[meteorite-list] Butterfields auction in Los Angeles

From: rockgirl_at_twcny.rr.com <rockgirl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:22:35 2004
Message-ID: <410-22003608145617966_at_M2W068.mail2web.com>

Dear Meteorite-list members,=20


R=2E A=2E Langheinrich Meteorites has four exceptional one-of-a-kind=20
meteorites on offer in tomorrow's Butterfields auction in Los Angeles=2E=20=


The lots are a large 2=2E3 kg oriented Taza with flow lines, two=20
vintage historic Canyon Diablo irons with original Nininger numbers,=20
and a 7=2E5 kg complete slice of Rio Limay -- one of the largest stone=20
meteorite slices in the world=2E Of special interest is an original=20
invoice from Nininger's American Meteorite Museum, which accompanies=20
Lot #315=2E=20

Absentee bids will be accepted, but there is no live online bidding=2E=20
If you wish to place a bid in the auction, please visit this page to=20
register:=20

http://www=2Ebutterfields=2Ecom/areas/nh/7427x/7427x=2Ehtm=20


Here are excerpts from the catalog descriptions of these lots, and=20
links to the pages where photographs can be seen=2E=20

Lot #319=20
Taza iron meteorite=20
Oriented=20
2,304 grams=20

A superb 2,304 gram Taza, shield-shaped on one side, and exhibiting=20
flow lines -- both classic features of an oriented meteorite=2E Taza is=20=

a plessitic octahedrite iron, and was recovered from the deserts of=20
Morocco=2E Although many individual specimens were found, most were=20
very small averaging several grams in weight=2E This exceptional=20
individual carries a reddish-orange desert and is one of very few=20
large oriented Taza irons to have been offered for sale=2E=20

See this item here:=20

http://www=2Ebutterfields=2Ecom/areas/nh/7427x/detail/7427x-319=2Ehtm=20


Lot #314=20
Canyon Diablo iron meteorite (IAB)=20
>From Meteor Crater, Coconino County, Arizona=20
Nininger number #34=2E4578=20
2,615 grams=20

The most famous meteorite-related structure on Earth is, without=20
doubt, Arizona's Meteor Crater, located east of Flagstaff in the=20
American Southwest=2E Meteorite specimens recovered from the desert=20
around the crater are known as Canyon Diablo irons, after a nearby=20
geographical feature=2E The massive, well-preserved crater is thought=20
to have been formed 20,000 to 50,000 years ago by an enormous iron=20
meteorite, most of which vaporized on impact=2E Fortunately, the dry=20
Arizona climate has allowed many fragments to survive, although the=20
crater is on private land, and meteorite hunting is not permitted=2E=20
The situation was very different in 1939 when H=2E H=2E Nininger the=20
"father of meteoritics" began surveying the crater with a magnetic=20
rake attached to the back of his car=2E Nininger studied Meteor Crater=20
(then known as the Barringer Crater) for years, and built a meteorite=20
museum close by=2E Specimens collected by Nininger were meticulously=20
recorded, and each was given a unique catalog number=2E These delicate=20
"Nininger numbers" were hand painted with a fine brush, and specimens=20
-- such as this fine Canyon Diablo iron -- which bear such numbers=20
are extremely hard to come by and highly prized by collectors and=20
institutions=2E This excellent meteorite carries the number 34=2E4578,=20
has a very attractive orange desert patina, and is both an=20
outstanding example of a classic iron and a highly desirable historic=20
specimen=2E=20

See this item here:=20

http://www=2Ebutterfields=2Ecom/areas/nh/7427x/detail/7427x-314=2Ehtm=20


Lot #315=20
Canyon Diablo iron meteorite (IAB)=20
>From Meteor Crater, Coconino County, Arizona=20
Nininger number #34=2E4944=20
10,080 grams=20

This substantial Canyon Diablo iron weighs slightly over 22 pounds=20
and, like the previous lot, is a rare numbered piece from H=2EH=2E=20
Nininger's American Meteorite Museum collection=2E Large Nininger irons=20=

are very rare indeed and historic specimens of this size and quality=20
are almost never offered for sale=2E Of particular interest is the=20
original invoice which is offered along with the specimen, and which=20
gives this meteorite an ironclad provenance=2E A private collector=20
purchased this iron directly from the Nininger family, and it is one=20
of only a handful of these vintage specimens which is still=20
accompanied by its original paperwork=2E A very rare opportunity to=20
acquire a sizeable and impressive historic American iron meteorite=2E=20

See this item here:=20

http://www=2Ebutterfields=2Ecom/areas/nh/7427x/detail/7427x-315=2Ehtm=20


Lot #304=20
Rio Limay stone meteorite slice (L5)=20
Rio Negro, Argentina=20
7,500 grams=20

This astonishing complete slice from the gigantic Rio Limay stone=20
meteorite is not only one of the largest slices ever offered for=20
sale, it is one of the largest in existence=2E Cut and polished to the=20
very highest standards by expert preparator Allan Langheinrich, this=20
slice -- almost of tabletop dimensions -- has been diamond lap=20
finished to bring out its exceptional details=2E This meteorite's=20
colorful interior displays evidence of severe shock -- a testament to=20
its violent past in the asteroid belt -- which include deformed=20
chondrules, granulated minerals, and melt features=2E A truly=20
spectacular item, packed with colorful details, and one of the most=20
impressive meteorite specimens of its type in the world=2E=20


See this item here:=20

http://www=2Ebutterfields=2Ecom/areas/nh/7427x/detail/7427x-304=2Ehtm=20



Thanks for your interest=2E=20

Sincerely,=20

Iris Lang=20
www=2Enyrockman=2Ecom=20
www=2Elangsfossils=2Ecom =20



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Received on Sun 08 Jun 2003 10:56:17 AM PDT