[meteorite-list] Re: Sikhote shrapnel ?

[Notkin]

Bob posted:

> So what do you think these are? Sikhote shrapnel?
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? 
> ViewItem&category=3239&item=6530151721&rd=1
>
> If it is, its selling at great prices that some of you should take  
> advantage of.


Dear Bob and List:

I think what we're looking at here is actually a large Nantan fragment.  
I know it doesn't look like the Nantans we usually see. However, a few  
years ago -- while looking at similar pieces at the old Ramada Inn  
during the Tucson show -- I was told (in broken English) by a very nice  
Chinese gentleman that dynamite had been used to blow up one or more  
really big Nantans in China, and that these silvery shrapnel-like  
pieces were the result. If you look at another item that the seller is  
listing . . .

http://makeashorterlink.com/?B21215E0B

  . . . it sure does look like one of those dynamited Nantans. Some of  
these pieces show the interior crystalline structure, and I think all  
or most of them have been acid cleaned and/or sandblasted. Not sure if  
the dynamite story is true, but that's what I was told at the time.  
Kind of interesting pieces (and cheap), but a little over-cleaned for  
my tastes.

BTW, I'd like to thank our friend Rob Wesel for turning me on to the  
makeashorterlink.com website. What a handy thing. Almost as good as  
that Babelfish translator   : )


Sincerely,

Geoff N.