The main focus of the Buhl Meteorite Collection is on stone and iron meteorites with exceptional or particularly characteristic morpholgies. In particular such specimens that exceedingly display the effects of atmospheric passage on shape and texture of the meteorite. In this regard we try to acquire meteorites recovered after witnessed falls with priority. Several Saharan finds with often well preserved exteriors are included as well as own finds from various hot deserts.   Exemplary painted inventory number Another aim of the collection is to accumulate representative samples displaying the internal characteristics of petrologicallly and chemically different meteorites. Again here the focus is on exceptional features such has high contrast chondrule patterns, heavy brecciation, shock features or uncommon inclusions. Due to questions of conservation and weathering the latter section of the collection is mostly limited to stones. The collection is managed via a database that lists the general specs of locations represented as well as photos and individual features of a respective specimen. Each specimen is stored with its inventory card printed in UV-resistant colors on heavy duty acid free cardboard.   Exemplary specimen card, original size The inventory cards provide key specs of the location and the respective specimen as well as its inventory number. Each specimen also has its inventory number painted in black letters on white surface. Thus a mix up of specimens, a common thread in many collections, is ruled out, even if the specimen is separated from its inventory label. We decided to present a representative cross section of our collection to the interested public via this website. This section contains special showpieces of the collection and will be frequently updated. The inventory is displayed in chronologic order with the latest acquisitions listed first. The missing gaps in between inventory numbers are caused by reference samples of meteorites not listed in the display section. Inventory numbers marked with an asterisk " * " have either been donated, traded or sold and are no longer represented in the collection. The scale cube pictured is 1 cm each side. Inventory Inventory # B-0334 NWA (class. pending) Stone, achondrite, diogenite, ADIO Western Erg Chech, Mali Find: 2009 TKW: 1.95 kg Individual: 524.50 g Compact angular mass shaped like a short hammer head. Thick wind polished fusion crust intersected by a coarse pattern of contraction cracks covers two thirds of the meteorite. Due to their higher melting point sizeable chromite aggregates withstood the melting and ablation of the surrounding material and now protrude from the fusion crust. The matrix of the meteorite is of a striking green color and appears visually very similar to the Tatahouine diogenite. On the crust free portions large pyroxene crystals are visible. This meteorite was found together with at least four other stones in 2009 on the Mali side of the Mali-Moroccan border in the westernmost part of the Erg Chech. Inventory # B-0333 Tamdakht Stone, chondrite, H5, S3, W0 Tamdakht, Quarzazate province, Morocco Fall: December 20, 2008, 22:37 hrs local time TKW: ~100kg Individual 493.00 g After a spectacular and long lasting fireball travelling from west to east in a near horizontal trajectory more than ten masses fell 10 - 15 km north east of Tamdakht in the High Atlas. The first meteorites were found by the help of local nomads in early January. For more information on the event please see our Report On a Meteorite Fall near Tamdakht, Morocco, December 20, 2008. This particular mass found near the village of Anessa is a fully crusted individual with five surfaces in the shape of a warped tent. The concave side of the meteorite shows shallow regmaglypts and is framed by a distinct melt lip on one edge. The coarse primary fusion crust is very fresh and shows no signs of oxidation. Several impact marks and patches of fusion crust chipped off the meteorite bear witness to a violent impact on the rocky terrain of the Atlas mountains. Inventory # B-0332 NWA (class. pending) Stone, chondrite Morocco or Western Sahara Find: 2006 TKW: 47.65 kg Individual: 33.25 kg Anvil shaped chondrite with five crusted and one broken surface. Two surfaces show deep and distinct regmaglypts up to 4 cm wide. The fusion crust is thick and well preserved with a webbing of contraction cracks. Flow lines are visible on several portions, particularly in and around the deepest regmaglypts. Not much is known about the find situation other that the strewn field is supposed to be located near the border of Morocco and the Western Sahara. At least three masses (33.25, 10.10 and 4.3 kg respectively) have appeared from this fall since 2006, but it is highly probable that many more have been sold without reference to each other. Inventory # B-0331 Saratov Stone, chondrite, L4, W0 Saratovskaya Oblast, Russia Fall: September 6, 1918 TKW: 200 kg Fragment: 55.00 g Crust free 55 g fragment of the Saratov L4 chondrite. The Saratov meteorite fell after the appearance of a fireball and a series of detonations at Donguz and Belaya Gora, Saratovskaya oblast, Russia on 6 September 1918 at 15.00 hr local time. Several stones with a total weight of about 328 kg were recovered. Saratov is known for a wide range of different chondrules and chondrule fragments cemented together in a rather brittle matrix. Thus it is no wonder that Herd et al. recently chose a Saratov fragment for their work on a new classification scheme for chondrules (2009). Inventory # B-0325 Campos Sales Stone, chondrite, L5, W0 Campos Sales, Ceara, Brazil Fall: January 31, 1991, 10:00 pm local time TKW: 23.68 kg Individual: 111.60 g According to eye witness reports the fall of the Campos Sales meteorite shower was accompanied by a loud buzzing noise and a bright flash. Many observers throughout the area were intrigued by the fireball, the sonic boom and the whizzing noise of the falling stones that reportedly sounded like bullets. Several fragments were collected from a small strewn field 1 x 3 km immediately after the event by locals. The collection specimen pictured is a fully crusted individual with some degree of orientation and well defined flow lines on all but one surface.The front surface shows radial flow lines and lipping appears on the flanks. The trailing surface is coated with a thin secondary crust. Caliche is visible on the front surface and the otherwise fresh crust shows few rust stains.   © 2001-2009 NigerMeteoriteRecon