Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 82

The Fall Manuscript, Collectibles, Stamp and Space Memorabilia Auction

Meteorites

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1491		Martian Mini-Meteorite Complete and Uncut. Meteorites from the planet Mars are so rare that only small fragments are available for sale. These rare meteorites have been identified as being from Mars because of their chemical analysis and age. They are younger than most of the meteorites from the asteroid belt that were formed at the same time as the solar system 4½ billion years ago. It is now believed that most if not all the Martian meteorites originated from one gigantic meteorite impact that left the more recent Zumba crater in the Daedalia Planum on Mars. In 2005, a number of small individual meteorites were found in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, with a total weight of less than 200 grams, were found and submitted for analysis. This Martian meteorite (named NWA 4783 with other NWA pairings) was found to be a rare achondrite basaltic (volcanic) Martian Shergotite with vesicular gas pockets and trapped melt inclusions and represents one of the freshest Martian Shergotites found. This specimen is fairly large at 13mm x 13 x 4mm weighing 2.76 grams and has more than 60 percent of its original dark brown fusion crust from burning in the Earth's atmosphere. The reason that only small individual meteorites were found is because the original larger meteorite broke up high in the Earth's atmosphere and the small pieces continued to burn as they hit the Earth. A somewhat larger 4 gram meteorite from this fall sold for over $17,000 in auction in New York. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a complete meteorite that you can hold in your hand from the planet Mars. Preserved iin a 8.25 x 6.25 inch Riker mount. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,040
Lot 1492		Meteorite Blade Knife. This beautiful 7 inch long Meteorite Blade Knife has a four inch blade made from a slice of the Muonionalusta iron-nickel meteorite along with a polished Tinguaite handle. Tinguaite is a fine grained dark green igneous rock from Kola, Russia consisting of feldspar and nepheline and being a lovely dark green color with an estheitic geometric design. The four inch long meteorite blade is 1.25 inches wide with 2/3 of the blade polished to show the Widmanstatten pattern and 1/3 of the blade of polished reflective iron-nickel. Muonionalusta is an iron-nickel meteorite that was found in Norrbotten, Sweden in 1906. Muonionalusta is classified as a fine octahedrite and has one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns when it is etched. Widmanstatten patterns form when the two alloys of nickel Kamacite and Taenite separate in the iron core of the large asteroid that was destroyed by collision with another large asteroid in the asteroid belt billions of years ago. This separation and pattern form only when the iron core cools at a rate of only a few degrees per million years and is not found on any iron-nickel stones on earth. This valuable and beautiful meteorite knife comes with a small plastic stand for display. Add $20 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1493		Libyan Desert Glass. Tektites are a mixture of earth rocks mixed with a sprinkling of meteorite material from an immense explosive event that occurred when a very large rocky meteorite vaporized before impacting the earth. The resulting mixture forms glass-like mixture. The color is usually black but it can also be green or yellow depending on the amount of silica present. This huge 4.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 inch 502 gram (over one pound) specimen of Libyan Desert Glass is unusually pristine from being buried in the Sahara sand (near the border of Libya and Egypt) with no sandblasting on the surface and much of its surface covered with small craters formed when gasses escaped when the glass solidified. It is a superior yellow to green color. Throughout the specimen there are small white spheres of Cristobalite which is a form of quartz that only forms at very high temperatures above 1470 degrees centigrade. The presence of Cristobalite proves the meteorite impact origin of Libyan Desert Glass as the only other way it could form in the desert would be from a volcano and there was never a volcano anywhere near this area. Such a large pristine piece of Libyan Desert Glass is rarely encounterd and is especially valuable as a small 125 gram specimen sold for over $6000 in a New York auction in October, 2007. Comes displayed on a 3.5 inch plastic stand. Add $20 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $900 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $540
Lot 1494		Meteorite Seymchan Pallasite. Two meteorites weighing 323 Kg were found in 1967 in Seymchan, a Magadan district in far eastern Russia. Originally, Seymchan was believed to be just an iron-nickel meteorite but just recently olivine crystals were found in parts of some of the Seymchan meteorites which makes it a far rarer Pallasite. Pallasites are literally gemstones from outer space containing olivine crystals mixed in with the iron-nickel matrix. This 2.8 x 1.8 inch 49.5 gram slice has more than 50% olivine crystals in its matrix and has been polished to reveal some greenish translucent gem quality olivine crystals. The olivine cryatals in Seymchan are smaller in diameter than in most Pallasites. Seymchan slices are remarkably stable and beautiful and quite rare with so much olivine. Preserved in a 6.5 x 4.5 inch Riker Mount. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $850 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $720
Lot 1495		Petrified Rainbow Colored Wood Sphere. This 620 gram (nearly 1.5 pounds) 2¾ inch agatized and polished sphere is made from petrified wood from the Araucarioxylon tree and has a wonderful mix of rainbow colors that resulted from many different minerals permeating the wood at different times from the volcanic soil over millions of years. The unusual orange and red colors were produced by replacement by iron oxide. This exceptionally colorful sphere has a wonderful palette of colors from hues of beiges, browns to impressive hues of oranges and reds. Araucarioxylon arizonicum is an extinct 225 million conifer tree that is the state fossil of Arizona and known to all visitors to the Painted Forest National Park. This lovely fossil petrified wood sphere should appeal to both fossil and mineral collectors and comes on a metal stand for display. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $550 - 700. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $600
Lot 1496		Meteorite American Pallasite Brenham. The Brenham pallasite fell to earth some 1,000-2,000 years ago in Kiowa County near Haviland, Kansas. It is the most famous of all American pallasites and was perhaps the largest fall of a pallasite in recorded history with over 6 tons of recovered meteorites. Although the local Indians knew of this meteorite, it was not officially discovered until 1882 and designated a pallasite which is a mixture of an iron-nickel matrix with crystals of olivine. This large 3.25 x 2 inch, 85.1 gram slice has been polished on both sides with many olivine crystals in the iron-nickel matrix including several crystals that when viewed through a light source are a translucent yellow-green to orange in color. Peridot is the gemstone version of olivine. Because of their high value, it is rare to be able to purchase a complete slice of a Pallasite. This beautiful polished slice is quite stable coming from an old time collection formed over 15 years ago. Presented in a 5.5 x 4.5 inch Riker Mount. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $550 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $658
Lot 1497		Meteorite from Meteor Crater. This beautiful 3.75 x 2 inch and weighing over 1 pound (451.3grams) Canyon Diablo iron-nickel meteorite is a palm sized specimen of one of the most sought after iron meteorites by collectors. Most currently available Canyon Diablo meteorites are just a few grams in weight. Any sizeable specimens are hard to come by as the area around Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona has been closed for years. The nearly one mile in diameter crater was created over 50,000 years ago when a 50 foot in diameter meteor exploded high over the Arizona desert. This excellent quality meteorite possesses all of the qualities desired in a Canyon Diablo meteorite, excellent shape with very sharp edges attesting to the explosive force that broke up the huge meteorite, gunmetal color and several large parial distinctive regmaglypts (thumbprints). Since no specimens are available from the source at Meteor Crater, the only way to acquire a specimen is when specimens are made available from collections. Comes on a 2 inch illusion stand for display. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $550 - 700. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,170
Lot 1498		Own a Piece of a Comet. The Murchison meteorite is one of the most important and well studied meteorites ever discovered. Murchison meteorites fell in Australia shortly before 11 A.M. on Sept. 28, 1969 leaving a smell of alcohol in the air for several hours. This extremely rare carbonaceous chondrite type two meteorite was found to be one of the most primitive meteorites known, virtually unchanged since being formed at the same time as the solar system 4.57 billion years ago. Murchison meteorites contain 12 per cent water and many organic compounds which makes it very different from most of the meteorites which originate in the asteroid belt. NASA planetary scientists consider Murchison to be cometary in origin being a piece of the comet nucleus which broke off during a comets journey around the sun. What makes Murchison even more special is that it contains over 92 different amino acids. On earth there are only 19 Amino acids that make up all living creatures while Murchison contains these 19 plus 73 different amino acids. The presence of amino acids in a meteorite gives us a good idea as to the possible source of the building blocks of life. In the earth's early history there was a tremendous bombardment of meteorites and most if not all of the water found on earth today may have originated in comets. This sizable rare endcut weighs 1.79 grams and is 16mm x 11mm x 8mm housed in a 1.25 x 1.25 inch white plastic box and a 5.5 x 4.5 inch Ryker mount.The rare meteorite has a polished top side that is black with lighter gray spherical chondrules and a natural back side that even contains a small section of original black fusion crust. Comets are currently in the news with an European spacecraft making contact with a comet in August, 2014. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $550 - 850. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,200
Lot 1499		Meteorite Stony With Fusion Crust. Most stony meteorites are small (less than 1 pound) because the larger stony meteorites usually break apart or explode before they contact the earth. This 5.25 x 2.75 inch, 464 gram (over one pound) complete stony is exceptional in its shape, looking somewhat like a Neolithic hand axe and preservation containing more that 95 % of it original fusion crust. It is designated as an unclassified NWA (North West Africa) stony meteorite and was found by nomadic Berbers in the sands of the Sahara desert of Morocco. It is probably an ordinary chondrite which means that it consists of round silicate grains that formed at the very beginning of the solar system 4.55 billion years ago from molten globs of accreted material that stuck together to form the asteroid from which this meteorite was blasted off when two asteroids collided. All stony meteorites contain iron and are designated as either low or high iron. This meteorite looks as though it just landed on earth yesterday with its original virtually complete thin dark brown fusion crust which occurred when the meteorite broke up and ablated at high temperature as it passed through the earth's atmosphere before contacting the ground. Most meteorites quickly become weathered from wind and rain nevertheless, meteorites will retain their fusion crust for hundreds of years if they are buried in a desert. This excellent example of a stony meteorite is presented on a 3.5 inch illusion stand. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $450 - 650. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,200
Lot 1500		Meteorite Jewelry Necklace. This 15 inch long plus a 2.5 inch long sterling silver extension handmade meteorite necklace is made up of 14 half inch long rectangular shaped NWA 869 stony meteorite beads as well irregular shaped stony meteorite pieces aesthetically placed between the rectangular shaped beads. At 3.57 billion years old, these meteorite beads are older than any rocks or gemstones on Earth and have small pieces of chondrites in the medium brown matrix that authenticate them as being from a meteorite as no rocks on Earth today have chondrites in them as the chondrites that were present when the Earth formed have been lost to volcanic activity over the last 3.57 billion years. The beads are magnetic because even stony meteorites have up to 20% iron flakes in them. Most meteorites are too rare and valuable to make jewelry out of, but fortunately enough of North West Africa 869 was found in the Sahara desert to make such a rare an unique gift available. Comes with a certificate of authenticity. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $400 - 550. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $360
Lot 1501		Meteorite Necklace With Fossil Coral Cabachon. This unusual 17 inch long NWA 869 stony meteorite necklace made up of genuine irregular shaped meteorite pieces has a 2 inch sterling silver extension chain, a sterling silver lobster claw clasp and a 1.25 x .75 inch cabachon made out of 15 million year old coral from Florida that has been polished on both sides with a burnt orange color and revealing excellent detail on each individual coral animal. NWA 869 is official meteorite from North West Africa and is known as an ordinary chondrite with some round chondrules visible in some of the polished beads. An interesting combination of a 4.57 billion year old meteorite that formed when our solar system formed with a 15 million year old fossil being brought together to form a beautiful piece of jewelry. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1502		20 Aterian Arrows, Spear Points and Scrapers. This lot consists of 20 Aterian artifacts that are between 25,000-80,000 years old and were made by either Neanderthals or early Cro Magnon humans. They come from an eroded site in the Sahara Desert of Algeria in North Africa. They were made from many different types of rocks such as quartz, flint, chert and jasper and many of them exhibit a polished desert varnish from the thousands of years of being polished by the wind and sand. These original Aterian stone tools range in size from 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches and have a variety of shapes from points that were used for spears to side scrapers and end scrapers with many hafted to attach to wood. This diverse collection has most of the specimens exhibiting the Levallois technique of production which has been traced back to the Neanderthals. The Levallois technique results in tools with a somewhat flat back and a chiseled front. This result was achieved by first striking flakes from a core stone all the way around the edges and then flaking off the center of the core which will preserve the sharp chiseled edges. These interesting and authentic artifacts of early humans are housed in a 12 x 8 inch Riker Mount for display. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1503		Gem Quality Crystals in Vesta Meteorite. Vesta is the second largest asteroid in the asteroid belt with a diameter of over 326 miles and a gigantic impact crater at its South Pole that is so deep that it exposes the asteroids interior. There are three types of Achondrites that originate from Vesta collectively known as HED's, Howardites, Eucrites and Diagenites. Diagenites are the rarest of the three types of stony meteorites and originate from deep beneath the surface of Vesta. This 2.5 x 1.6 inch 10.5 gram complete slice from NWA 7831 is from one of the rare Diagenites and is unique as a Diagenite because it contains translucent gem quality yellow- green crystals of orthopyroxene in its stony matrix. This is unique in stony meteorites and looks somewhat like a Pallasite, an iron-nickel meteorite with olivine crystals. This unique and desirable Diagenite is an achondrite and non-magnetic and was found in Morocco in March 2013 with only one 20 Kg meteorite that was broken into 45 specimens. This unusual and beautiful meteorite belongs is any meteorite collection and comes in a 8.5 x 6.5" Riker mount for protection. Shipping: $15. Estimated Value $800 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $600
Lot 1504		Meteorite Campo Del Cielo 15.5 Pounds. Most iron-nickel meteorites are just hunks of metal without an interesting shape. This large 7.25 x 5.5 x 2.5 inch 15.5 pound new Campo del Cielo iron-nickel meteorites is the exception having an aesthetic shape that looks something like an a steel anvil with a 3 x 2.5 inch natural base increasing to 7.5 x 2.5 inches at the top. The meteorite stands upright on this natural flat base which makes for an impressive display. Its iron-nickel surface is covered with desirable medium to large regmaglypts (thumbprints) that formed when the meteor passed through Earth's atmosphere and the troilite in the meteorite melted. First recorded by the Spanish in 1576, the huge fall of Campo del Cielo (Valley of the Sky) iron-nickel meteorites occurred thousands of years before. The best quality Campos such as this splendid specimen were recovered high in the mountains where their surface was not rusted away by ground water. The Campo field has been mostly explored and the price of quality Campos is rising dramatically as new specimens are getting to be very difficult to locate and demand for meteorites has been steadily increasing. Shipping: $25. Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,020