[meteorite-list] Exciting New meteorite material....Mokoia, Wairarapa and Alta Ameem

[ensoramanda]

Hi All,

Just had to share my excitement about this week...

Not only will it be my first visit to the Tucson Show, but I have also 
managed to trade for 3 really rare and interesting meteorites.

First Mokoia (a few small fragments), but this is a really rare observed 
'hammer' (Nov 26 1908 12:30 hrs) from New Zealand, not only that, it's a 
CV3.2, highly reduced.  I have found a wonderful account of the hunt and 
recovery, with pictures of the main mass and  a lump of the tree with 
splintered wound from the impact...I wonder where that ended up?  See 
the link below...well worth a read.

Also in the link is detail about my second trade....a 25g part slice of 
Wairarapa Valley, New Zealands *'first'* meteorite find, an H5 found in 
Wellington in 1863 TKW 5.9kg ( I couldn't believe the size of the end 
cut that the institution I traded with had, here in the UK. It must be 
about half of the main mass, full of metal with faint brecciation/melt 
and regmaglypts on 2 sides!) 

If anyone can locate a picture of the main mass exhibited in Auckland 
Observatory I would be most grateful...I found one once last year but 
cant seem to now!

http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_42/rsnz_42_00_001870.html

Finally a topical one... Alta ameem, a beautiful light grey LL5. It 
assaulted Iraq, just 100 miles north of Baghdad back on August 20th 
1977, 30 years ago this summer (19g aquired).  An observed fall with 
many accounts and recovered reasonably quickly...my piece seems really 
fresh although no fusion crust present...probably because the locals 
broke up the main mass and shared it out, estimated at 30kg and only 6kg 
was finally recovered.  This is full of wonderful metamorphic crystals, 
silver and brassy shocked metal fragments, black glassy dots...I need to 
get it under the microscope and get some shots.

The next link gives a good account of its mineralogy.

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1978Metic..13..257A&data_type=PDF_HIGH&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf 



I will try and add these next links to photobucket shots I have uploaded 
of the 3 trades.  I hope this works as this is the first time I have 
tried it.  If it does I will try and image the Mokoia....that will be 
much more difficult as very fragile.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/LaburnumStudios/MokoiaJarandLabel.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/LaburnumStudios/WairarapaSlice.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/LaburnumStudios/WairarapaCut.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/LaburnumStudios/WairarapaRegs.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/LaburnumStudios/AltaAmeemLL5.jpg

Finally....I had considered bringing some to Tucson but I am still 
wondering about transporting meteorite material by air from the UK 
through the USA,  (and back for that matter as I hope to buy or trade 
some at the show)

Many of you must be doing this on a regular basis...what are the 
problems that occur if small strange rocks are found in hand baggage or 
hold baggage....do I have to clear it with the airlines in advance.  I 
don't want to turn up at the airport and be told that they are not 
allowed...and end up loosing pieces...but also worried about leaving 
them in the hold. Only a few days left before we fly and I would be very 
glad of any useful advice from those with experience.

Hope you find this makes a useful contribution to the list as I have 
gained a great deal over the years from following all the very 
informative strings over the years.

Looking forward to Tucson.

Regards

Graham Ensor Nr Barwell UK