Natural History - Historic 'Gilgit, Himalayas' Spessartite Garnet on Black Tourmaline Mineral Specimen

A cut slice of diogenite, an igneous rock rich in the magnesium- and iron-rich silicate orthopyroxene, recorded as: Northwest Africa 4664; displayed in a Swiss membrane box, inked note 'NWA 4664' to one side. 10.2 grams, 53 mm (58.6 grams total, 99 x 75 mm including case)



From Algeria. Ex Mile High Meteorites, U.S.A. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection. Accompanied by an original identification card.

Vesta is the second largest asteroid and the only large one covered with basalt; the fine-grained volcanic rock makes up the dark areas of the Moon and the huge shield volcanoes on Mars. Three groups of achondrites (igneous meteorites) are widely thought to have come from Vesta; these are the HED meteorites: Howardites, Eucrites and Diogenites.

An irregular stony meteorite. 183 grams, 74 mm



Found near Al Mahbas, Sahara Desert, Morocco.

Chondrites originated in the asteroid belt where collisions and gravitational perturbations put them into Earth-crossing orbits. Chondrites formed as part of the formation of their parent asteroids approximately 4.56 billion years ago. They also contain material that predates the formation of the solar system, including organic matter and tiny grains that formed around dying stars.

An interesting group of mixed fossils and other specimens including ammonites, leaf fossils, and others. 1.37 kg total, 2.8-13.2 cm



Acquired on the UK mineral and fossil market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent.