite: Respectful of the fact that most members of this group have long ago purchased a copy of my book, I hope any new collector will please consider one of the last opportunities to acquire The Art of Collecting Meteorites before it goes out of print. Writing a 200+ page all-color book, obtaining the rights to photos from their owners, assembling a team of editors, artists and experts for advice and lay-up, creating a website, negotiating with printers and paying for boxes and boxes of copies, then selling them one-by-one is a high mountain to climb with no guarantee that you will ever reach the summit. Authors pondering riches should realize they are probably writing only to share their love. How many friends helped in some way to make this a book with legs as Darryl Pitt predicted? Let me give heartfelt credit to those who made this possible. To Joel Schiff, Geoff Notkin, Darryl Pitt, O. Richard and Dorothy Norton, Tom Phillips, Norbert Classen, Jeff Grossman, David New, Dean Bessey, Steve Schoner, Bernd Pauli, Robert Haag, Jim Hartman, Steve Arnold, Blaine Reed, Leslie Ballard da Silva, Al Mitterling, Monica Grady, Mark Bostick, Derek Sears and Marlin Cilz I will be forever grateful. Because I live in Costa Rica, I've relied for too long on family and friends to take 'sold copies' to post offices in Florida, where I used to live. The costs associated with paying a service for this duty are prohibitive. Presently my 82 year-old mother is doing the chore. I can't expect her to do this much longer. I intend to come out with an e-book someday, but when the last 'hard copies' sitting in a single box in her home sell out, unless and until I decide to again reside in the USA, the book will go out of print. Consequently, here is one of your ultimate opportunities to enjoy a book that has been warmly received by meteorite aficionados world-wide. The copy on eBay already has an opening bid, there is two days left in the auction. It is a First Edition, signed copy. http://www.ebay.com/itm/220994850322?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Gracias a todos. From Nine Degrees North Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com Santa Ana, Costa Rica __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Tissint? Yes, it tis! (and a tease on Shergotty)
Team Meteorite Tissint? Yes, it tis! Certainly tis about Tissint! While hunting around for data for my next contribution to 'Meteorite magazine', I came across this video of our newest brother from Mars. Narrated by Caroline Smith, the 'Keeper of the Meteorites' at the British Museum, it's worth a look, as is the surrounding website. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/space/meteorites-dust/meteorites-from-moon-mars/index.html And if there's anyone on this list not yet subscribing to the journal 'Meteorite'. well, what are you waiting for? Appearing in the May issue, my next feature in two parts is entitled, The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty. I am the luckiest guy around today because mood-setting illustrations to accompany my articles will be drawn by our beloved Dorothy Norton. The Rise of the Raj and the Fall of Shergotty is my final work on the SNC Mars meteorites, having covered Chassigny and Nakhla for Meteorite in the past starting in 1998 . If you found those features provocative, intriguing and educational, with these next articles covering the FIRST EVER complete description of the circumstances of the 1865 fall of Shergotty I will be telling a story for the ages you will not want to miss... I promise. The Nakhla Dog will soon have company among the legends of meteorites. Subscribe here: http://www.meteoritemag.org/ Earning my MARSROX... Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Ultimately Un-Stung in the Sting...
Team Meteorite: In a recent correspondence entitled Space Loot, list member Phil Whitmer has shared an article about a past sting operation coordinated by agencies of the US Government seeking sellers of space program lunar material. I wrote about this before, and do so again because this can happen to you. I became part of their witch hunt of those illegally owning/selling moon rocks when I answered a fake ad they placed in USA Today several years ago. Two buyers of moon rocks journeyed to my home in Fort Myers, Florida to set up and arrest me. They left empty handed when I could not offer them the silver-dollar size Apollo program lunar rocks they sought. They were not interested in buying small 0.01 frags of the first-ever lunar meteorite on the market I had purchased from Blaine Reed. No matter how patiently I explained the difference between a lunar met and a space program rock, even warning them to be careful, it's illegal to possess material from the space program, they weren't paying attention, just boasting about how their clients could purchase anything they wanted. They were so ignorant of the material they sought, so totally clueless about its petrology or appearance, that I recommended they not buy something they couldn't scientifically explain, and instead purchase for their clients a large Campo that anyone would know is a meteorite. Those with copies of my book (only 70 copies remain for sale), The Art of Collecting Meteorites, can read about how their visit caused me to become a person of interest to the US government. This is never a good thing. I was later detained by US Customs after returning from abroad. My escape involved then-US Congressman Porter Goss (who later ran the CIA), US Senator Connie Mack who's grandfather is in the baseball Hall of Fame, and a joint request that all photos, secret audio tapes and transcripts obtained at my home be destroyed. The Chief of United States Customs eventually wrote a letter of apology to me and freed me from further investigation. Thanks to Phil, I now know the names of the goofy guys that let me put on a meteorite dog-and-pony show in my dining room one summer morning hoping only to sell them meteorites while they hoped to take me away in chains. A google search of attorney Gutheinz, Jr. shows him to be very proud of his work, he's a real crime fighter. In this article he says, If someone hands a governor a moon rock, and he keeps it or loses it, if you can't protect something like that, maybe they're not that vigilant, said Mr. Gutheinz, a retired senior special agent in NASA's inspector general office. And if they're not that careful, and they bring it home with them, what else have they brought home with them? I'll take the high road here and not share my opinion about one who invents evil intent and let list members determine for themselves the motives for such a person. But it's clear to me that after all these years, my innocent solicitation for business from these yoyos could have ruined my life. Few Americans have been as focused on moon rocks as Joseph R. Gutheinz Jr., a Texas lawyer who keeps a spinning globe on his desk reading, Moon Rock Hunter. The title is not official (the globe was a gift from one of his sons), but it might as well be: Mr. Gutheinz and his criminal justice students at the University of Phoenix and Alvin Community College in Alvin, Tex., have helped track down 77 moon rocks that were missing, including those presented to governors in Colorado, Missouri and West Virginia. Mr. Gutheinz was the undercover agent who led a Miami sting operation to recover a moon rock stolen in Honduras in 1998. It was called Operation Lunar Eclipse. Mr. Gutheinz ran an advertisement in USA Today reading, Moon Rocks Wanted, and a man called offering to sell him a real moon rock. The asking price was $5 million. + Here is another interesting link to this event. http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-062902a.html Kevin Kichinka Santa Ana, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Last Call for Sale Prices! (ad)
Team Meteorite: The first sale I've offered on my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites and/or my The 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report have been very popular with many sales since Friday to list members. Thank you! A reminder Until Midnight Sunday i.e. TODAY, I am offering my FIRST EVER SPECIAL OFFER on my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites. FYI - There are only about eighty (now seventy-five) copies left to sell before it goes out of print in hard copy. Buy one now and I will include FREE my 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report, a $15 value. Or, if you already have the book but just want the report, I'll take 33% off the price until Sunday midnight. Just deposit $10 in my Paypal account mars...@gmail.com and one will be emailed to you as a pdf attachment. Here is the website for the book: www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com And here is a link to a past ebay offer on the meteorite price report (do not try to purchase it from this link!) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220807192439ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT I am in Costa Rica but my dear mother will be mailing sold books Monday (tomorrow) from Fort Myers, Florida. From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Meteorites - Better than the Stock Market? Special Sale! (ad)
Team Meteorite: While watching the stock market shrink my retirement fund today, my mind wandered to meteorites. I just won a couple small fragments of Shergotty from Adam Hupe's auctions for which I am glad. This is nearly an impossible meteorite to acquire. The S in the former class of SNC meteorites. A fall. In colonial India. A meteorite from Mars. But back to my sale Until Midnight Sunday, I am offering my FIRST EVER SPECIAL OFFER on my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites. FYI - There are only about eighty (80) copies left to sell before it goes out of print in hard copy. Buy one now and I will include FREE my 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report, a $15 value. Or, if you already have the book but just want the report, I'll take 33% off the price until Sunday midnight. Just deposit $10 in my Paypal account mars...@gmail.com and one will be emailed to you as a pdf attachment. Here is the website for the book: www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com And here is a link to a past ebay offer on the meteorite price report (do not try to purchase it from this link!) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220807192439ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT From Nine Degrees North... Kevin Kichinka __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Nakhla on the BBC
Hola, Team Meteorite: Apparently, in a couple of hours (but available later as an archived file) the BBC will have a radio program regarding the fall of Nakhla marking the 100th anniversary. It's a thirty minute program. I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by the show's producer requesting some of my work about the circumstances of the fall published in Meteorite magazine circa 1998. I think this is the correct link :) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0124p9y Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] How Do We Name Asteroids?
Team Meteorite: Ron Baalke kindly published a list of persons/places that have been honored by having their names attached to an asteroid. He even has one named after himself - 6524 Baalke. I was surprised to see asteroids named after some of my present and worthy friends and colleagues I can think of many other folks that should have this honor. Richard Norton (obvious), Darryl Pitt (meteorite photography), Robert Haag (met marketing), David New (first thin section sales), Ernst Chladni (first important researcher), Gustav Tschermak (microscopic work), Frederick Leonard (originated forerunner to Met Soc), G. Prior (author of first Cat of Mets). I can think of more nominees and I doubt we'll run out of asteroids. I know my mother would be proud if I had one named after me :) Can anyone comment on what qualifications are neccesary to achieve this honor? And I wonder if a person selected for this honor gets his/her choice of asteroid i.e. carbonaceous, differentiated, etc.? Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Blaine - Looking for the good in men and praising it...
It's been my luck in life to have more than one best friend when many men live out their life never really having even one. A best friend is someone you trust without a doubt to be alone with your hot girlfriend, to owe or loan money for awhile without regret, and in our case, to be tied together on a length of rope on a high icy mountain where there's no air and where if either of us falls, the other must hammer in the ice axe and surely hang on for both. Blaine and I have climbed those high mountains together, we've stood on the edge of an erupting volcano in Guatemala, drank warm beer in Panama, and of course, twice went to Bolivia to see what we could find just laying on the ground. Friday, June 10 marks the 10th anniversary of our recovery of Bolivia's first authenticated meteorite, Sevaruyo H5. This is very special to me and wouldn't be except for Blaine. Blaine's visited my former home in Ft Myers where just for the heck of it, with brother Blake helped me put up a board-on-board fence. Blane's visited me here in Costa Rica where we again climbed too close to steaming mountains and bushwacked through uncharted rain forest for fun. I mention this because so many times we were too cold, too hot, too tired, too wet, too lost and never did Blaine utter a negative word. And never does Blaine brag about these accomplishments. Blaine has always shared his vast knowledge of meteorites with me without a hint of condescension, has given me sound brotherly advice on matters of the heart and affairs of business. If there's another high mountain to climb, there's no one better than Blaine to be on the other end of the rope. Happy anniversary, Blaine. Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Bigfoot and the Nakhla Dog - what do they have in common?
Team Meteorite: While I am pursuing other projects now and can't take the time to again pursue/review or explain my peer-reviewed and published thesis (see David Weir Meteorite Studies and Nakhla) that absolves the Nakhla meteorite of dogocide, one argument that was made in support of this crime against canines was that I couldn't prove it DIDN'T HAPPEN. Never mind that no one recovered a bloody meteorite or a dead dog allegedly killed on the wrong day at the wrong place. Science and logic are brothers in arms. My brief, college-time exposure to debate (as a competition), taught me that if one argued this double negative, by rule you lost the debate. Something about being logical... Just for fun, I bring this up as I read on Yahoo about the world's Top Ten unexplained things. Here's a quote from the article, please pay special attention to the last sentence: For decades, large, hairy, manlike beasts called Bigfoot have occasionally been reported by eyewitnesses across America. Despite the thousands of Bigfoot that must exist for a breeding population, not a single body has been found. Not one has been killed by a hunter, struck dead by a speeding car, or even died of natural causes. In the absence of hard evidence like teeth or bones, support comes down to eyewitness sightings and ambiguous photos and films. Since it is logically impossible to prove a universal negative, science will never be able to prove that creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster do not exist, and it is possible that these mysterious beasts lurk far from prying eyes. Very, very far indeed. Long live the Nakhla Dog. Thanks to all who sent me birthday greetings this week! Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela, Costa Rica www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Something in the air...
Team Meteorite: My friend Gonzalo Pereira, an astronomer in La Paz, Bolivia and the curator of Colecion de Meteoritos Blaine Reed has sent me these links to videos of something falling through the night sky in NW Bolivia around April 2. The YouTube video appeared on the national news. The TV station added the music for dramatic effect :) Anyone want to guess what this might be? Gonzalo is looking for a reason to go look for something that may have reached the ground. I've forwarded his orginal message. Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com Hola Kevin, The event was a week after “Viernes Santo” Why the religious procession this day? I don’t know but this is in the amazonian region, in this place the indigenous people are so much religious thanks to the Jesuitical Missions. The name of this place is Guayaramerin, in the NW of Bolivia, near the Brazil border (10.8° S; 5.38° W, if you want to find in the Google Earth). This new appeared in a local TV and they said that was a UFO (this is the reason of this music), the image is edited and also you can watch this in youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUmKio4Vmlsfeature=player_embedded And: http://www.2bolivia.com/Guayaramerin-videos_0Egx54O3ItAfeature=youtube_gdata_player.html In this last you can watch 2 videos about the meteor and other videos concerning to Guayaramerin and the people who live there, some of these in English. Feliz fin de semana - Gonzalo Pereira Planetario Max Schreier Observatorio Astronomico de Patacamaya Carrera de Fisica Universidad Mayor de San Andres La Paz, Bolivia __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Signed and Numbered Book, A Meteorite Price Report, A Discount to Visit a Costa Rican Volcano - ad
Team Meteorite: If there is anyone left without my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites, and would enjoy owning a special copy, signed and numbered #499 is on eBay this moment. These have sold on eBay for as much as $50. FYI - The last signed and numbered copy, #500, will be auctioned off around Christmas time. Find #499 here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220748345535ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT *** Additionally, my first print run of 1,100 copies is sold out. I ordered one last printing of 100 copies and they are now available. I apologize that they cost $5 more, but they cost me $5 more per copy to print. As I live in Costa Rica and depend on my 81 year-old mother to take them to the post office as they sell, this will be it for hard copies. I'm lucky she's still willing-and-able to help me, but maybe it's time soon to let her just tend to her own knitting. When these last 100 copies are gone, The Art will live on only on your book shelves and as an ebook, which I will make available later this year. To mark this milestone, and as I will be making my twice-annual pilgrimage to America next week, here's an offer to those wanting a book but not bidding on the signed-and-numbered copy. All new book purchases paid to my Paypal account by 8PM EST next Sunday, March 13, will also be signed by the author, i.e - me :) at no extra charge. Go to www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com to pick up one of the last hard copies of my well-regarded book. Critics write - THREE THUMBS WAY, WAY UP! Robert Haag, The Meteorite Man “Kevin Kichinka has written an engaging book that needed writing. This book is a compendium of human activity touching upon scientific, artistic and commercial values in which meteorites are the vehicle through time.” O. Richard Norton Author of Rocks from Space and The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites “Funny, punning and poetic ... an engaging, often enthralling journey into the inner workings of meteorite collecting. Kichinka pulls no punches while stripping off the veneer of meteorite collecting to expose the good, the bad, and the ugly. The final story is the relentless search for Bolivia's first authenticated meteorite; a story that makes good adventure reading regardless of its meteoritical implications. This book is an enjoyable read, because it is about us. Martin Horejsi Meteorite magazine . . . a must for every meteorite collector's bookshelf. Astronomy Magazine In case anyone out there would enjoy reviewing my latest 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report, mentioned several times on the met list last month, please visit my Paypal account at: mars...@gmail.com - deposit $15 - and I will transmit it as an Adobe attachment. Written from the collector's point-of-view, the report covers dealer retail prices for 185 meteorites - with some met prices dating back to July, 2005 - helping one spot price trends. It will help determine the value of your collection. This eight-page report concludes with my State of the Market Analysis. Some comments from those collectors and dealers who have already purchased this report: Top notch work... I'm sure most everyone would enjoy looking it over. - Blaine Reed. This is going to be really useful and I think that $15 is spot-on for an asking price. - Joel Schiff (former publisher of Meteorite magazine) As always, an excellent compendium of our meteorite marketplace! Great work, Kevin! ** If anyone one is yet undecided for their Spring Break vacation let me help. I own and operate a Bed-and-Breakfast located between two volcanoes in the Central Valley of Costa Rica at a very pleasant 1,001m/3,100' altitude. Never hot, never cold. The swimming pool is at a comfortably numbing 84*F as I type. If a week of tropical adventure appeals, I am offering 25% off my nightly rack rate as a Meteorite Friends discount. Besides the fabulous time you will have here as I act as your full time adventure concierge, there will be meteorite-themed discussions and videos for your night-time enjoyment. Make contact through: www.LaQ-CostaRica.com The second-to-last available signed and numbered book on eBay, signed copies available for a short time, the 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report, discounts at my Costa Rican BB, I think this may be a met-list record for sales pitches! Hope to see some met lovers visit me soon, here on the slopes of the (very live) Poas Volcano. Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela, Costa Rica mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http
[meteorite-list] Tucson Auction #1
Hola from Costa Rica to Team Meteorite. That's my impression of how the folks on this bulletin board have come together over the last couple of years to become a self-policing body of collectors, dealers, hunters and researchers. The discourse here is now civil, informative, personal, supportive and energetic. I take my daily dose of world met events by way of the list archives and enjoy reading your comments covering the personalities, business, sales offers and breaking news of world falls. Just excellent! I'm glad I stuck around. These days, I'm interested in reading about your hunting adventures, seeing your photos, and learning more about the mets that interest me. And because I write about meteorites from time to time, I do want to know your opinions about this hobby, as per my request this week for views on your collection habits to help me respond to a magazine feature to be written by someone else. I was pleased that team member Richard Montgomery asked me to share my thoughts about the publication on the m-list of the results of the Blood auction in Tucson this month. I think this is important, too. I also have comments on two other current topics, the usefulness of a meteorite price list and about transparency in this hobby. In my recently released 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report I state: I hope to continue to educate and inform collectors and dealers while encouraging market transparency. We all want to acquire fine specimens at a fair price. The price list I compile is based on prices dealers are asking, i.e. retail. Later I add, I do not do not collect data from auctions, eBay or from sources that represent circumstantial, limited or privileged exchanges. Respected dealer Matt Morgan wrote today, ... coming up with meteorite price lists is a joke. They don't account for all the sales that are dealer-dealer, dealer-collector, collector-collector, ebay, etc. Price lists for stamps and coins don't report dealer-dealer, collector-collector, ebay... but are surely considered a tool of the trade. The real problem with coming up with average dealer ask prices for mets is in determining the value of the same specie that are sold in slices, fragments, as individuals, with crust, with regs This is not easy, it is subjective, and when someone comes up with a better way, I will step aside. Because I set up a methodology years ago before eBay or the Blood auction, the results and trends of my work are consistent. And yes, the results of these other classes of sales is relevant. The more data collected leads one to make better purchasing/selling decisions. But one has to start somewhere. Use my price report and do more due diligence before pulling the trigger on that buy. Be confident in your decision. Many in the dealer community consistently purchase my Global Price Report, voting with their cash as to its usefulness. Written from a collectors point-of-view, I believe it helps keep the market transparent, helps people guess-ti-mate the value of their collections, (my personal reason for doing this work) and provides clear trends for many specific and classes of meteorites. I'm emailing Matt a courtesy copy of The 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report for his re-consideration. (to be continued...) Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Tucson Auction #2
Team Meteorite: Here's my take on the future vibes from Michael's posting of sales prices from his annual Tucson auction. First, is there a non-dealer among us who prefers these results remain secret? I didn't think so. Second, were the prices realized uniformly HIGHER than expected, would dealers not trumpet these as comparisons? Would dealer's not consequently raise their prices? Of course not :) Case in point. The first meteorite I ever purchased was Zagami in 1995. I followed the Philip's Auction, one of the first ever, and it sold for $500/gm. I called the consignor, a guy named Robert Haag, and asked if he had more for sale. Did you see what it just sold for at the auction? Dude, $500/gm! I'm rich! And you are the last person I will ever sell it to for my old price. My good friend Darryl, a meteorite dealer along with many other fine talents, today voiced concerned with the impact of posting some low realized prices at the Blood auction: The last thing needed is more confusion for the growing legion of new buyers who are exasperated in their efforts to navigate the murky waters of meteorite valuation. He added, I am all for transparency, but transparency can frequently result in disinformation if there is no context. And to be clear, I did not state this (Blood auction) was a wholesale event. I suggested that (it) be stated that the auction occurred at a wholesale marketplace. I would define the Blood auction as an auction just like all auctions, with final prices realized being wholesale, retail and in between. But there is some history to consider in this issue, let's examine the entire context of meteorite auctions. No one rushed to publish disclaimers, as Darryl suggests is desirable now, associated with the auction prices back in the 1990's, when dealers found a willing and able public wanting to own - for the first time- rare meteorites at seemingly high prices at NY auctions. The prices for many specimens were so remarkably high they appeared in newspapers all over the world. No one consigning or profiting from mets in those first Natural History auctions voiced concern about the public being confused by the context of the setting. The context was this, prior to the Philips Natural History auctions, the market for meteorites was skinnier then a thin section, and these auctions opened established dealers to an extremely windfallish worldwide clientele of generous, happily naive bidders. Darryl can be proud of his work with that auction house in making it all happen. Philips was the first mover into offering natural history collectibles and they did quite well for awhile. But there were no disclaimers offered about context. Just happy people buying things that made them happier. No harm, no foul. Just as it should be today. As for Darryl's feelings that new buyers... are exasperated in their efforts to navigate the murky waters of meteorite valuation, I can speak from personal experience. I was a frequent winner at those early auctions and had never bid on anything before in my life, let alone a.. meteorite (?). Somehow I navigated through those high-priced murky waters without a life vest disclaimer being thrown to me. I am glad for the specimens I won, the prices paid were pertinent that day. No worries. We're not talking about spending the money budgeted for the baby's milk, meteorite purchases come under the category of discretionary income. We were all new buyers at some point (and some of us were new sellers the next day) and I can't today picture, following any review of auction prices realized, anyone mumbling/grumbling over their morning coffee after losing sleep trying to calculate the real price of NWA 5717. I say publish the Blood auction results without disclaimer. People are smart enough to figure out the game. Transparency in public auctions accrues trust which grows auction participation. Who will argue against that? Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Survey for Collectors
Discovering my sale of The 2011 Global Meteorite Price Report on eBay, a journalist for a major international magazine now seeks my opinion of how we value the specimens in our collections. I think there are many other folks on the m-list who could help me clarify my thoughts before I respond. Please feel free to respond as succinctly and in as few words as possible to any or all of the questions below. If you do not want your name, rank and serial number to appear attached to your opinion please indicate so in your response to the m-list (or privately to me), otherwise you may end up with your name in an international periodical. Thanks to all for their thoughtful responses. - Kevin 1. What are the most important factors in terms of collectability for a given specimen? Would you emphasize the rarity, the science, the history, the freshness, the aesthetics, or...? 2. Who or what establishes market value? Are meteorite prices being established at auction, in Tucson, on dealer websites, in Morocco, on eBay, in private trades...? 3. What are the most undervalued meteorites or categories of meteorite? In what categories do you see the most potential for growth? 4. Do you believe that meteorites are undervalued or overvalued overall, in comparison to other collectibles such as fossils or coins or wristwatches or contemporary art? 5. What long-term meteorite market developments would you be willing to forecast? Kevin Kichinka Tambor de Alajuela www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Global Meteorite Pricing Report - 2011 from MARSROX - (ad)
and a copy will soon be transmitted to your email account. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2011 now available! - (ad)
Collectors and meteorite dealers alike will be happy to know that the latest edition of The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2011 is now available for purchase. Coin and stamp collectors can find ready price guides for about every coin minted or stamp ever printed. I have worked diligently to duplicate this effort with meteorites. No one else is doing this. In 1995 I created a consistent methodology for determing the average price for a typical specimen of its type and have been compiling data since, publishing and selling it beginning in 2005. Collectors - Would you like to calculate the value of your existing collection based on the latest dealer price listings? Do you have a wish list of pending purchases and wonder what today's market price is for these specimens? Dealers - Do you want to be sure your price offerings are within the range of your competition, neither selling too inexpensively nor too dear? With the Tucson Rock-and-Gem Show less than a month away, wouldn't everyone profit by knowing the current average prices of the meteorites they will be buying and selling? To create extra value, I've nearly doubled the amount of different meteorites covered from the successful 2007 report. Additionally, historical prices from past reports are included for trend spotting. The latest ask prices have been compiled by mining nearly every dealer website available, a process that took me over one hundred hours (kids, don't try this at home without extraordinary patience and a large bottle of eye drops.) Meteorites are divided by type and alphabetically for easy reference. Here is an example of the data: July, 2005 February, 2007 September, 2008 December, 2010 IRONS Boxhole $3.00 (3) $2.22. (2) $2.43 (5)$2.32 (3) -4.6% Campo del Cielo $0.16 (4) $0.17 (5) $0.32 (14) $0.39 (13) +21.8% In the above example, a typical Boxhole specimen in size and sold as an individual, had an average dealer ask price of $3.00/gram in July, 2005. There were three dealers selling this typical material. Presently, I found three dealers selling the same typical material for $2.32/gram, down -4.6% from the last survey of September, 2008. Campo, on the other hand, has seen its price go from $0.16/gram offered by four dealers in 2005, to an average of $0.39/gm offered by thirteen dealers selling similar specimens. That price is up +21.8% from the last survey of September, 2008. About 85 different meteorites appeared in my first report in July, 2005. The 2011 report covers 185 meteorites and their permutations. I've added price info for many more NWA's and named meteorites are extensively covered. I suspect most collectors will find the present prices for the majority of their specimens in the report. To be clear, the first two surveys covered the mets in my collection, about 85 names. I expanded to about 125 mets for the September, 2008 report. There is price information on 185 meteorites in this latest 2011 report - virtually everything that at least two dealers are selling somewhere on the planet. I accept no advertising and I am not favoring or promoting any dealer's wares. The prices reflected are an unbiased snapshot of today's market. Even if you thought you knew the prices already, knew the trends in prices and popularity, you will be surprised at many of the findings. This eight page report has been reformatted as an Adobe pdf for easy transmittal to your e-mailbox. The first time I offered this report the response was good. The last two reports were extremely well-received. This time around, following the world's economic crisis/recovery, I believe every collector and dealer should be intensely interested to see how and where the meteorite market, and their collection or inventory, has been impacted. To purchase, please visit Paypal and my account at mars...@gmail.com. Deposit US$15 and a copy for your eyes only please :) will soon be transmitted to your email account. Don't put yourself at a competitive dis-advantage while buying or selling. Learn today what your meteorites are worth. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Global Meteorite Price Report - 2011 Update
I note that when transmitting my ad to the m-list, the examples for pricing of Boxhole and Campo are a garbled mess. All data on the pdf is extremely clear on each line with proper spacing. Regards, Kevin __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Holiday Wishes/ Larry and Twink Monrad's Costa Rican Adventures
Larry and Twink of Gold Basin fame sojourned last month to visit me here at La Quintana de Costa Rica, my Bed and Breakfast. Besides visiting live volcanoes and monkey beaches, meteorites were on the menu. Twink uber-generously shared a few self-recovered Gold Basin specimens with me for which I am thrilled to add to my collection. To warm the thoughts of everyone as the Winter Equinox approaches, the Monrads' agreed I could post these two photo albums of their adventures in this tropical country south of Nicaragua. At the conclusion of the second Webshots album, I included photos taken off of the TV screen from the video we watched one night shot of the Tucson show in 2000. If you are interested in reminiscing (and remembering how good looking we all were back then), there are cameo guest shots of: - THE Steve Arnold - Anne Black - Michael Blood - Mike Farmer - Robert Haag - Russ Kempton - Kevin Kriegh - Jim Kriegh - LaBenne brothers - Al Lang - Mike Martinez - Richard and Dorothy Norton - Darryl Pitt - Blaine and Blake Reed - and Jim Strope. Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year that's rich in falls and finds. From Nine Degrees North, Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com After you click on each link (this is parts one and two), look for the box on the right, then click on slideshow to activate. Mouse down one click to read the caption beneath each photo. http://family.webshots.com/album/579251393nwAcWd http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/579250218nujjmz __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Terrestrial Age of Bonita Springs H5
Maybe among the cognoscenti of this bulletin board someone might know what I can't seem to locate through vigorous research. For a future feature in Meteorite magazine, it would help me to know the approximate terrestrial age of Bonita Springs H5 (Florida). While there is an interesting debate raging (maybe it's not exactly THAT interesting OR raging) about the parent body of H chondrites (see Dave Weir's website for the Reader's Digest version of the arguments) it's the terrestrial age of this specific met that stumps me. How long has Bonita Springs been cooling its chondrules on planet Earth? Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] A Signed and Numbered Copy of The Art of Collecting Meteorites - (ad)
In a short time, someone hopefully will be interested in bidding and purchasing a First Edition copy (signed and numbered #498 of 500) of my book, The Art of Collecting Meteorites. I am thankful to Geoff Notkin for taking time out this week to retrieve the original book file and mailing a CD to me so I can pursue printing more copies when the last few I have soon sell out. Without his search, the book was forever lost. Imagine what help I had with this project! . Meteorite Man Geoff did the book's design, Meteorite Man Steve Arnold played a key role in its concept. Richard Norton wrote the foreword. Joel Schiff edited. Darryl Pitt inspired and shared his knowledge and photos. Tom Phillips donated images of his micro-work including the stunning cover. Others on this message board were key contributors. I will sign copy #499 for an eBay auction in a few months. I'll leave #500, the last to be signed and numbered, to be sold when all other copies are gone. It is still unclear if there will ever be more copies available or if the book will go out of print. But today, if anyone would enjoy having what some people consider special, please take a look at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=220689112129ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT Many thanks to all for your support and encouragement. Special thanks to those who have recently purchased second copies as a permanent collectable. Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Miles Silicated Iron (ad)
My meteorite sales promotion to raise funds to print more copies of The Art of Collecting Meteorites continues with my offer of a 3.85 gm partial slice of Miles silicated iron. Internet research shows it being offered at an average price of $11.28/gram on dealer's websites. I'll be happy so accept $8/gram for this fine specimen or $30.80 + shipping to wherever. Please, contact me before depositing funds in Paypal ( account is: mars...@gmail.com). See it here: http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/578759001RDNWtg Regards to all. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Tribe Has Spoken - (ad) part one for Zagami -Mars- thin section
Last week I sought the opinions of this august group regarding publishing my book, The Art of Collecting Meteorites, solely as an e-book as my supply of hard copies nears a complete sell out. Resoundingly, you said no way. But most responders added an acknowledgement that ebooks represent the future. True. For the first time ever, e-books outsold hard copies last year. Consequently, I'm going to try to raise the funds to print more books by selling meteorites. I will need a couple of thousand dollars to keep The Art of Collecting Meteorites alive in a way that most pleases my readers, a hold-it-in-your-hands book. First offer in my fund raising project is a thin section of Zagami (Mars). When I had several of these created in the late '90's, Zagami sold for $800 to $1,000/gram. It's about half of that now. The Zagami slice covers 10x8mm on the slide. I was selling these for $350 prior to the world economic crisis. In a web search today, world-class thin section dealer Impactica Ann has none listed for sale, the (Michael) Blood Meister has a Zagami ts with 15x20mm coverage for $500, and Jeff Rowell has one similar to mine for an excellent $250. I'll be the low cost Kev-Mart of Zagami today. First $225 (plus postage to wherever) in my Paypal account will bring a true Mars sample return to the new owner and help me kick-start my book printing-funding project. Please email me before submitting funds. My humble thanks to the many people who took the time to write me last week. I am honored to be in your thoughts and perpetually amazed, somewhat awed, that this hobby has created for me a network of worldwide friendships I would never otherwise have known. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] El Djouf CR2 Offer (ad) part 2 - El Djouf 001 CR2
Back when NWA were popularly known only as the initials for Northwest Airlines, a collector would wait years to fill the rarer classifications for his/her type collection. Rumarutis, acapulcoites, angrites and the like were beyond the budgets of most people. Such was the case with CR2's. No one offered name sake Renazzo as the great repositories of the world hadn't yet dealt their true rarities for exotic NWA species. In the late-1990's, I purchased El Djouf to fill the CR2 classification. I've had a lot of fun studying this gorgeous meteorite. If research is your thing, papers about El Djouf 001 talk about noble gases, olivine glass inclusions and dark clasts. The primordial nebula comes in play. It's what meteorites are about to me read the papers, know the rock, let your mind expand with the realities of what you hold in your hand. El Djouf 001 CR2 Tanezrouft, Algeria Found October, 1989 TKW - Thirty specimens collected weighing 1,250 grams. Weight of specimen offered today - 1.2 grams Measures 13x10x4mm S2, W2. Take a look here - http://community.webshots.com/album/578724542MyZzYc The only sample of El Djouf 001 I can find for sale is with Russ Kempton who offers 0.005 grams for $15 ($3,000/gm.) I'll sacrifice this to create more copies of The Art of Collecting Meteorites for $300/gm or $360 + mail to wherever. Please email me to confirm purchase before depositing Paypal funds. From Nine Degrees North, Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] All Names, No Numbers Collection (ad part 3)
To raise money to fund the printing of more copies for re-sale of The Art of Collecting Meteorites, here is an offer any collector can afford. Six meteorites with names. Three falls. No junk. The price for the set is $50 + mail to wherever. 1. El Hammami H5 (Mauritania) Found 1997. Superb black, bubbly crust covers about 50% of the surface. 1.1 gms. 15x6x6 frag. 2. Lahoma L5 (Oklahoma) Found 1963. A starry-night meteorite, glistening metal flecks in a jet-black matrix. 1.6 gms. 12x6x3 part slice. 3. Tatahouine DIO (Tunisia) Fell June 27, 1931. Sliced frag shows interior. 0.8 gms. 10x7x5mm. 4. Travis County (a) (Texas) Found 1889. Shock-blackened matrix. 1.6 gms. 10x9x3mm slice. 5. Gao H5 (Upper Volta) Fell March 5, 1960. Individual with 50% crust. 1.7 gms. 10x7x6mm. 6. Allende CV3.2 (Mexico) Fell 1969. Several CAI's on this 1.25 gm. frag measuring 15x9x5. Please email me if interested Regards to all. Kevin Kichinka mars...@gmail.com www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LaQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Zagami thin section (sold) and Luck o' the Irish
I am happy to read that M-List Member Jim Brady has re-discovered a lost cache of my book, The Art of Collecting Meteorites among the shamrocks growing in his basement. He is offering these fairly priced signed and low-numbered copies for sale. I hope any potential readers in Euro-land will take advantage of this good luck (and save some postage) by purchasing these copies direct from Jim in Ireland. Although I am awaiting payment, it looks like I have a sale (and a back-up) for the Zagami thin section. Thanks to all who have written me. This is a great start to fund the next run of my book. From Nine Degrees North, Kevin __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Meteorite eBook Opinions Sought
Many of you on the list have purchased, and hopefully enjoyed, my book The Art of Collecting Meteorites. It was self-published in 2005. When it was still just a dream no publisher found my proffered synopsis worthy of consideration. After I had sold hundreds of copies I re-submitted the actual book to a dozen publishers. Most rejected it, and the couple that were interested wanted to change the title, change the cover, delete many photos, eliminate color illustrations and diminish the quality of the paper it was written on. For this, I would net about $1 per sold copy. Unpalatable. I'm down to about twenty copies (Blaine Reed also has a few left for sale) and have considered having the printer, Bookmasters, run off a hundred more so I can continue to fill orders. Otherwise we will turn the final page (pun intended) and it will go out of print soon. The cost of this small run is so high that I would need to charge $26.95 for a book that has sold since 2005 for $21.95 to earn the same slim profit margin. I am looking for learned opinions from the people who have or could be the end users, the fine people who are avid meteorite aficionados on this meteorite bulletin board. 1. Are there any buyers in these difficult times for a 232 page all-color, high-quality paperback book priced at $26.95? 2. Would anyone purchase the same book for $13 (half-price) to be read on their computer in a pdf (Adobe) format? 3. Would anyone purchase this to be read as an eBook (Apple) or from Amazon (Kindle)? How much is The Art of Collecting Meteorites worth to you in these formats? Your opinions will play a great part in my decision. Regards from Nine Degrees North Kevin Kichinka (mars...@gmail.com) __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Just like the Old Days - Part Two of Two (ad)
Herein is a nice lot of nine different meteorites for sale (and a Moldavite) with some real keepers- and no Bessey Specks or undesirable examples. My similar offering of last week sold in a second so let's see if anyone wants these at an even better bargain price. The set includes a carb chondrite, a diogenite and one really low TKW ordinary chondrite. And there's no NWA's, all of these mets go by friendly first names. All were purchased by me from Blaine Reed to originally be packaged with my book, The Art of Collecting Meteorites, but with only fifty copies of 1,100 left to sell, this will be unneccesary. I had fun playing with these rocks, looking up their histories, and I hope you will, too. You will find the price to be fair for the quality and variety of material. Blaine told me yesterday that he is out of a couple of those listed here and knows of no other source (they presently reside at TCU). This is also my last sale of these until August or September. Payment by Paypal. Don't try to call me, I'm in Costa Rica surrounded by smoking volcanoes, and any second, likely to be fleeing from the lava. And it's not an ala carte offering, it's Winner-take-all for the soon-to-be described material. First email to me at MARSROX @gmail.com, confirmed with Paypal payment in a reasonably short time, will receive the goodies. I'll be back in FLA Tuesday, March 16 and will ship the package before the week is out. 1. A Moldavite (tektite) - Used in jewelry applications, 6x6x2mm, 0.2gms., translucent, green fragment. 2. Dalgetty Downs L4, find 1941 (Australia) - Widely distributed, 16x14x5mm slice, 1.65 gms., clean surfaces w/o oxidation. 3.Etter L5, find 1965 (Texas), CRE (cosmic exposure age) of only 1.7 Ma (Alexeev, 1998), 11x6x3mm slice, 1.30 gms, polished on two sides. 4. Aldama (b) H5 find 1996 (Mexico) - Low TKW of +2kg. and basically unavailable. 11x5x3mm cut frag, 0.6gms. 5. Huckitta PAL find 1924 (Australia) - The 1,084 gm specimen first recovered had been transported about fifty miles from the main 1,411 kg mass discovered later in 1937. 15x10x7mm, 2.25 gms., typical terrestrialized fragment with nice cut face. 6. Odessa IAB Iron find 1922 (Texas) - Aparently somewhere within this piece lurks silicate inclusions similar to Campo and Toluca (Ted Bunch et al, 1970) and native copper (Nininger and Huss, 1966). Not to be confused with Odessa H4 (Ukraine). 10x5x4mm, 0.95 gm. untumbled individual as recovered. 7. Tulia (b) L6 - Found 1917 (Texas) - Joins Tulia (a) H3/4, Tulia (c) H5-6, Tulia (d) H6, and Tulia Iron as all common to the Lubbock Super Cluster region of west-central Texas. Tulia (b) has a small TKW of 4.4kg. 8x6x3mm, sliced frag of 0.35gms with a very busy metal matrix. Who among us has all the Tulias? 8. Tatahouine DIO (Tunisia) fell 27 June, 1931. A rare, unbrecciated, green diogenite 6x5x3mm, 0.50 gm. cut frag w/interior face. 9. North Branch (Kansas) found 1972. 19x10x3mm, 1.90gm cut frag w/polished face. 10. Allende CV3 (Mexico) fell 8 Febrero, 1969. The most-studied meteorite in history, this 8x8x5mm, 0.50 gm frag w/CAI's. First buyer with US $40 (plus $5 US shipping/$13 foreign) confirmed by email to me at mars...@gmail.com takes it all. Gracias para su tiempo y tiene un bien dia. Kevin Kichinka www.theartofcollectingmeteorites.com www.LAQ-CostaRica.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
