[meteorite-list] Ad - Weekly Rare Material Special

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Sep 29 22:32:29 2004
Message-ID: <01fa01c4a694$82e47f40$6401a8c0_at_c1720188a>

Dear List Members,

This weeks special is NWA3127, an exceedingly rare LL3.1, S2, W3 chondrite
found 2002 in the Sahara desert. This is the lowest petrologic subtype for
a chondrite to ever come out of the Sahara desert with the possible
exception of NWA 1756, which is an LL3.0/3.2. This is an exceedingly
difficult subtype to obtain and with a Total Known Weight of only 487 grams
there will not be much put into circulation. This is one of a handful of
meteorites in the world that has escaped metamorphism making it a very
scientifically valuable specimen. Here is the description submitted to the
Nomenclature Committee:


Northwest Africa 3127
     Northwest Africa
     Found 2002
     Ordinary chondrite (LL3.1)

A 487 g stone was purchased in Safsaf, Morocco in October 2002. Description
and classification (T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU; J. Grossman, USGS, Reston):
polymict chondritic breccia; host is LL3.1 with xenoliths of LL4 and LL5.
Chondrules are very similar to the LL3.0 Semarkona and LL3.1 NWA 1756
chondrites in terms of phase and mesostasis compositions, zoning profiles,
and textures. FeO contents in 65 type II chondrule olivine cores range from
7.0 to 26.8 wt. % and corresponding CaO from 0.06 to 0.20 wt.%, which are
consistent with an LL3.0-3.2 classification (Jones. 1990); Cr2O3 contents in
these olivines, which is considered to be a more sensitive indicator of
petrologic subtype (Grossman, 2004), range from 0.08 wt. % to 0.58 wt. %
with an average of 0.38 wt. %, consistent with an LL3.1 classification,
Chondrule mesostasis is optically isotropic and SEM imagery shows little
unambiguous evidence for metamorphic crystallization of mesostasis glass.
Shock level, S2; weathering grade is W3. Specimens: 20.1 g, NAU; main mass
Hup?.

We spend a great deal of time preparing these meteorites for collectors,
institutions and scientists. We polish both sides when applicable because we
feel there should be no signs of saw marks ruining the appearance of an
otherwise collectable specimen. The last step in preparing each piece is to
dry it using pure ethyl alcohol and a heat lamp, creating a very stable
piece that resists oxidation. A great deal of offerings seen on eBay have
not been properly prepared as can be seen by the lack of polishing, oxide
staining and no classification data. There is no guarantee that some of
these other offerings are even meteorites without proper classification by
an authorized scientific institution making them worth far less than these
classified specimens.

To see NWA 3127 please click on the link below and go to "Go see all current
items for sale by this member." The weekly rare material specials are
always listed last so you will have to go to the bottom of the list.

http://members.ebay.com/ws2/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=meteoritelab

True bargains can always be found on our ebay auctions because there are
never reserves and most items are started out at just 99 cents.

Thank you for looking and if you are bidding, good luck.

------------------------------------
Adam and Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
Team LunarRock
IMCA 2185
raremeteorites_at_comcast.net
Received on Wed 29 Sep 2004 10:23:44 PM PDT