11618. HUGE CHONDRITE METEORITE, North Africa, Sahara Desert, 4.56 billion years BP. Most probably from the NWA (North West Africa) 869 fall. 17 kilo, 37 lbs. 10 x 8 x 8.5 inches. A beautiful large and complete unbroken example with ~95% good fusion crust with some desert patina deposits. With a number of old (they have Sahara sand grains wedged in them) stable cracks. With good regmaglypts covering 4 of the 5 sides. Exceptionally rare. Meteorites this large are almost unheard of on the market. A truly exceptional example.

There are several classes of meteorites, the main being stony iron and chondrites which contain less iron and nickel and more closely represent the original unmodified material of the solar system. Chondrites were formed by the accretion of particles of dust and grit present in the primitive Solar System which gave rise to asteroids over 4.55 billion years ago. These asteroid parent bodies of chondrites are (or were) small to medium-sized asteroids that were never part of any body large enough to undergo melting and planetary differentiation. Dating using 206Pb/204Pb gives an estimated age of 4,566.6 ± 1.0 billion years, matching ages for other chronometers. Prominent among the components present in chondrites are the enigmatic chondrules, millimeter-sized spherical objects that originated as freely floating, molten or partially molten droplets in space; most chondrules are rich in the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene. Embedded in this dust are presolar grains, which predate the formation of our solar system and originated elsewhere in the galaxy. The chondrites have distinct texture, composition and mineralogy and their origin continues to be the object of some debate. Side B.

Provenance: A private American collection. Originally found in the Sahara desert.

$24,000.

11616. LARGE CHONDRITE METEORITE, Most probably from the NWA (North West Africa) 869 fall. 2 lbs. 14.9 oz. 6 x 4 x 3 inches. ~75% fusion crust. In excellent condition with no cracks. With a number of shallow regmaglypts. Side B. Side C.

Provenance: A private American collection. Originally found in the Sahara desert.

$800

11617. LARGE CHONDRITE METEORITE, Most probably from the NWA (North West Africa) 869 fall. 3 lbs. 5.8 oz. 5 x 3.75 x 2.5 inches. ~95% fusion crust. In excellent condition with no cracks. With a number of shallow regmaglypts. Side B.

Provenance: A private American collection. Originally found in the Sahara desert.

$800

8078. RARE PSITTACOSAURUS DINOSAUR SKULL. The Earliest Ancestor of Triceratops. 7 x 5 inch skull from the very important 127 million year old dinosaur Psittacosaurus (parrot lizard). It is important because it was the first of the ceratopsians, which include its more famous ancestor, Triceratops. This nearly complete skull was found in the famous volcanic layer near Liaoning northern China. Many strange dinosaurs have been excavated in Liaoning, some with feathers. The parrot-like beak, large eyes, fenestrae (which grew in later ceratopsians to become large frills in the back of the skull), and horn-like bones at the ends of its cheeks, all are very clear on this highly desirable specimen. Very rare intact dinosaur skull, complete and intact with no repair or restoration.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at the Franklin Rock and Mineral show September, 2004.

$4000.

8075. TWO LARGE DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS - c. 200 million years BP. These footprints of two different kinds of early dinosaurs were formed when they walked along a muddy stretch of beach over 200 million years ago near Lincoln Park, New Jersey. These theropods (meat-eating dinosaurs) lived more than 130 million years before T-Rex and were the top predators of their day. Dinosaurs typically started out small and grew larger over time as the "arms race" between plant eaters and meat eaters intensified. The excellent, well-defined, large theropod footprint measures 8 x 3 inches and even shows some of the texture of the skin on the bottom of the foot and the large claw impressions on the ends of the toes. This type of print is denoted Grallator cunceatus, although the actual species that made it is unknown. Very few dinosaur bones have been found in New Jersey at this time. The fainter, smaller footprint measures 4 x 3 inches from a different species of dinosaur, also unknown. The large Grallator footprint is aesthetically centered on a 17 x 9 inch gray slate matrix and is a contrasting black in color. Weight of the specimen is 5 pounds.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at the Franklin Rock and Mineral show September, 2004.

$1600.

Provenance: A private American collection: Purchased at the Franklin Rock and Mineral Show in August, 1999.

$1400.

Provenance: A private American collection: Purchased at the Franklin Rock and Mineral Show in August, 1999.

$600.

Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired by the current owner from a German dealer, deaccessioned from a German natural history museum.

$1250.

Provenance: Acquired by the current owner at the Franklin, NJ Rock and Mineral show.

$250.

Provenance: Acquired by the current owner at the Franklin, NJ Rock and Mineral show.

$150.

Provenance: Acquired by the current owner at the Franklin, NJ Rock and Mineral show.

$250.

12961. HUGE AMBER NUGGET. Sumatran amber, c. 20 million years BP. 24 kilograms, Measurements are 52 x 25 x 20 cm. The quality is excellent. This is a piece piece free of cracks and of a rich chocolate color. Amber nuggets of this side are incredibly rare and almost never appear on the market. The only other ones we are aware of are in museums, including the National Museum of Indonesia. Back view. Another view. Another view.

Provenance: The property of a European gentleman. Originally found in Western Sumatra at a depth of 40 m.

Price on request.

12900. MASSIVE FOSSIL LEPIDODENDRON STUMP. Tennessee, Carboniferous Period, 300-450 million years BP. The large stump of pleasing grey and ochre color with a relatively smooth surface in which the vesicles typical of the species are clearly visible. Shown at the University of Tennessee where it was identified and confirmed authentic by them. Dimensions 18 1/2 inches across the top, larger at the bottom, 11 inches high, and 56 inches in circumference. Weight ~400 lbs. Extremely rare complete Lepidodendron stump. Enlargement. Another view. Another view. Another view.

Lepidondendrons were among the first large trees to appear on earth. These long extinct tall spore-bearing trees were related to modern club mosses. They stood in a dense, swampy forest 320 million years ago contemporaneous with the first appearance of land animals. These Giant Club Moss trees somewhat resembled modern palms crowned with spiky fronds. The green trunks were textured like alligator skin, giving them the name "scale bark" trees.

Provenance: A Tennessee fossil collection. Found on a privately owned farm in Campbell County, Tennessee.

Price on request.