Subject: Iron-Nickel Meteorites

From: [email-masked] (MR WILLIAM A HOCHELLA)
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 19:30:22 EST

To All,
I spent some time in Tucson last week at the Gem and Mineral show and 
ran across a lot of people selling iron-nickel meteorites. One 
gentleman, Martin Holt of Odgen, UT even had some damascus made with 
meteoric iron. I don't remember the name of the bladesmith but I 
think he was from UT or CO.  The blades were VERY nice. I thought 
that since our ancient brethren used meteoric iron for points and 
tools, why shouldn't I try.  I invested in a small piece, this stuff 
is not cheap, and proceeded to try heating and beating it into shape. 
I would throw the piece in my scrap heap but it was to expensive to 
start with. It broke up along the grain boundaries even at bright 
yellow heat. Has anyone out there played around with this stuff? Any 
suggestions? I will probably try to coalesce the fractured lump with 
other small pieces into something decorative.

Regards,

Bill Hochella

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From: [email-masked] (James Batson)
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 07:01:40 -0500

Has anyone out there played around with this stuff? Any
>other small pieces into something decorative.

Bill, I have incorporated meteorites into layered pattern welded steel
without any trouble.  The surrounding steel helps to encase and hold the
meteorite together.  It may take a couple of folds to get a good weld.  All
meteorites are not the same, some are more metallic than others.  Do you
know which fall your meteorite came from?  The Odessa, Texas meteorites are
knid of earthy.  The meteorites that I used came from Australia.

Jim

Bladesmith & Bowie Historian

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From: [email-masked] (MR WILLIAM A HOCHELLA)
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 20:42:35 EST

The meteorite that Ihave been playing with is from Nambia, Africa. It 
is the Gibeon Meteorite. It's composition is 7.68% Nickel, 1.98 ppm 
Gallidonium, 2.4 ppm Iridirm and .111 ppm Germanium. After looking at 
this, small wonder it is hot short.

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 17:17:01 -0500

Source for Ni-Fe meteorites:
Martin & Judy Holt
Moonbeam Meteorites & More
2436 Washington Blvd
Odgen, UT  84401

801-627-1745
801-621-4466 fax

Regards,

Bill Hochella