Gemstones Glossary

More gem stone info and resources


See contemporary designer jewelry in gold and silver with gemstones.

  Designer Jewelry

 

Gems

Agate(s)
Amazonite
Amber
Amethyst
Ammolite
Ammonite
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Azurite-Malachite
Beryl
Bloodstone
Blue Opal
Bone
Boulder Opal
Carnelian
Chalcedony
Charoite
Chinese Writing Stone
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
Citrine
Dinosaur Bone
Drusy
Emerald
Garnet
Gaspeite
Gibeon Meteorite
Hematite
Jade
Jasper
Kono Dolomite
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Larimar
Malachite
Meteorite
Montana Agate
Moonstone
Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper
Onyx
Opal
Opalite
Orthoceras
Palm Wood
Pearl
Pectolite
Peridot
Peruvian Opal
Petoskey Stone
Picasso Marble
Poppy Jasper
Quantum Quattro
Rhodochrosite
Ruby in Zoisite
Rutilated Quartz
Sapphire
Spectrolite
Stone Canyon Jasper
Sugilite
Tanzanite
Tiffany Stone
Tiger's Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Variscite
 

 

 

Gibeon Meteorite Facts, Information and Description

Since it was first discovered in 1836 in Great Namaqualand, Namibia, Africa, more than 25 tons of Gibeon meteorites have been recovered and although export and sale was banned by the Namibian government, it is still one of the most commonly available meteorites on the market today. The Gibeon meteorites come from broken asteroid fragments or an exploded star and radiometric dating places the age at around 4 billion years old.

Gibeon meteorites are composed of iron, nickel and small amounts of cobalt and classified as a fine octahedrite iron meteorite. Some other minerals that may be found in the meteorite are chromite, deabreelite, enstatite, kamacite, taenite, troilite or tridymite.

Lines and patterns are the result of cooling in outer space over billions of years and etching slices with dilute nitric acid allow these patterns known as "Widmanstatten lines" to be more visible.

Until recent years, most Gibeon meteorites that were recovered weighed between 200 and 1100 pounds. One of the largest masses ever found weighed over 1400 pounds. Probably due to better metal detection equipment, many smaller specimens have been recovered recently.

When a meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere, friction raises the surface temperature above its melting point. As the meteorite descends, it slows down, and the heat from friction decreases resulting in a thin layer of dark glass. The surface on some meteorite's may develop shallow pits during the entry process and these pits resemble thumb prints and are known as regmaglypts. Imagine bread dough that has been kneaded which leaves finger imprints in the dough ball.

 

Gibeon Meteorite Folklore, Legend & Healing Properties:

Kalahari Desert tribesmen picked up meteorites that lay on the ground's surface and made arrowheads and assagai-heads, a javelin type weapon made of long, thin pointed iron rods with sharp edges.

Meteoric iron is used for alignment and balancing; it symbolizes the aptitude and strength required for endurance. Nickel is thought to purify the blood and increase the body's iron content.

 

Gibeon meteorite fragment
Polished fragment showing "Widmanstatten lines".

meteorite specimen
Meteorite specimen exhibiting regmaglypts.

 

Gibeon Meteorite Jewelry and Cabochons

Men's ring.  A selection of free form cabochons available for custom designed jewelry.

 

 


return to the page you just came from
 

  

"Colorful & Dramatic Handcrafted Designer Jewelry"

HOME

- contact
- site map
- glossary


Jewelry:

- bracelets
- handmade chains
- cufflinks
- earrings
- necklaces
- gemstone pendants
- pin / pendants
- rings
- men's rings

- bead necklaces
- gold jewelry
- silver jewelry

- custom jewelry
- custom designs
- custom design ideas


- what's new
- gift ideas



Shop by:
- gemstone
- type & gemstone
- gemstone color



How to order:
- order & shipping info
- custom orders
- customer feedback



Other stuff:

 - Gemstones:
  - information / facts
  - colors
  - cabochons and rough

 
- Birthstones:
  - birthstone charts
  - by birthstones colors
  - by months
  - colors by month

- wedding anniversary list
 
- about the jewelry artist
- studio tour
- request an update
- jewelry care
 

 

 

Sources of Information:
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
by G.F. Kunz. J.D. Lippincott. 1913
The Mineral Gallery http://mineral.galleries.com/
The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom http://www.minerals.net/
International Colored Gemstone Association http://gemstone.org/
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals Alfed A. Knopf 1979
Stones - Their Collection, Identification and Uses by R. V. Dietrich. Geoscience Press. 1980
Guide to Gems and Precious Stones Simon & Schuster 1986
Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Gems and Jewelry by Joel E. Arem. Geoscience Press. 1992
Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore by Bruce G. Knuth. Jeweler's Press 1999
Healing Crystals by Cassandra Eason. Vega 2003