Dr. Elbert King

This chapter is dedicated to  Dr. Elbert A. King (1935-1998). 

Elbert was instrumental in the design of  the  NASA Lunar Receiving Laboratory,  and  was the first scientist to collect Allende meteorite samples in Mexico in February of 1969.  Within 101 hours after the fall he was reviewing results of his scientific analysis at the Johnson Space Center NASA in Houston.  Elbert traded very fresh Allende samples  with Universities  world wide. It is thru their collective research that the Allende meteorite  is often referred to as the most studied meteorite.  

Elbert  was also  one of the geologists who took part in training Apollo Astronauts in rock sample collecting prior to the Moon Landing.  After his passing in 1998, his wife Sharon offered his entire meteorite collection up for auction.   Sharon hired   Steve Arnold of the  International Meteorite Brokerage (IMB)  to oversee the sale.  Later  the professional meteorite hunters and specialists Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkin starred in the TV series "Meteorite Men".   Houston Meteorites was born primarily to show  the King meteorites  and others acquired as part of my hobby.  The  Allende Meteorites in this website and others  were purchased in that EBAY 1999 King auction.

The Allende meteorite is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth. The fireball was witnessed at 01:05 on February 8, 1969, falling over the Mexican state of Chihuahua. After breaking up in the atmosphere, an extensive search for pieces was conducted and over 2 tons of meteorite were eventually recovered. The Allende fell  just months before the Apollo program was to return the first moon rocks.  Dr. King was the first Scientist to collect numerous fresh samples and quickly retuned them to the newly completed Lunar Sample Laboratory at  NASA  for processing and testing.   To further uncover the secrets hidden with the meteorite,    Dr. King traded numerous samples with Universities  for study all over the world.   A number of museums launched expeditions afterwards to Mexico to collect samples, including the Smithsonian Institution and together they collected hundreds of kilograms of material with the famous "CAI's", (Calcium Aluminum Inclusions).  The CAIs had very unusual isotopic compositions, which contain the evidence that they were formed from Star dust prior to our Solar System was formed. This predates the formation of our Sun and Planets  and is considered among the oldest objects formed in our Solar System.   

Dr. King   received his Bachelor's  and Maser's Degree from the University of Texas at Austin  and  his Doctorate  from Harvard University.   He was a primary mover in establishing the NASA Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston and later served as head the Department of Geology at the University of Houston.   He participated in the training of  Apollo 11 Astronauts in the art of  collecting  rocks samples.  Dr. King was  the first to collect samples of the  Allende Carbonaceous-CV3  meteorite in Chihuahua Mexico for research as written in his Book , "Moon Trip".    His love for meteorites led to an extensive  collection during his professional  and private career.   Sadly Dr. Elbert King passed away after a long illness on December 12,  1998 .   His wife Sharon became the  executor of his estate.   The meteorite collection was put up for auction  by the INTERNATIONAL METEORITE BROKERAGE P.M.B.  #610, 8177 South Harvard, Tulsa, Ok, 74137 in 1999.   It was represented by  Steve Arnold (MeteorHntr@aol.com),  who later with Geoffrey  Notkin  (Aerolite Meteorites)  became the world famous  "Meteorite Men" as seen on  the Science Channel series which its  pilot episode  premiered  on May 10, 2009.       All of the Allende specimens in this  Website  were purchased from the King Collection, unless otherwise noted,  through Steve  Arnold from that 1999 sale,  with  all payments made out to Sharon King.  

The Allende meteorite fell in Chihuahua,  Mexico, on  February 8, 1969.   Elbert was the first to recover and document stones from this fall for research.   He  wrote in his book  "Moon Trip 1989,  " I picked up 13 pieces  of the meteorite, including 2 large ones  -- enough for the time  being . . . ".   Scientists  from the Smithsonian and the National Museum of Natural History  (NMNH) followed within a week of the fall.   In his book Elbert  writes,  "One hundred  and one hours after the fall,  we at  (NASA) were gathering data on a piece of the Allende meteorite in the Lunar Receiving Lab low- background  gamma ray counter."     Apparently the fresh Allende specimens were  ideal for testing  some of the facilities of the  Laboratory ,    prior to  the  upcoming Apollo 11  samples,    less than 6 months away.

Dr. King made a great effort to return Allende samples to the Lunar Receiving Lab in Houston as soon as possible.  He understood the importance of preserving   pristine samples.    His love for the science of  meteorites is evident  as seen by his  openness to share the Allende  meteorites to Universities and Institutions.  This put the Allende on the path to be  the most studied meteorite.  

In the King Collection 1999 Auction,  his  Allende meteorites were sold in a special offering, separate from the rest of his meteorite collection,  which where sold on EBAY.   The Allende specimens were sold  by the gram according to 3  general categories,  1) "small slices and fragments,  2) blocks and medium slices, and 3) big pieces (over 300grams )".   Discounts were given ranging from 10 to 40 percent depending on total purchase price.   

The "Dr. Elbert A. King Meteorite Collection" as it was called in 1999  offered  21 Allende meteorites for sale.   Single  photographs  with a brief description and weight  were  shown, with a  list price, which are not shown in this website.   He mentioned in his book "moon Trip"  that he picked up "13 pieces" of the Allende Meteorite "including 2 large ones".    It is documented in his book that he distributed samples to Universities and Institutions for study.  I assume that some of the specimens were sliced and used for that purpose.   In the auction the  Allende's are grouped into three categories.  1) there were  five  smaller sliced specimens  ranged from 3g to 30 grams and  three small broken fragments  ranging  from 3.5 to 8.6 grams. In the second category ,   four medium size  sliced blocks and fragments  ranging from  190 to 290 grams and in the third category, nine large whole, broken and sliced  specimens ranged from  465g to 3311 grams.   Of the larger size specimens only two have a cut  face.  Both the 2,160g and the 2,810 gram,  are described as  a "half stone with large cut face".  These two specimens may have been the two large stones he picked up, but subsequently were sliced for distribution and trade.  If I take that description , "half stone", literally,  the original two large samples  may have approached 5kg in weight.   The largest stone offered in the auction, is a  3,311 gram specimen   and was listed as a " large stone with broken face".   It is not known if Elbert broke off pieces of this meteorite, or the broken  faces are due to natural impact.   Impact lineations  are evident on the 3311g and 715g large corner sample that may include  impact debris in the form of crushed sod or dry grass,  so their  impact orientation can  be determined.  The total weight of the Allende offered for sale was approximately  13 kilograms.  The Allende specimens  purchased from the King Auction in 1999  which are shown in this website totals,   approximately 8.35  kilograms or 64 percent of the total  Allende  offered for sale.