[meteorite-list] Forestburg (b) L5 chondrite

[Zelimir Gabelica]

Hello Bernd, Gary, list

I completely agree with Bernd regarding the aesthetics of Forestburg (b).
I was lucky enough to acquire a 315 g complete slice in the old good times 
(1995) when such beauties were available here and there and their gram 
prices quite affordable. David New was, at that time, such a person, one of 
the most expertized meteorite dealers, a man full of knowledge, fairness, 
kindness and respect towards collectors. Bernd should not contradict me.
Regarding that slice of Forestburg (b), David told me one day something 
like "Zelimir, if you are a true collector, you must take that one". It was 
not listed for sale but rather a specific offer from David for a 
beginner-collector and friend. And, believe me, he did not push the sale 
for some profit as David first wanted our satisfaction.
In this case, mine was reached beyond all my expectations and I agreed to 
get it without even having a preliminary idea of its aspect, except a short 
description, because I just trusted my friend.

I have no pictures on hand to show you but here is a summary of its 
characteristics.
It is a 150 x 70 mm full slice, 15 mm thick. Both sides are neatly polished 
and show a black pattern, full of metal (Fe-Ni) spots, grains and islets, 
along with some schreibersite patches. It nicely contrasts with the thick 
red-brown crust well visible all around and carrying a painted number "M 
148.1b" (Monnig collection at TCU).
I don't remember having noticed any greenish inclusion (as, e.g., in "Belle 
Plaine" or "Lahoma", to cite 2 other meteorites that involve such 
inclusions ) but will check this later for sure.
Needless to say this slice remains as one of my collection master pieces.

The conclusion of this example is that sometimes one does not necessarily 
need some rare meteorite type to appreciate an odd pattern and that 
sometimes a simple L5 or H6 can offer some extraordinary fairy-like 
picture. I understand how Gary and Bernd did appreciate their acquisition 
of Forestburg (b).
The other, and perhaps even more rewarding conclusion is that you can 
sometimes get the "best of the best" by just trusting a genuine friend and 
his expertise, if you are lucky enough to know such a person. And I am sure 
such people are certainly still numerous around us, within our list....they 
should recognize themselves...

Best wishes,

Zelimir


A 21:46 07/01/2007 +0000, vous avez écrit :
>Hello Gary and List,
>
> > I just received and photographed this very nice slice of Forestburg (b)
> > from the Hupe Collection...and this one is just beautiful  Shock stage
> > S5, weathering grade W1; the chondrite is shock blackened and contains
> > impact melt clasts.
>
>If you want to take a look it is here:
>
>http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/forestburg2-6.html
>
>Congratulations, Gary! Excellent choice!
>
>Anyone who hasn't seen this beauty yet, should do so. Like Gary, I am one 
>of the happy
>owners of a beautiful Forestburg (b) slice. Forestburg (b) is much more 
>"handsome" than
>Forestburg (a). My Forestburg (a/b) slices are from M. Cottingham and when 
>I first saw
>Michael's Forestburg (b) pictures on EBay, I knew I had to own it. It 
>still is one of my
>all-time favorites with its grayish-black, fresh matrix, its abundant, 
>evenly distributed
>FeNi specks, and its grayish-white oval chondrules!
>
>Although it is possible that the stone has been transported by water 
>(rusty brown, weathered
>fusion crust), it is so very fresh that it seems improbable that it was 
>exposed to water for
>a longer period of time.
>
>Even though its Fa value of 25.8 puts it in the vicinity of the LL 
>chondrites, its low-Ca
>pyroxene composition (Fs21.6) is still within the range for L chondrites. 
>What a meteorite!
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Bernd
>
>
>To: gary at webbers.com
>     meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>
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Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Université de Haute Alsace
ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
3, Rue A. Werner,
F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15