Oxford University Museum of Natural History

[David Entwistle]

I called in to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on the bank holiday Monday, 30th May 2011. As reported on the BIMS museum collection's page O.U.M.N.H. have several meteorites on display.

The "Rocks from Space" display comprises a large glass case and there are two other meteorites which form part of "Touchable Rocks and Minerals".

O.U.M.N.H. Display Case

The "Rocks from Space" display case includes (left to right):

Campo del Cielo iron meteorite, Chaco province, Argentina.
Gao-Guenie stony meteorites, Gao-Guenie, Burkina Faso (32 individuals).
Sikhote-Alin iron meteorites, Maritime territory, Russia (26 individuals).
Rewari stony meteorite, Haryana, India (large fragment).
Imilac stony-iron meteorite, Atacama district, Chile.
Gibeon iron meteorite (slice), Namaland, Namibia.
Limerick stony meteorite, Limerick, Ireland (main mass of Faha stone)*.
NWA stony meteorites, Sahara Desert, north west Africa (5 individuals).
Iridium anomaly samples (bottom) includes: Tertiary Limestone, Iridium-rich fish clay and Cretaceous Chalk
Impact melt breccia, Rochechouart impact site, Montoume, Limousin, France.
Moldavite tektites, Moldavia, Czech Republic (11 individuals).
Suevite, Ries impact site, Otting quarry, Bayern, Germany.
Pseudotachylite with gneiss, Vredefort impact site, Otavi quarry, Parys Free State, South Africa.
Indochinite tektites, Thailand (8 individuals).
Impact breccia, Rochechouart impact site, Chassenon, Limousin, France.
Libyan desert glass, Libya (2 individuals).
Shatter cone, Kentland impact site, Kentland, Indiana, USA.
Impact brecciated gneiss, Gardnos Breccia, Gardnos, Hallingdal, Norway.

"Touchable Rocks and Minerals" include:

Nantan (large fragment).
4.6 billion year old meteorite from Argentina (iron).

Nantan

Nantan.jpg (41.35 KiB) Viewed 13338 times

Iron

Iron.jpg (22.14 KiB) Viewed 13337 times

I have rather poor pictures of most items, if anyone is interested.

* amended - see below.

[Kieron]

Thanks David.

Regarding Limerick, according to the Blue Book Oxford has the Faha stone (7.7kg of the original 10.9kg). There is a larger mass at Dublin (the Brasky stone, 27kg of the original 29.5kg). The location of the 7.7kg Scagh stone is not stated.

Yes, I would like to see your photo of the Limerick, please.


Cheers, Kieron

[David Entwistle]

Thanks David.

Regarding Limerick, according to the Blue Book Oxford has the Faha stone (7.7kg of the original 10.9kg). There is a larger mass at Dublin (the Brasky stone, 27kg of the original 29.5kg). The location of the 7.7kg Scagh stone is not stated.

Yes, I would like to see your photo of the Limerick, please.

Hi Kieron,

Thanks for the correction on Limerick - I'll amend the original post.

Here are a couple of reduced resolution pictures - I'm afraid they've both got some reflection from the glass.

Limerick Faha

LimerickFaha2.jpg (23.15 KiB) Viewed 13327 times

Limerick Faha

[Kieron]

Cheers, David.

First time I have seen that - looking good after nearly 200 years on the planet.


Regards, Kieron

[Kieron]

Also, I just remembered that they have a 19th-century replica of the Launton meteorite - shame that isn't on display as well.

[MeteoritesEire]

offering my thanks also for the Limerick shots David--first time seeing that

[Budgieye]

I put pictures of the Oxford meteorites on the photo gallery of our old Yahoo group website.
Are we still using the Yahoo site?