Imagine what it is like to hold a piece of Universe estimated to be over 6 billion years old. That is at least 1.5 billion years older than the age of the earth and solar system. That rock is just one of many that Martin Tippmann brought with him from his shop in Loveland, Colorado. Martin is owner of Genesis Factor and in addition to telescopes he sells meteorites. His obvious favorite is the Allenda find from Mexico. He excitedly points out the individual chondrules that are easily visible on this carbonaceous meteorite. He refers to it as a CV3 where the 3 denotes perfect chondrules which are spheroids of vaporized gas.
"This is stuff from the Big Bang...and it gets me very excited to be able to hold it in my hand." he says as he allows others to also hold it.
Genesis denotes the beginning of time and Factor is the factor in the equation. These two words are a perfect name for his store. Martin first became interested in 1980 when he joined a astronomy club in Houston, Texas. Four years ago he discovered a very strange rock which has caused a lot of controversy in the scientific community as to its identification. "Over a period of about a year, I became so involved with the verification of what we thought might be a meteorite, that I got into the science of it, I met everyone in the industry....and in the process, I fell in love with meteorites." he said. "over 2000 pounds of this material has been found and the investigation still continues."
Next month Martin will be down in Barringer Crater in Arizona helping with a video documentary on the subject. Meteors have become his way of life. "The majority of my time is spent taking care of my store, my six children and of course travelling to star parties like the Nebraska Star Party. I also take in all the big Gem and Mineral shows."
Of it all, Martin really gets the most excited when he speaks of the Carbonaceous meteorites. The stonies that harbor the most ancient elements. "It excites me because I am a Christian...I believe in a Supreme Creator, yet science points away from that, so I have to kind of ride both sides of the fence here. If the first thing was just a rock, well it would still just a rock, but something had to happen to be able to create something from nothing."
We thank Martin for being at NSP. Many people will be heading home with a little piece of the Universe bought from him and his fine collection.
If you would like more information about Martin and his meteorites, then write or call:
Martin Tippmann
Genesis Factor
314 E. 4th St.
Loveland, Colorado
(970) 663-9408