[meteorite-list] NWA 6291 and comments about it being "The King of Angrites"

Fri Dec 3 15:53:44 EST 2010

In thought of hype and due to recent comments I gathered a few stats and info on angrites...

NWA 6291 and why it is "The King of angrites" 
Yes, it is paired with the NWA 2999 grouping which in itself it totally unique to the angrite group. Thats nothing to knock, its very neat. There is even a chance its from Mercury, however that is disputed.
That said, NWA 6291 is so different from what it is paired to, even one of the people who likely have more experience with angrites then anyone else on this planet publicly questioned the findings of a person who they take material to themselves - the same person that did the original work on 2999 and several of its pairings. The bottom line, its paired, but so unique to an already unique group, many questioned its actual pairing!

It has 2cm pure anorthite crystals which when sliced are translucent just like a pallasite would be... to date, I have not seen ANY other angrite that has yielded translucent slices of pure anorthite when sliced to 2.5mm thick. If you have, I challenge ANYONE to share photos of a translucent anorthite angrite slice. 

Some Angrite stats taken from a recent ebay listing

CURRENTLY THERE ARE 12 KNOWN ANGRITES AND A TOTAL KNOWN WEIGHT OF LESS THAN 50 POUNDS. D’ORBIGNY IS NOT ONLY THE LARGEST OF ALL ANGRITES BUT ALSO REPRESENTS 75% OF ALL ANGRITE MATERIAL EVER FOUND.

TO THIS DAY ONLY 12 HAVE BEEN FOUND WORLDWIDE. 3 OF THESE 12 WERE FOUND IN ANTARCTICA AND CANNOT BE PRIVATELY COLLECTED OR OWNED.

keeping those stats in mind, while NWA 6291 may not be the largest angrite known, or even the largest of the pairings, it is unique in appearance to an already unique group in the angrite class. 
Where did I come up with the name - The King of angrites? I had about 15 people email me when I first started showing pictures of translucent slices refer to it as that or "the mother of angrites" I did not coin the term, just picked up on what others were saying to me.

My offering of NWA 6291 brought the price of angrites from $300 plus per gram down to where people were offering angrite material at $75 per gram.

When one small stone of just 235g can affect price that substantially, its special.

That said, Here is some of Tom Phillips awesome work with a thin section of NWA 6291
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/A034-2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/A031.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/1159-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/1148-1.jpg

and also a thin section for sale from the same piece that was used to make the section Tom had. (full of pure anorthite crystals!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390266520436&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Greg Catterton
www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
IMCA member 4682
On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites

--- On Fri, 12/3/10, Jim Strope <nwa482 at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: Jim Strope <nwa482 at comcast.net>
> Subject: [meteorite-list] re Martian Meteorites
> To: "Meteorite Central" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Date: Friday, December 3, 2010, 3:28 PM
> 
> Interesting comments.  I assume that the name KING OF ALL
> ANGRITES was bestowed with no thought of sales "hype" in
> mind. 
> 
> I don't need to sell any NWA 998.  I don't care if I never
> sell another gram.  I suspended sales more of a joke than
> anything.  Private emails to me confirmed that most list
> members got the joke and did not view it as a conspiracy
> between Adam and I. 
> 
> I know what is going on behind the scenes with NWA 998 as I
> have made some of the donations to science.  I am happy to
> sit here with it all day long.  It does not take up much
> room in the safe deposit box and it sure doesn't eat much. 
> 
> Have a nice day all and be sure to stay tuned to my next
> sales suspension.  Next week I may suspend sales of
> Murchison pending upcoming breaking news.  :-) (It's a joke
> people!!!) 
> 
> Jim Strope 
> 421 Fourth Street 
> Glen Dale, WV  26038 
> 
> http://www.catchafallingstar.com/ 
> 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> I think it was simple misunderstanding. All my post was
> intended to point out is that the NASA announcement was not
> going to increase prices, but if there was an increase it
> would likely be due to smart marketing. 
> 
> As for comments directed you (Greg H) as I said in my email
> sorry if you think they were but they were not. 
> THIS is what I was commenting on... 
> 
> "Jim, I can understand the need to suspend sales of NWA 998
> until further notice. 
> I can hear the researchers and paleontologists chanting
> "Drill Baby, Drill" as they are knocking down your door to
> get at some of those micro-fossils. 
> Astrobiologists will be scampering for pieces once they
> figure out how 
> fossil-rich this Nakhlite is. Too bad there are a lot of
> posers claiming to have found alien life forms to gain
> press, fame and money. It will cheapen the experience when
> the real deal is studied more, accepted and announced
> following proper protocol. 
> As for me, several requests for pieces of NWA 998 have come
> in. Sorry, I only have a few milligrams left other than the
> main mass which will not be cut 
> again. 
> Best Regards, 
> Adam" 
> 
> "Listees....... 
> Sales of my remaining specimens of NWA 998 have been
> suspended until further notice. 
> Jim Strope 
> 421 Fourth Street 
> Glen Dale, WV 26038 
> http://www.catchafallingstar.com/" 
> 
> Right after these two posts from Adam - one from 6:22 and
> the other from 19 minutes later... 
> 
> "It must have leaked out that NWA 998 is the most
> fossil-rich meteorite ever 
> found or perhaps they found some more in other Nahklites. 
> http://skymania.com/wp/2010/04/new-meteorite-clues-to-life-on-mars.html
> 
> It will be interesting to hear what the big boys have to
> say. 
> Adam" 
> 
> "Many believe that extraterrestrial proof of life will come
> this year by way of 
> Martian Nahklite meteorites. 
> http://skymania.com/wp/2010/01/proof-of-martians-will-come-this-year.html
> 
> Maybe NASA is getting the jump on all of the recent posers
> who are making 
> similar claims. 
> Happy Hunting, 
> Adam" 
> 
> So as you can see, YOU (GregH) were not even thought about.
> 
> Last Im going to say on this. 
> 
> Greg Catterton 
> www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com 
> IMCA member 4682 
> On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites 
> On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites 
> 
> 
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