R.A. Langheinrich Meteorites: Vermillion meteorite / Meteorites for Sale

A 34.36 kg mass was found by M. and G. Farrell while planting in a grain field in Marshall County, Kansas, in the vicinity of the Black Vermillion River. This was purchased by a dealer with the belief that it was a Brenham pallasite mass, but upon cutting, it was discovered to be unique from Brenham. Vermillion consists of 86 vol% FeNi-metal and 14 vol% silicates, with pyroxene accounting for ~0.7 vol% of this silicate fraction. However, the silicate grains are much smaller in size than those of typical pallasites. Subsequent analyses determined that Vermillion shares a similar pyroxene composition, mineralogy, O-isotope composition, and REE pattern with the pyroxene-containing pallasite Yamato 8451, and therefore these two meteorites were classified by the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee as members of a new grouplet named pyroxene pallasites (Boesenberg et al., 2000). However, in light of the current classification issues involving these meteorites, the NomCom is now recommending the more general classification of pallasite be used for these two meteorites, which does not indicate a particular chemical group assignment. On the other hand, utilizing elemental ratio data of Vermillion, Wasson and Kallemeyn (2002) found that it plots on a Ni-Au diagram just outside of the low-Au end of the IAB main group irons, and that it also plots along an extention of the low-Au, medium-Ni subgroup (sLM) into the lower Au composition field. Furthermore, the O-isotopic composition of Vermillion is within the range of IAB irons, and so Vermillion may be considered to be genetically related to members of the low-Au division of the IAB iron-meteorite complex.
Since the discovery of Vermillion, two more pyroxene-bearing pallasites have been discovered—a 46 g pyroxene-rich (28 vol%) pallasite named Zinder was found in Niger in 1999, and a 53 g pyroxene-rich pallasite (~26 vol%) was found in Northwest Africa, named NWA 1911. Further studies may help to elucidate the relationship between these diverse stony-irons. Text written by Meteorite Studies. For more information go to our link page and click on link to Meteorite Studies.


Email orders: orders@nyrockman.com Telephone and fax orders: (315) 894 0513 For shipping, insurance, and detailed ordering information click HERE
METEORITES FOR SALE
VERMILLION METEORITE
A 34.36 kg mass was found by M. and G. Farrell while planting in a grain field in Marshall County, Kansas, in the vicinity of the Black Vermillion River. This was purchased by a dealer with the belief that it was a Brenham pallasite mass, but upon cutting, it was discovered to be unique from Brenham. Vermillion consists of 86 vol% FeNi-metal and 14 vol% silicates, with pyroxene accounting for ~0.7 vol% of this silicate fraction. However, the silicate grains are much smaller in size than those of typical pallasites. Subsequent analyses determined that Vermillion shares a similar pyroxene composition, mineralogy, O-isotope composition, and REE pattern with the pyroxene-containing pallasite Yamato 8451, and therefore these two meteorites were classified by the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee as members of a new grouplet named pyroxene pallasites (Boesenberg et al., 2000). However, in light of the current classification issues involving these meteorites, the NomCom is now recommending the more general classification of pallasite be used for these two meteorites, which does not indicate a particular chemical group assignment. On the other hand, utilizing elemental ratio data of Vermillion, Wasson and Kallemeyn (2002) found that it plots on a Ni-Au diagram just outside of the low-Au end of the IAB main group irons, and that it also plots along an extention of the low-Au, medium-Ni subgroup (sLM) into the lower Au composition field. Furthermore, the O-isotopic composition of Vermillion is within the range of IAB irons, and so Vermillion may be considered to be genetically related to members of the low-Au division of the IAB iron-meteorite complex. Since the discovery of Vermillion, two more pyroxene-bearing pallasites have been discovered—a 46 g pyroxene-rich (28 vol%) pallasite named Zinder was found in Niger in 1999, and a 53 g pyroxene-rich pallasite (~26 vol%) was found in Northwest Africa, named NWA 1911. Further studies may help to elucidate the relationship between these diverse stony-irons. Text written by Meteorite Studies. For more information go to our link page and click on link to Meteorite Studies.
A rare an unsual pyroxene-bearing pallasite. This slice is 275.8 grams. The specimen has been etched and has a polished finish. Size of the slice is 6 mm x 80 mm x 128 mm. Photo view below.