Presenting my Meteroite Collection

Boba Debt

Master Member
Since most of us enjoy science fiction I figured some of you might be interested in another hobby of mine.

I discovered you could buy meteorites 2006 and have been steadily growing my collection but progress is slow because I only collect spheres

This makes my collection very unique because, as far as I know, I am the only collector that does this. I'm not saying that another person with deep pockets couldn't copy my collection but I was the first and so far the only person to focus on spheres

Most of the meteorite community thought I was crazy at first but then as my collection grew they warmed up to the premise

Others collect whole specimens, end cuts and or slices but I went with spheres because they give you a different perspective of a meteorite.

There are only a few readily available spheres and they are made from the most common material and the size is dependent on the whole specimen that it is made from.

Since my collection was only going to be comprised of spheres I decided to set the size of my spheres to 50mm. Had I selected a smaller size, I could have quickly obtained a large collection. If I went larger, I would still be looking for my first specimen.

However, finding 50mm Meteorite Spheres was more difficult than expected, so I learned how to make them. I developed a new less wasteful process which I use to make spheres for my collection & I found a very good sphere shop in Texas called The Rare Earth Trading Company which I use for materials that I cannot work.

So far I have collected 20 meteorite or meteorite related spheres and I just bought a Mesosiderite, which has been very difficult to locate at an affordable price


Here is my collection, the individual images are listed in the order they were obtained.


Here is my collection, the individual images are listed in the order they were obtained.


Collection%202014%2010_zpsxcst8ryu.jpg




GIBEON
IAV / FINE OCTAHEDRITE IRON- 488 GRAMS

001%20Gibeon%20BB_zpsmkmgwybb.jpg



NWA 869
L3/6 CHONDRITE - 225 GRAMS

002%20NWA%20869%20BB_zpsr7xylgtq.jpg



CAMPO
IAB-MG / COARSE IRON - 485 GRAMS

003%20Campo%20BB_zps4cwobhz1.jpg



BRAHIN
PALLASITE - 335 GRAMS

004%20%20Brahin%20BB_zpsetaroejm.jpg



SEYMCHAN
IIE / UNGROUPED IRON - 520 GRAMS

005%20Seymchan%20BB_zpskm5hyp36.jpg



GUANG DONG
TEKTITE - 145 GRAMS

006%20Guang%20Dong%20Tektite%20BB_zpsxjm2i7rf.jpg



NWA 2828
EL3 CHONDRITE - 158 GRAMS

007%20NWA%202828%20BB_zpscbq6bggf.jpg



DRONINO
ATAXITE / UNGROUPED IRON- 536 GRAMS

008%20Dronino%20BB_zps5wrvsthi.jpg



GAO-GUENIE
H5 CHONDRITE - 227 GRAMS

009%20Gao%20BB_zpsp8b8plhi.jpg



URUACU
IAB-MG / COARSE IRON - 533 GRAMS

010%20Uruacu%20BB_zpsqyzlmazs.jpg
 
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Great to see your collection. I think that collecting the spheres is an excellent idea. For me the shape adds to the other worldly feel of the meteorite specimen.
 
NININGER
MUSEUM WALL BRICK- 171 GRAMS


Photo by David Deyarmin]
011%20Nininger%20BB_zpsncjzqrru.jpg
[/URL]

BLACK ONAPING
SUDBURY IMPACT MELT- 185 GRAMS


Photo by David Deyarmin]
012%20Black%20Onaping%20BB_zpsx2zdjvj4.jpg
[/URL]

TOLUCA
IAB-sLL IRON- 528 GRAMS


Photo by David Deyarmin]
013%20Toluca%20BB_zpstqbkm5yy.jpg
[/URL]

CANYON DIABLO
GRAPHITE NODULE- 247 GRAMS
NWA 791
L6 CHONDRITE - 220 GRAMS

Photo by David Deyarmin]
015%20NWA%20791%20BB_zpsd3glzon6.jpg
[/URL]



DHOFAR 1289
L4 CHONDRITE - 214 GRAMS
Photo by David Deyarmin]
016%20Dhofar%201289%20BB_zpsf3s7payx.jpg
[/URL]



LIBYAN GLASS
IMPACT MELT GLASS - 147 GRAMS

Photo by David Deyarmin]
017%20Libyan%20Glass%20BB_zpsk2jl9ebl.jpg
[/URL]



ZAG
H3/6 CHONDRITE - 246 GRAMS
Photo by David Deyarmin]
018%20Zag%20BB_zpsvgqacrs3.jpg
[/URL]



GHUBARA
L5 CHONDRITE - 230 GRAMS

Photo by David Deyarmin]
019%20Ghubara%20BB_zpsos5gc9yw.jpg
[/URL]



DHOFAR 1724
H4 CHONDRITE - 222 GRAMS

Photo by David Deyarmin]
020%20Dhofar%201724%20BB_zpsqzgb6dbd.jpg
[/URL]




Dems some real nice rocks! Congrats. Any tips for getting into the hobby?

Get a second job :)


eBay is the best place to start looking for meteorites if you just want to buy, it has the largest selection available anywhere.


In addition to my sphere collection I also have a 4.2 pound Campo Iron Whole Specimen and 1.1 pound unclassified NWA Chondrite


99%20Campo%20WS_zpseocvkgf9.jpg



99%20NWA%20WS_zpsilwb3cbt.jpg
 

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Sorry guys, but if you need to assuage your urge to buy a space rock I have a pile of them listed for 25 cents a gram in the Junkyard.
 
This is the core machine I used to make my first iron sphere from a 57 pound Campo Whole Specimen



It took 2 days and it resulted in a 7 1/2 core that was just over 2” in diameter

I had that core turned on a lathe into 2 separate spheres, one for m y collection and one for eBay. I also sold the remaining whole specimen on eBay for more then I paid for it.

Because it was so time consuming that was the only time I used it.

Now I have a machine shop that turns a 51mm x 51mm x 60mm rough into my 50mm sphere

This is the steel prototype



Once I polish it I remove the hexagonal stem, sand and polish that area and then I etch the entire sphere





I modified an MK-100 Brick and Paver saw so that I could cut stones and irons to make my sphere roughs



Instead of using a band saw with a kerf so wide that you get 25-30% cut I use a .030” abrasive blade that produces slices that are almost ready to etch with about 5-7% cut.

Here is an example of a freshly cut iron slice, it has not been sanded nor polished




I have processed meteorites for hunters on a profit sharing basis but I only do that if they have a material that I can use for a sphere in my collection.



I also buy whole specimens to make spheres and I always sell the left over end cuts, slices and “scraps” at very competative prices.



In the near future I will have some nice large Bondoc Mesosiderite end cuts and slices that I will list for sale but if you’re not an rabid meteorite collector and just want a space rock I have lots of little left overs from my previous sphere projects that I sell super cheap.
 
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Bondoc Mesosiderite-B4 Meteorite – The Good & the Bad

I received my Bondoc whole specimen yesterday and I processed it into my sphere rough cube today.

The GOOD – Very easy to cut

The BAD – not a lot of visible metal

Here is a picture of the whole specimen







Here is a picture of it after cutting








Overall I will be happy to have a meso sphere in my collection, I just wish it had more metal in it.


I plan to sell the end cuts and slices but don’t really know what it’s worth so if you have an opinion on it value per gram please reply

I am soaking a small slice in phosphoric acid so we will see how that turns out
 
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Well, I didn't get a sphere as my first meteorite purchase, but how was I going to resist a Campo del Cielo shaped like a tiny 49 gm Star Destroyer?

CampoSielo01.jpg

If I go into debt doing this, you know who I'm blaming!
 
Really impressive collection :thumbsup

I picked up a chunk of the Canyon Diablo (around 500 grams) back in the late 80's from Robert Haag (back when he was THE man to get stuff from). Probably around that same time period I also acquired a smaller chunk (about 170 grams) from Odessa, TX, if I remember correctly (also nickel-iron). Don't recall who I got that one from... I'm sure it was at a gem and mineral show.

The main appeal for me is being able to hold something in my hand that isn't indigenous to the Earth - that's pretty special.

CIMG1695.JPG
 
Well, I didn't get a sphere as my first meteorite purchase, but how was I going to resist a Campo del Cielo shaped like a tiny 49 gm Star Destroyer?



If I go into debt doing this, you know who I'm blaming!



You're WELCOME




Really impressive collection :thumbsup

I picked up a chunk of the Canyon Diablo (around 500 grams) back in the late 80's from Robert Haag (back when he was THE man to get stuff from). Probably around that same time period I also acquired a smaller chunk (about 170 grams) from Odessa, TX, if I remember correctly (also nickel-iron). Don't recall who I got that one from... I'm sure it was at a gem and mineral show.

The main appeal for me is being able to hold something in my hand that isn't indigenous to the Earth - that's pretty special.



That's a nice looking CD


Yes just holding a space rock seems to be neat to everyone , except the doubters.
 
thanks again for sharing, I had no idea about that collecting and of course never saw a sphere collection that beautiful. Like the others, I was impressed when I saw the picture in the junkyard and now I think I want a sphere myself too. As D48thRonin said it, holding a piece that comes from space must be quite something. :)
 
If your want a sphere the most readily available materials are Gibeon Iron and NWA 869

They are going to cost you though because a lot of material is sacrificed to make them
 
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