Hammers
Meteorites that nailed something!
(Anything man made, animals or humans)

Painting by Jerry Armstrong
Meteorites for sale that bashed cars, crunched
mailboxes, smashed houses, killed animals and
mauled humans. This is the real rogues gallery
of the meteorite world:
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NOTE: This Page was updated 5-11-08
PLEASE HIT "REFRESH" or "RELOAD"

Added 5-11-08 Barwell, Allende
Added 5-7-08 Burduc & Zunhua
Added 4-27-08 Barwell
Added 4-17-08 1.664g Murchison
REDUCED PRICES 4-13-08: Allende, Carancus
Added 4-13-08: Kunashak 61.9g Slice, Johnstown Lg & Sm frags, Warden partslice, Hamlet Frag
Added 4-4-08 Allende, Nuevo Mercurio
Added 3-27-08: Wethersfield 1971, Reduced Peekskill prices
Added 3-21-08 Ex Lg Hamlet Frag
Added 3-13-08  2 new Hamlet (1959). 1 new Claxton (1984
Added 3-9-07 Lg. Bells Frags
Added 3-7-08 St. Louis (1950)
Added 3-4-08  Coleman (1994)
Added 3-2-08:
Last 3 Barbotan (1790),
4 new New Concord (1860),
4 of the remaining part slices from the Plainview fall that broke the horse corral (1903),
3 new Kunashak (1949),
2 specimens of the icreadably rare CM2 Ungrouped Bells (1961),
2 small frags of the absolutely impossible to get Wethersfield 1971,
3 of the remaining mg frags of the ultra rare KOBE Japanese fall of 1999
If it is listed as available, it is available unless it sold less
than 24 hrs ago.

NOTE: See Thuathe - own your own, individual, whole stone Hammer.

mlblood@cox.net

About 7 years ago I stumbled upon a page in the web site of Walter Branch. The page
was a listing of all meteorites reported to have struck something when they fell to
earth - some man made object, animal, or even a human being (such as the case of
Sylacauga).
      
I immediately found myself entranced with the idea of collecting as many of these
extraordinary falls as possible. I had already been collecting meteorites for many years,
but this "new" realm had an entrancing effect on me like none other before, with the
possible exception of the obsession I developed to collect every non-Antarctic SNC
when there were only 6 of them known at the time (though only 4 had ever been
available when I started).

I foud most material in this category to be very expensive. On the other hand, there
have been a few exceptional examples that were surprisingly affordable - especially
given what they had struck and/or how old the fall was. Kunashak comes immediately
to mind - a spectacular fall, well documented with photographs from 1949. This
spectacular meteorite can still be had for as low as 7.50/g, though some ask as high as
$20.g, it is, even then, a great deal. Another is New Concord, which killed a young
horse in 1860 and can still be had in the low two digit range. Then, of course, is
Valera, a highly documented cow killer which is still hovering around $10/g!
Spectacular buys, all.

In stark contrast, one can watch and wait for years and never find Sylacauga at any price.
It cost me $10,000 in trade to get my very modest piece - but of all my specimens, it is
one of the ones that pleases me most.

In summation, though the list is relatively short (well under 150 falls) "hammers"
(meteorites that "nailed" something) are as rewarding and interesting to collect as any
meteoritic category could possibly be - with exceptional variety, costs from the
inexpensive to the very expensive and including the most common varieties from the
H5s & L6s to the most exotic HH, with Cos, EL s and even the highly debated Martian
(Long live the Nakhla dog!).  

Five years ago I set out to build a stock of hammers that would provide collectors with
at least 20 different falls competitively priced so they would not have as far to go just
getting started as I did. I waited many years for falls as rare as Hamlet, Pillistfer,
Richardton and many others. In addition, I have added - very cautiously - to the original
list which had inspired me, with falls such as Allende, Mbale, La Criolla, one of the
Plainview stones and most recently, the Moss fall.

It is my hope that visitors to this site will be both entertained and inspired to take up this
"new" area of collecting as have I and several others.
Happy Hunting! Michael
-------------------

mlblood@cox.net

Besides Walter Branch, there are many who have contributed to my ability to put this site togeather.
While I am sure I will be overlooking some, I would like to thank Paul Harris, Bob Walker, Martin
Horejsi, E.T., Mike Farmer, Dirk Ross, Matt Morgan, Blaine Reed, the real Steve Arnold, Adam
Hupe, Eric Twelker, Rob Wesel, Eric Olson, Mark Bostick, Geoff Notkin, Jerry Armstrong, my
mother and The Acadamy.

NOTE: In deference to Walter Branch, all hammers are listed in chronological order according
to date of fall. Thanks, Walter, for all the work and inspiration!

DATE ............             FALL NAME                 LOCATION    .......... OBJECT STRUCK       

July 24, 1790                Barbotan  (H5)            Barbotan, France    COTTAGE

(Click on photo to enlarge image)
This is one of the oldest recorded meteorite falls, and according to Michael Hammerschlag
Barbotan "crushed cottage- killed farmer and some cattle"
While many pieces were recovered, only 6.9 kg has been preserved - mostly in museums &
other institutions. Barbotan is of historical significance as it fell more than a decade before
"stones from the sky" were accepted by scientists. This meteorite is seldom available to
collectors. 2 exceptionally thin (1mm) partslices and one super thin end piece:      

.537g = $800- SOLD  HERE
.6g =   SOLD
.627g = $925-SOLD  HERE
1.1g =  SOLD
4.38g = $6,500- (Ultrathin large partslice) See NEW Photo  HERE  SOLD

------------------

All the above sold out. I was able to get the following 4. These are the LAST 4 PIECES outside an
institution or in private collections:

NOTE: these are the prices ONLY until one sells. Then there will be a 50% increase. When the
second one sells, the third will be broken up and the price more than trippled. These are literally
irrepalcable. March2, 2008 a piece of this sold on eBay for over $5,000.00 per gram. These are
listed at bargain prices:  

Large Frag = $200-

Click on photos to enlarge

0.62g Ultra thin slice = 900-

0.69g Ultra thin slice = 1,050-

1.12g Ultra thin end piece = 1,650-

Click on photos to enlarge


Dec. 19,1798               Benares (a) (LL4) Benares, India                  BUILDING
Precious little information exists as to the event of this meteorite, although a great deal
has been made of this being one of the four meteorites scientifically studied in the 1800s
to establish the existence of chondrules among other constituents of meteorites. As rare
as hard to come by as information regarding the fall is any material of this meteorite.
As early as 1899, this has been one of the most difficult of all meteorites to acquire, listed
in Cohen's prices at $55.32 per gram - that is the price over 100 years ago!
Available here, is one small fragment = $375- See Photo  HERE SOLD

Dec. 14, 1807             Weston   (H4)   Weston, CT,U.S.A. BUILDING  
Photo: Weston Historical Society
(Click on photos to enlarge images)  
Investigated by Yale professors Benjamin Silliman and James Kingsley, the first recorded
fall of a meteorite in the New World, and of the beginning of Yale’s meteorite collection,
the oldest in the United States. A chemical analysis of the meteorite made by Silliman,
the first to be performed in this country and among the first few in the world—was read
before the American Philosophical Society in March 1808, and published in its Transactions
the following year. Silliman was therefore established as the first active American participant
early in the development of the field of meteoritics.
He presented pieces of Weston to important friends as well as to scientific institutions. Some
of them eventually found their way into museum collections around the world, thereby
ensuring their preservation. Out of the approximately 350 pounds of the meteorite that fell
on the town of Weston, less than 50 pounds can now be accounted for. Many stones were
smashed by the finders in the town: “Strongly impressed with the idea that these stones
contained gold and silver, they subjected them to all the tortures of ancient alchemy, and the
goldsmith’s crucible, the forge, and the blacksmith’s anvil, were employed in vain to elicit
riches which existed only in the imagination.”Much of the rest undoubtedly gathered dust
on numerous 19th century mantelpieces in western Connecticut before being thrown away.

After reading a report by the two Yale professors, President Thomas Jefferson is reputed to
have said, "It is easier to believe that two Yankee professors would lie than that stones would
fall from heaven!" In another version of the story, after listening to an account of the Weston
event and examining a specimen while dining with a senator, Jefferson said that five words
were enough to sum up the case: "It is all a lie."

Scholars have never been able to pinpoint the original source of Thomas Jefferson's words
about the meteorite fall. Jefferson had a broad knowledge of science, so historians doubt
that he actually uttered such narrow-minded comments. Perhaps they were invented by
one of Jefferson's detractors to embarrass him.

We do know that Jefferson was interested in the Weston event and called for a careful
investigation. This study was performed by Nathaniel Bowditch of Salem, the famous
author of "American Practical Navigator" and one of America's most noted astronomers.
His findings confirmed those of the Yale professors. Stones had indeed fallen from the
heavens over Weston, Connecticut. So significant and popular this material is has resulted
in it simply NOT being available any longer.
click on photo for much larger image
Small frag = $35-
Med Frag = $50-
Lg Frag = $75-
XLg Frags = $150- See Here
.411g frag with large FUSION CRUSTED area = $275- See Here
.587g frag with cut face = $250- See Here
.930g frag =  $400- See Here

July 14, 1847 BRAUNAU Zxech Republic (Iron Hex. IIA) HOUSE
Photo: Braunau specimen, Berlin Museum
It is often said that Nan-Tan is the only Iron witnessed fall, but that is not so! Read the newspaper
account below describing the Braunau fall of 1847:
On the 14th July last, a remarkable aerolite fell at Braunau, in Bohemia. Two fragments were
found, one weighing fifteen, the other twenty-one kilogrammes. The aerolite appeared to proceed,
as is very often the case, from a small black cloud. The smaller fragment fell upon a house, pierce
the roof, struck the beam which caused it to deviate slightly from its course, passed through a
ceiling composed of white clay and straw, and entered a room where several persons were assembled,
but, fortunately, no one was hurt...A fragment has been analyzed by M. Fischer, of Breslau, who
found in it, besides sulphuretted iron, carbon, phosphorus and bromine.
Literary Gazette/Sandusky Clarion Newspaper

One of only two irons to hit things, Braunau, like so many hammers, is nearly impossible to get.
It just cannot be had. I did see one on eBay only a few months ago and bid on it - but was outbid at
$486/g. I should have bid much higher! However, I did manage to come up with one sub-gram piece and
paid dearly for it, but at least it is a very nice one. I am proud to make it available to the growing
numbers of hammerheads :

.883g = $650- See Photo HERE

(NOTE: if I can ever find any at a better price, I will offer it at a better price - but I would definitely not
hold my breath on this one. In fact, I would consider whoever gets this one to be one lucky dude)

December 9, 1858 Ausson (L5) Haute Garonne, France. Struck a Building

Very little is reported about this fall, very little material has ever been
available.
Sold out - Trying to get some more - JUST IN!
(If I can ever get it cheaper, I will offer it cheaper - but don't hold your breath!)

.261g = 265- See Photo  HERE 
.371g = 375- See Photo  HERE 
.744g = 745- See Photo  HERE 

May 1, 1860             New Concord             Ohio   KILLED A HORSE

(Click on photo to enlarge image)   Photo by D. Ball, ASU. 
Struck and killed a young horse. Fell in Muskingum County on May 1, 1860. It was
named after the nearest town, New Concord, which is also the hometown of the first
American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn.
This is one of the truly classic hammers, now nearly a century and a half old and one
of the best buys.       

16.89g = $500- SEE PHOTO HERE

Aug. 8, 1868                Pillistfer ( EL6)        Pillistfer, Estonia      BUILDING

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
This is one of the all time great historic witnessed falls of a rare type (EL6), exceptionally
hard to get, and the material offered below is only 1mm thick (fabulous surface to weight/cost
ratio) anda killer provenience: All 3 pieces were cut from my personal collection piece, which was
acquired from Martin Horejsi and had been his personal collection piece and which he
acquired from Bob Haag and it had been Bob's personal collection piece.
Therefore, ach piece will include my ID label, a copy of the Martin Horejsi
label and the Bob Haag label. When these are gone, that's it.
1.839g = SOLD 4.577g = $1,500- See Photo HERE
.705g = SOLD
.574g = SOLD
See Photo  HERE   FINALLY got another piece in:
4.577g = $1,500- See Photo HERE
(This is the only piece I have seen in over a year and is a beauty with a natural, fusion crusted
edge at the top)                                    
Jan.30, 1868                   Pultusk (H5)            Warsaw, Poland           HOUSES
 
(Painting by Jerry Armstrong - Click on photo to enlarge image)
The Pultusk meteorite fell January 30, 1868 at 7:00 PM in the town of Pultusk, NE of
Warsaw, Poland. A large fireball and detonations were followed by a shower of small
stones falling over a large area. Thousands of small stones rained down on the land and
houses, most between a few tenths of a gram and ten grams and are known as "Pultusk
Peas".
Offered here is a single stone, fully fusion crusted, and somewhat large for a Pultusk
- weighing 14.74g and including a label from the "Naturhistorisches Museum Wien"
from the era of the fall.
(See photos) This historic piece with its label is available for $250- SOLD
See Photos  HERE  See Photo  HERE  and See Photo  HERE 
2.132g Frag with @30% Fusion Crust and 20% polished side = 20- SOLD 
3.424g Perfect Whole stone with 100% rich, black Fusion Crust = $75- 
See Photo of both HERE SOLD

Nov. 19, 1881   Grossliebenthal (L6) Odessa, Ukraine,USSR BUILDING (& A MAN?)
Structure in the Grossliebenthal region of Russia
(Click on photo to enlarge image)  

This is one of the most frustrating hammers to research as there is both much said - but
with little revealed! While sources cite a building being struck at least 3 sources state that
a man was injured. One even states he was specifically a "postilion" (which the dictionary
defines as the rider of the left front horse of a team of horses drawing a carriage). However,
this reference was from a newspaper and we are not provided the man's name and he is
not mentioned in the Catalogue of Meteorites.
In any event, one thing that IS certain is that this material is VERY difficult to obtain and
I have never managed to acquire more than a few tiny fragments.
Priced according to size as follows:

1 = $65-
2 = $75-
3 = 125- Click on photo for large image

May 2, 1890                 Forest City      Iowa, USA                   HAYSTACK
 1,493g Specimen of Forest City in the Museum of National History, N.Y. 
(Click on photo to enlarge image)
Late in the afternoon of May 2, 1890, people in northern Iowa were startled by the
appearance of a great fireball in the west which eclipsed for a moment the sunlight of an
almost cloudless sky. Traveling at incredible speed from the southwest the meteor roared
across the sky sputtering and throwing off a long train of sparks. The dazzling head,
likened to the moon in size, left a heavy line of black smoke in its water, distinctly marking
the meteor's course through the heavens. (Ben Hur Wilson in a recent number of "
The Palimpsest," published by the State Historical Society of Iowa at Iowa City)

The meteor descended at an angle variously judged to incline from 50 degrees to 55
degrees with the horizon, and to the eye its course was apparently from the southwest to
the northeast. The final explosion occurred over Winnebago county about eleven miles
northwest of Forest City. An area some three or four miles in length and from one and
one-half to two miles in width was showered with meteorites. Although this meteoric field
was adjacent to the town of Thompson, it was readily accessible from Forest City, the
county seat. Inasmuch as most of the publicity emanated from the latter place, the meteor
became known as the Forest City meteor, though Thompson would have been a more
accurate geographical designation. (Iowa Recorder; Greene, Butler co. Iowa; July 1929)

.734g frag with rich, black Fusion Crust = 175- SOLD See Photo HERE

August 5th, 1898 Andover  (L6) Oxford Co. Maine  Struck a Rock Fence

A single stone was observed to fall:
"It was in intense heat when it struck a stone in the wall, grazing the stone. In its fall
it passed down through the branches of an elm tree, cutting many of them off as clearly
as if done by a sharp knife. I supposed at the time it was a gaseous ball of fire, and
thought it exploded, but after examination I found where it imbedded itself in the earth
to the depth of 2 1/2 feet."
Mr. Lincoln Dresser in Oxford County, Maine.
- Out of the Sky, Nininger 1952

Spring 1903/1917   Plainview   Hale City, Texas BROKE CORRAL

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
In the Spring of 1903, in Hale City, Texas one of the stones of the Plainview "find," (which
was not reported until 1917) struck and broke the crossbeam of a horse corral. This report
was related to me by Blaine Reed, from whom I bought his last piece. Had this report been
from any dealer of lesser reputation for honesty than Blaine, himself, I would not have taken
it as gospel. Each of the following part slices were cut from the stone that broke the corral. I
ran out and was relieve to find I have 4 pieces left, as Blaine is sold out:

1.76g = $35- 

2.70g = $50- 

11.96g = $225- 

13.60g = $265- See Photo  HERE  

SOLD OUT - WORKING ON GETTING SOME SMALL PIECES...     

Nov. 4, 1906               Diep River (L5)       Cape Province, South Africa HOUSE

At 4:30 PM, near Diep River, Western Cape, South Africa, a 910 gram stone fell and crashed
through a metal roof of a house, on a farm called HERMITAGE. An extremely rare meteorite
with a very low total known weight - nearly impossible to get. Until I got the only available
material I have found, my own collection had only a .241g specimen. Now that is available
as well as the others listed below (these are the only specimens
I may every have of this material):

.080g = $50- SOLD
.671g = $275-
.973g = $390- See photo of all 3 HERE

June 28, 1911             Nakhla           Alexandria, Egypt        reportedly killed a DOG                                                                 (Click on photo to enlarge image)                                                          
There is some hot debate as to whether this actually occurred. For nearly a century it had
simply been accepted that the newspaper report on the Nakhla Dog being struck and killed
in the famous fall of this signature SNC was accurate, though exaggerated by the claim he
was "instantly turned to ashes." However, in his landmark article published in METEORITE
magazine, Kevin Kichinka brilliantly and exhaustively outlined every aspect of the Nakhla
fall, which included what appeared to be absolute proof that every aspect of the report of
a dog being hit and killed in the fall was without foundation. (it should be noted that this
aspect of Kevin's article was only a small portion of his brilliant report on the Nakhla fall,
for which, among other accolades, he was presented the prestigious Harvey Award).
People thereafter mourned the loss of such a romantic figure as the Nakhla Dog.
It wasn't until some time later that Ron Baalke from  J.P.L. (NASA), wrote a truly amazing
argument for the definite possibility that The Nakhla Dog did, truly exist.
This led to a series of debates between the two which are both fascinating and highly
intelligent in their nature as they went round and round this issue. While Kevin's arguments
were quite solid, it appeared to most that Ron's counter arguments were so inclusive as to at
least be worthy of considering the POSSIBILITY that a dog actually was nailed in this fall.
(A small portion of the debate included reference to the wording, "instantly turned to ashes"
as a major error in the translation to English from Hindi, Farsi, or whatever language in which
the original newspaper was printed).
In any event, hope was revived and the cry is still occasionally heard, "The Nakhla Dog Lives!"
(Ironic, since he supposedly DIED)
It should also be noted that the recent publication of the newest edition of THE CATALOGUE
OF METEORITES included comment that there was a report of a dog struck and killed in the
fall. In that spirit, but not without ambivalence, I include Nakhla in this listing of available
hammers.
This material sells regularly at $4,000 per gram.
Small frag = $25 ea.
See Photo HERE                        

July 19, 1912     Holbrook  (L/LL6)  Navajo County, AZ       TRAIN STATION
Holbrook Strewnfield today
"Hail of Stones"From an Italian sunday newspaper cover (La Domenica Del Corriere, October 6th 1946) featuring the Holbrook
meteorite fall. Thanks to Rob Wesel & Svend Buhl for permission (Click on photos to enlarge images)
One of the two great falls of the twentieth century (O Norton): The Holbrook meteorite
arrived in spectacular fashion on 19 July 1912. The fall was heralded by a loud blast
followed by smaller explosions and a protracted rumble which lasted roughly 2 minutes,
in the early evening (Foote, 1912; Merrill, 1912; Banks and Benny, 2001). At least 14,000
stones fell in a large strewnfield (area from which meteorite fragments are recovered)
along the Santa Fe railway line, extending for at least 6 miles (10 km) to the east of the
town of Holbrook in Navajo county, Arizona. The heaviest concentration of fragments
was recovered around the Aztec railway yard. Stones varied in size from sand grains to
masses weighing 6.6 kg (Mason and Wiik, 1961; Norton, 1994; Grady, 2000, pp.240-241)
 
11.415g Parslice with fusion crusted edge = $125- SOLD
11.676g fusion crusted fragment - VERY fresh = 125- SOLD
6.95g partslice with polished face = 75- SOLD
See Photo  HERE 

June 30, 1918          Richardton      (H5)   BUILDING
 
(Click on photo to enlarge image)
A single stone struck a building in Richardton, ND.The Richardton meteorite is the only
fall ever witnessed in North Dakota.The Richardton meteorite was seen over more than
400 square miles by farmers and others in Mandan, Dickinson, Hettinger and Lemmon,
S.D. and the noise created by its breakup in the atmosphere was said to be heard for 250
miles. I was lucky enough to get a large fragment of this old fall and cut it up to be enjoyed
in several collections. I was please to see the interior portion was fresh - though I kept one
from the outer portion with fusion crust for my personal collection, as I prefer fusion crust
over freshness..... it is a matter of taste whether you prefer fresh or weathered with some
fusion crust.
6.685 = $500-
4.685 = $350-
3.997 = $300-
3.827 = $285-
3.821 = $285-
3.033 = $225-
2.446 = $185-
1.297 = $100-
Small Frags = $25 ea
See Photo  HERE 

July 6, 1924                Johnstown  (Diogenite)   HOUSE ROOFS
 Johnstown Church
(Click on photo to enlarge image)                       
"At 4:20 in the afternoon of July 6, 1924, people were gathering for a funeral service in
front of a church near the town of Elwell, two miles west of Johnstown, Colorado. Out
of nowhere, a sudden sound, likened to that of an airplane engine, filled the quiet day
and interrupted the service. A trail of smoke was emblazoned across the blue sky followed
by a series of loud explosions. At ground level, “thuds” and “thumps” were heard and
a black stone, falling from the sky, stuck near the doors of the church where the service
was being held. Thirty minutes after the service, the church undertaker removed a 15
pound stone from the soil at a depth of 20 inches....Like other meteorite falls, the fragments
were distributed in an ellipse, however the distribution pattern of the Johnstown meteorites
was unusual. Instead of the largest stones falling at the far end of the ellipse, they fell out
first, creating an inverted strewn field. The smaller stones rained down on rooftops in the
town of Mead, located 10 miles away from the spot where the first stones fell."
Matt Morgan, METEORITE TIMES April, 2002.
Throughout my collecting and selling of meteorites, Johnstown has remained the most
sought after Diogonite obtainable. It is a striking meteorite and the photo fails to do justice
to the ultra thin sliced, spectacular specimen below.
One ultra thin (1mm?) specimen:

Small Frag = $65 -
Large Frag = $100- -

2.372g = SOLDSee Photo  HERE SOLD
2.644g = SOLD See Photo  HERE SOLD Large Frag = $100-

*Apr. 2, 1936               Yurtuk   (Howardite)    Lubimov, Ukraine, USSR HOME

Yurtuk fell in Lubimov, Mikhailov district, Zaporizhaya Province, Ukraine. The largest
stone came through a roof and some pieces were picked up outside. The total recovered
mass was 1.5 kilograms.
Yurtuk is a howardite, normally a very brecciated variety of achondrite, composed of
reassembled pieces of eucritic and diogenitic materials. As the spectrum of Vesta closely
match the reflective properties of howardites, eucrites and Diogenites. It is believed that
all three types of meteorites (referred to as the HED group) are fragments of the asteroid
Vesta.

Only 3 very tiny specks are available = 100-ea while they last
Beautiful frag of Yurtuk with 1/2 Fusion Crust = $250-See photo HERE
Stunning, very thin part slice = $325- See photo HERE
Outstanding frag of Yurtuk with Fusion Crust on 2 of 3 sides = $325- SOLD See photo HERE

June 16, 1938           Pantar   (H5) Lanao, Mindanao,   Philippines     Struck Several Buildings 

This fall of 1938 struck several buildings. It is impossible to find in the meteorite market.
The partslices here are good sized and represent an excellent value.

Small Micromount = $115- See Photo HERE SOLD
Medium Micromount = $185-See Photo HERE SOLD
Large Micromount = $315- See Photo HERE SOLD

Small Micromount = $115- See Photo HERE
Medium Micromount = $250-See Photo HERE
Large Micromount = $335- See Photo HERE

June 11,1949             Kunashak (L6) Kunashak, Russia   House Roof

(Click on photo to enlarge image)
       
Blasted through the roof of a very modest house in the back country of Russia. Highly
documented, with photos showing the dwelling, the hole in the roof and the stone that
penetrated it. Given the history and documentation, aside from Valera, I consider this
THE best buy of any hammer I offer !



467.9g Full Slice = $4,950.oo  - See Photo HERE

- Click on photo to See Large image of all 3 HERE

61.9g Partslice = $625- -

467.9g Full Slice = $4,950.oo -

Dec. 10,1950            St. Louis (H4)     St. Louis County, MO   CAR

A single stone of 1 kg hit a car on West Florissant Ave. in St. Louis.This is the first meteorite on record                      
to have struck a car. It is impossible to get and cost me far more per gram than Sylacauga!

Med. Frag = $200-Click on photo to enlarge

Very Large Frag = $400-Click on photo to enlarge

Nov. 30,1954             Sylacauga (H4)     Sylacauga, Alabama  HUMAN

Hulitt Hodges after being struck by the Sylacauga meteorite
(Click on photo to enlarge image)
"There are a number of stories of people being injured, and even killed, by meteorites.
The most celebrated case was that of Mrs. Hulitt Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama. On the
30 March 1954 Mrs. Hodges was asleep on her sofa when a 3.86 kg (= 8.51 lbs unit
conversion) stony meteorite crashed though her roof [struck the radio, bounced off the
floor] and hit her, causing abdominal injuries which, fortunately, were not serious. The
funny thing about the incident - although she probably did not find it amusing at the
time - is that Mrs. Hodges lived opposite the Comet Drive-In Theatre. The [above]
photograph ... shows Mrs. Hodges shortly after the malevolent meteorite struck her. It
caused extensive bruising which took a number of weeks to disappear."
Thursday, December 23, 1954, Lethbridge Herald
See HERE for numerous newspaper articles on the event.
There were two stones - the one that hit the human and one other. The one that hit the
human is the centerpiece in a local museum. No one has ever had access to it. However,
the second stone is in the Smithsonion and though the remainder has never been available
to the public, it did have one core drilled in it. This core ended up in the collection of Dr.
King. After his death his widow allowed it to be cut into about 10 whafer slices all of
which all ended up as primary specimens in private collections. I had to trade over $10,000
worth of Lunar and Martian material for just a portion of one of these whafers.
(NOTE: anyone who can find me an affordable piece of Sylacauga will be rewarded)

Bessey Specks = $100ea while they last.
Only a few specks are available: See a typical one HERE
LARG PART SLICES:
.176g = $1,750- SOLD
.333g = $3,300- SOLD
.505g = $5,000-
See photo of all 3 HERE

Oct. 13, 1959               Hamlet (LL3-4)                 Starke Co, Ind. HOME         
 Photo by Larry Wringer
(Click on photo to enlarge image

A single stone of 2.045 Kg struck a house in Hamlet, Ind. rippine off the rain gutter at
the edge of the roof. The meteorite, itself, is very striking. After hitting the guttr line
just about the left end of the left awning it then hit the bricks and rolled across the
lawn to the street. Clem Hall and his wife lived in the home at the time, but have since
passed away.           

Almost impossible to get:
1.562g = SOLD
See Photo  HERE 

Medium Frag = $50-

Large Frag = $65-

Extra Large Frag = $125-

70mg Frag = $125-

Ultra Thin Part Slice = $350-

.745g Frag = $350- Click on photos to enlarge

March 5, 1960  GAO (H5) Burkino Faso NATIVE HUTS & HEN HOUSES

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
This meteorite fall was witnessed by the inhabitants of Gao, a village of Burkina Faso in
Western Africa. The first 16 pieces recovered, had actually fallen through the roofs of
the villager's huts. These stones were originally thought to be from TWO different meteorite
falls within the same area - Gao (upper volta) and Guenie (upper volta), however, due to
the petrographic similarities of each stone type, the close proximity of the strewnfields and
the close fall dates (March & April), it is now believed that the Gao and Guenie stones are
from the same, single fall of stony meteorites. During 1998, the nomenclature comittee of the
Meteoritical Society merged these 2 names into a single official new name....Gao-Guenie.
Generally referred to simply as "Gao" in the meteorite community, prices range greatly
from as little as $1/g for weathered and/or broken stones to $50/g for superbly oriented
stones (For some unexplained reason Gao has one of the highest % of oriented stones of any fall).
At this time I only have one, superb stone. It is naturally fresh (to the best of my knowledge,
it is not treated with chemicals or sand blasted to look fresh, as so many are). Due to exceptional
contiduion and unique regmaglyption & orientation, this stone is more costly than most Gao offered:

65.3g oriented, naturally fresh whole stone = $325- SEE PHOTO HERE

Sept. 9, 1961 Bells (CM2 Ungr)   Grayson County, TX TKW: 284g  Struck Building

At 10:08 PM a detonating fireball was witnessed passing northward just east of the Dallas- Fort Worth
area and terminated, striking a building near Bells, Grayson County.
Only one other C2-ung. exists: Lake Tagish

Adrian J. Brearley
Institute of Meteoritics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Received 26 July 1994; accepted 3 March 1995. ; Available online 5 April 2000.

Abstract

The petrological and mineralogical characteristics of the unusual CM2 chondrite, Bells, have been investigated in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bells is a highly brecciated chondrite which contains few intact chondrules, a very low abundance of refractory inclusions, and is notable in having an unusually high abundance of magnetite, which is disseminated throughout the fine-grained matrix. Fragmental olivines and pyroxenes are common and, based on compositional data, appear to have been derived from chondrules as a result of extensive brecciation. The fine-grained mineralogy of matrix in Bells differs considerably from other CM chondrites and has closer affinities to matrix in CI chondrites. The dominant phases are fine-grained saponite interlayered with serpentine, and phases such as tochilinite and cronstedtite, which are typical of CM chondrite matrices, are entirely absent. Pentlandite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, anhydrite, calcite, and rare Ti-oxides also occur as accessory phases.

Based on its oxygen and noble gas isotopic compositions (Zadnik, 1985; Rowe et al., 1994), Bells can be considered to be a CM2 chondrite, although its bulk composition shows some departures from the typical range exhibited by this group. However, these variations in bulk chemistry are entirely consistent with the observed mineralogy of Bells. The unusual fine-grained mineralogy of Bells matrix can be reasonably attributed to the combined effects of aqueous alteration and advanced brecciation in a parent body environment. Extensive brecciation has assisted aqueous alteration by reducing chondrules and mineral grains into progressively smaller grains with high surface areas, which are more susceptible to dissolution reactions involving aqueous fluids. This has resulted in the preferential dissolution of Fe-rich chondrule olivines, which are now completely absent in Bells although present in other CM chondrites. The formation of saponite in Bells probably resulted from the dissolution of relatively silica-rich phases, such as pyroxene and olivine, that were derived from chondrules. The result of such dissolution reactions would be to increase the activity of silica in the fluid phase, at least on a localized scale, stabilizing saponite in preference to serpentine. An increase in aSiO2 would also have destabilized preexisting cronstedtite which may have reacted to form magnetite and Mg---Fe serpentine under conditions of constant ƒO2 .

Impossible to get:

0.1g = $400-
0.2g = $750- See Photos HERE

Medium Sized Frag = $200-Click on photo to enlarge

Large Sized Frag = $325-Click on photo to enlarge

 Dec. 24, 1965 Barwell (L6) Leicestershire, England BUILDINGS, CAR & A TEA CUP!
Barwell bolide streaking past Albert Hall (BBC)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
As reported by the BBC: " On Christmas Eve 1965, a very strange event occurred in the
Leicestershire village of Barwell... There was a blinding flash in the sky, followed by a loud
bang. In the confusion [there was the] thought it was an aircraft firing rockets, so he dived under
the hedge for protection. All around could [be] heard thudding sounds....About 300 feet above
the ground, the meteorite that was heading for Barwell exploded into fragments. Pieces were
scattered over a wide area...but fortunately no-one was hurt....One piece penetrated nine inches
into a tarmac drive, another landed on the bonnet of a car. A piece smashed through a factory
roof and another tiny fragment was found later in a vase! When the fragments were put together,
the Barwell Meteorite was about the size of a Christmas turkey, making it the largest meteorite
to fall in this country in recorded history. The rock itself is a carbonaceous chrondrite and probably
came from the Asteroid Belt. It has been dated at 4.5 billion years, which makes it older than the
Earth itself." (Note: This report misidentifies the typology as a carbonaceous chondrite -
Barwell is actually an L6)
nice frags available:
.116g = $25-
.186g = $25-
.267g = $35-
.315g = $50-
.330g = $50-SOLD
.507g = $65- SOLD

.848g = $115-
7.327g = $750- Click on photos to enlarge

Feb. 8, 1969             Allende   (CV3.2)     HOMES AND PATIOS                   

Painting by Jerry Armstrong
(Click on photo to enlarge)
One of the most spectacular falls of the 20th century. Patios and rooftops in Allende,
Mexico were pelted by a huge rain of stones which more than doubled the then weight
of all known CV3 material . O Richard Norton called Allende one of the two great falls
of the 20th Century.

3 Beautiful full & part slices & 2 end pieces (I am approaching the end of these thin slices):
2.306g Part thin Slice with HUGE CIA = 35-
2.643g Full thin Slice = 35-
3.050g thin End Piece = $30-
3.409g Full thin Slice = 45-
3.666g thin End Piece = 40-
See Photos  Click on photo to enlarge                                               

April 25, 1969  Bovedy (L3)    Londonderry, N. Ireland   THROUGH STORE ROOF

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
The fireball was mostly described as blue-green in colour over Wales, and "fiery-white"
in Northern Ireland, with a brightness equal to or brighter than the full moon. Everyone
who saw the meteoroid also saw a very clear tail in its wake. Fragmentation was clearly
seen by a number of observers. This being a hammer with a very low TKW AND only
the second meteorite from Ireland has made it VERY difficult to get:

Micromount, very thin partslice - See Photo HERE SOLD
Another micromount, very thin partslice See Photo HERE SOLD

After years of searching I have finally been able to get only the second specimen where
you can see the fabulous L3 chondrites of this meteorite (the first one I got went in my
personal Hammer Collection). In addition, ege on the broad end is covered in rich, black
fusion crust:
.566g Partslice with FC = $565- See Photo HERE click on photo for much larger image

Sept. 28, 1969             Murchison (CM2)          Barn
BBC Photo
(Click on photo to enlarge image)      
In this rare fall of a CM2, one stone burst through a barn roof, landing in the hay in
Victoria, Australia. The Murchison meteorite fall occurred on September 28, 1969 over
Murchison, Australia. A shower of stones weighing about 100kg fell over an area of
over 5 square miles. Classified as a carbonaceous chondrite, type II (CM2), this meteorite
is suspected of possibly being cometary origin due to its high water content of 12%. This
very rare meteorite surprised scientists when it was discovered that Murchison contained
amino acids which are not present on Earth. Amino acids are "the building blocks of life."
An abundance of amino acids found within this meteorite has led to intense study by
researchers as to its origins. More than 92 different amino acids have been identified
within the Murchison meteorite to date. Only nineteen of these are found on Earth. The
remaining amino acids have no apparent terrestrial source. The Murchison meteorite is
one of the most studied meteorites ever, many feeling it proves life on earth was "seeded"
via meteorites.
3 Capsules of Fragments = $50 each See Photo  HERE
.791g Frag with cut and polished face = $125- See Photo HERE and HERE
1.664g Frag = SOLD  Click on photos to enlarge  

                                                                                                                                            
April 8, 1971      Wethersfield 1971 (L6)  TKW: 350g  House

This is one of two falls in the small town of Wethersfield that struck houses! On April 8, 1971,
a 350-gram meteorite passed through the roof of a house and landed in the living room. Eleven
years later, on 8 November 1982, a second meteorite of 2.7 kilograms would strike another
house in Wethersfield. Both are in institutions.

In case you are thinking that these two meteorites might have been related in some way, they
had quite different histories. Meteoriticists could tell that from the extent to which the meteorites
 were shocked & Isotope analyses that while the first fall had separated from its parent body
about 3 million years ago, the second object became detached about 50 million years ago.

Neither of these meteorites are EVER available and and while I got them from an impeccable
source, I did have to trade about $4000- worth of very rare hammers {Sylacauga and Burnwell
(HH4)} for just 4 crumbs. The largest crumb is now proudly part of my persoanal collection.
The third largest went to a dear friend who is an unending source hammer leads and material.
The other second and fourth largest frags are offered here for mere money just to lessen my costs.

Do not expect to ever see this material again.

Small frag = $600

Large frag = $1,250

Click on photos to enlarge

Oct. 15, 1972             Valera (L5)   KILLED A COW

(Click on photos to enlarge image)     
The Bovine Basher.
In Trujillo, Venezuela a single stone struck and killed a cow, leading to this meteorite
being tagged, "The Butcher of Venezuela."
The Meteoritical Bulletin (no.85) entry:"On the evening of 1972 October 15, a bright light
accompanied by a loud noise was witnessed near the El Tinajero farm. The next morning, Dr.
Arginiro Gonzales and his guest, Juan Dionicio Delgado, discovered that a cow had been killed
by a falling stone."
Given this was a cattle ranch, the owner and his guest dined on beef slaughtered in the
most unique manner imaginable. Even after its rise in price, this is still one of the all time
great "buy"s in the world of hammers.

4.1g = SOLD
4.1g = SOLD
3.3g = SOLD
See Photo  HERE 

27.7g = SOLD See Photo HERE 
35.3g = SOLD See Photo  HERE 
43.1g = SOLD See Photo  HERE 
70.5g = SOLD- See Photo  HERE 

8.4g = $120-
8.5g with FC edge = $125- Click on photo of both to enlarge
17.4g with fusion crust = $260- Click on photo to enlarge
55.4g with fusion crust = $825- Click on photo to enlarge

Oct. 27,1973      Canon City   (H6) Canon City, Colorado          GARAGE
  
(Click on photo to enlarge image)         
"A meteorite fell through the roof of a garage while the householder was away, between
the hours of 5:45 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. A meteor was observed during the period 6:00 p.m.
to 6:15 p.m., and it is likely that this meteor marked the fall of the meteorite. The specimen
fragmented on landing." (Meteoritical Bulletin)

Unfortunately, only very tiny crumbs are ever available. For this fall, these below are
"large" frags:
1 = $35-
2 = $35-
3 = $45-
4 = 45- SOLD
See Photo  HERE
Ex Lg Frag #1 = $125- CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE LG
Ex Lg Frag #2 = $125- CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE LG 

Dec. 15, 1978             Nuevo Mercurio (H5)   HOUSES

On the evening of December 15th, 1978 a bright fireball raced over North Central Mexico.
Exploding at a high altitude, it rained down hundreds of mostly small, whole stones onto
the desert floor and ranch houses near the mining town of Nuevo Mercurio. Only about
300 stones totaling just over 5 kg were collected. This meteorite is very sensitive to weathering
and only the stones collected right after it fell look fresh. Others that were recovered in the
days and weeks that followed the fall turned a rusty brown.
This is one of the available hammers that is most rapidly increasing in price.
Found out that the reason these sold out so quickly is that I was selling them at less
than the replacement cost wholesale. I have only been able to find 3 nice specimens
at a resellable price:

6.765g oriented with the back broken off = 95-

9.000g perfect specimen with 98% rich, black fusion crust = 135- Click on photo to enlarge  
                                            

3.712g Whole Stone = $55- Click on photo to enlarge  

November 17, 1981 Chiang-Khan (H4-5) Loei, Thailand FISHERMAN'S BOAT

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
A Thai fisherman gave the following account: at said time, he was fishing on the Mekhong
River to catch some fish for breakfast. He saw the "devil's ball" coming from South, and
soon it vanished with a mighty burst. However, he had to seek shelter against the falling
stones under a wool blanket, as stones were falling in to his boat - enough that they filled
both his hands. Afterwards, he said, he had thrown "the ugly black stones", which for
sure meant no good, into the river.
TKW 367g ( another stone of 800g was recovered by an institution, but debate determined
it was not this was part of the Chiang-Khan fall as itturned out to be an (H6) . The 367g
recovered were comprised of a total of only 31 pieces. All were were recovered from the town
of Chiang Khan, on the Thailand-Laos border. The largest fragment weighed 51.3 g
This material is no longer possible to get.

Additional information can be seen at:

http://www.meteorite-oliver.com/About_Chiang_Khan/about_chiang_khan.html

which states:

"Nobody was able anymore to give precise indications as to the exact date of the event. Some 20 years
ago it was, so they say, in the month of November, without doubt - that's what I was told in the villages
of the strewnfield.

Whatever it was that happened then - one is led to presume a second meteorite fall on the same day or
on the day after. According to recent research (isotope analysis), the two large specimens, which are in
private Collection and in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, do not originate from the Chiang-Khan
fall. They are believed to have been transported into Thailand from Laos. Two small pieces from
Thailand were analysed, one is H4 tending to H5; one was determined to be H5 in Japan, whereas
the large pieces are H6. Most of all, the noble gas contents of the large specimens differ extremely
from those of the Chiang-Khan pieces!

Chiang Khan is certainly going to puzzle scientists for some more time to come."

IN ADDITION:
Jeff Grossman on Saturday, March 22, 2008  Re:More on Chiang Khan:

"The Meteoritical Bulletin does publish
announcements of new masses when they are
significant. Submit the report to the
editor. You will need good evidence that the
additional mass is really part of same fall."

ONE piece: .707g = SOLD - See Photo  HERE
NOTE: A fragment of this was available on eBay recently and sold for $480/g.
FINALLY got a couple of specimens of this (there were two main sources, and
I had already gotten all of the first source - these two were the last two from the
second source:
4.332g slice with dramatic Fusion Crusted edge = 550- - See Photo  HERE
1.251g slice with one dramatic Fusion Crusted edge = 250- - See Photo  HERE
.717g slice with one dramatic Fusion Crusted edge = 185- - See Photo  HERE

I will sell ONE of the following 2 (the other will stay as my personal collection piece):

7.764g ORIENTED and 100% Fusion Crusted whole stone = $3,500- (one of only a couple
of oriented Chiang-Khans in the world) - See Photo  HERE SOLD

10.16 Spectacular whole stone. 98% fresh, black fusion crust. This is one of the very
few whole stones of the mere 367g recovered of this spectacular fall - very few
meteorites have landed in boats! This is, perhaps the most beautiful and fresh
of the very few recovered. This has been the piece in my personal collection until
I was able to talk one of the two who recovered the fall out of his own oriented
stone (obove) - of course, I had to beat him around with lots of money and the one I
now have is "only" 7.764g and the FC is not quite as fresh as this beauty.
Now, no matter which one I look at, it seams the "best" of the two... so, one only
will go: $3,500- See Photo  HERE NO LONGER FOR SALE - however, I do have
another beautiful whole Chiang-Khan. If interested, contact me for photo and price.

Dec. 10, 1984             Claxton (L6)    Evans Co., GA MAILBOX

(Click on photo to enlarge image)  

A grey-painted steel mailbox from Claxton,
Georgia, near Atlanta, was struck in December of 1984. The dented
mailbox sold for $82,750 on Sunday. A 5.5-gram slice of the
meteorite that caused the damage to the mailbox sold for $7,768. (over $1,400/g)

Meteorites and Bonhams Auction 10-28-2007

A stone of 1.455Kg hit rural mailbox battering the hell out of it.
Very low TKW has made this material nearly impossible to get.
When this piece is gone, I expect it will be unobtainable.  

.498g = SOLD See Photo  HERE   SOLD
.614g = SOLD See Photo  HERE  SOLD
.614g =$600-  Excellent FC edge
1.067g = $1,000- 1Nice FC edge              
1.782g = $1,750- Superb, super thin slice with along, darg Fusion Crusted edge
cut at a slant to that edge, so that the Fusion Crust shows exceptionally well.
See Photo of 1.782g  HERE   click on photos for larger images

4.820g =- SOLD The next slice over from the piece below, but even
more thinly sliced. The price has been significantly reduced to compensate
for the fact that the lower right corner is glued with super glue near the tip,
though it is not apparent to the naked eye. This is an excellent opportunity to
get a super thin specimen with killer fusion crust at a remarkably reduced price.
Try to fint this material elsewhere. If you do, you will find these prices meet or
beat what you can find - IF you can find any. And this particular piece is
much lower and a real beauty. (Note: This piece has the same surface area as
the one below) See photo HERE SOLD
6.449g = $5,500- Distinct, long C edge - See Photo  HERE  SOLD

January 6, 1985 La Criolla (L6) La Criolla, Entre Rios, Argentina FARMHOUSE
Entre Rios Farmhouse
(Click on photo to enlarge image)  
On 6 January 1985 after a bright fireball and many detonations, tens of crusted stones
fell over a 7 x 10 km elliptical area E of Estancion La Criolla, Argentina. One 750
gram stone crashed through the roof of a house, destroyed a door and continued to
bounce around the room, forcing the occupants to flee in panic.
La Criolla is classified as an L6 with a shock rating of S4. The total known weight is
about 35 kilograms, much of which was collected by Robert Haag soon after the fall
and remains in the form of large, whole stones.
3.222g = 64-
3.911g = 78- SOLD
5.178g = $100- SOLD See all 3 HERE
9.69g = 192.50 See photo HERE SOLD
11.34g = 225- See photo HERESOLD

10.34g = 207- See photo HERE
13.68g = 274- See photo HERE
15.00g = 300- See photo HERE

 

Sept. 4, 1990          Burnwell (HH4)      Pike Co.KY TKW 1.504kg      PORCH
Note the point of impact at the lower right hand side of the porch.
Tim McCoy, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
(Click on photo to enlarge image)
Single stone fell through a porch in Pike Co. KY.
"Harold Urey and Harmon Craig of the University of Chicago first recognized the
differences between H and L chondrites in 1953. LL chondrites were recognized
as a distinct group in the early 1960s. Scientists eventually recognized that each
group originates from a different asteroid. Researchers have long postulated that
additional groups might exist, including a group hypothetically termed “HH” even
richer in metallic iron than H chondrites. Colleagues Sara Russell, Eugene Jarosewich,
Richard Ash and I have shown that the Burnwell meteorite is the first to have all the
properties of the postulated “HH” chondrite group. The hallmark of Burnwell is its
reduced nature. While the differences between H, L and LL chondrites reflect both
differences in oxidation state and bulk composition, it is generally true that H chondrites
tend to be more reduced and L and LL chondrites more oxidized. Burnwell is an extreme
in this trend. It is rich in iron-nickel metal and its silicates are relatively poor in iron oxide
(olivine has a fayalite concentration of 15.8 compared to 17–20 in H chondrites).
Compared to that in H chondrites, the metal in Burnwell is also poor in the element
cobalt. Burnwell also displays an anomalous oxygen isotopic composition. While we
typically think of Earth as diverse in its oxygen isotopic composition, all of its rocks and
water (both liquid and ice) are related through mass fractionation. In contrast, meteorite
oxygen isotopic compositions are not related to Earth through mass fractionation, but
probably reflect heterogeneity of the solar nebula before Earth’s formation. LL chondrites
plot furthest from Earth values and H chondrites closest. Burnwell plots even closer to
Earth values than H chondrites. But while it is tempting to think that Burnwell might
represent the primordial material from which Earth formed, the differences in oxygen
isotopic composition between Earth and Burnwell are significant."
Ron Hartman, Private Communication, January 8, 2003.

The low TKW (1.504kg) and the only HH4  type has made this a next
to impossible meteorite to get for one's collection. Only a few small frags are
available. Each in a gelatin capsule.
 
4 small frags = $75 each See Photo  HERE
Large Frag in membrane box = $150- See Photo  HERE
Very Large Micromount = $450- (this was wire cut from my personal collection piece) See Photo HERE
.272g = $550- See Photo HERE
.508g = $1,000- See Photo HERE

Aug.14, 1992 Mbale Uganda  HOUSES, FACTORY ROOFS, PRISON YARD & a BOY.          
Boy struck by 3g stone3 Elders with large stone
Most remarkably, a young Ugandan boy (Above) was hit on the head by a small specimen.
The fall of the 3 grams fragment was broken by banana tree leaves.
(Click on photos to enlarge image) Photos of Mbale compliments of Dutch Meteor Society