Iron, coarse octahedrite – IIAB Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia (46° 9' N, 134° 39’ E)

Details

SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE
Iron, coarse octahedrite – IIAB
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia (46° 9' N, 134° 39’ E)
Draped in a gunmetal to platinum patina, and covered on both sides with regmaglypts (the “thumbprints” which are an artifact of frictional heating and melting during its plunge through Earth’s atmosphere). A single tendril counterbalances the sloping edge from which it emanates, resulting in a balanced natural form.
83 x 51 x 19mm (3¼ x 2 x ¾in.)
237g

Literature

Krinov, E.L. (1963). "The Tunguska and Sikhote-Alin Meteorites." The Moon Meteorites and Comets, Edited by Gerard P. Kuiper, and Barbarra Middlehurts., 208-208.
Kolesnikov, E.M., Lavrukhina, A.K., and Fisenko, A.V. (1971). “Radiation ages of different fragments of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite fall.” Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 36(5), 573-576.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot is incorrectly illustrated in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

Similar to the previous lot, this meteorite is so imbued with character that it is difficult to decide which side should be the front. This meteorite originates from a mass that slammed into Earth’s atmosphere at a cosmic velocity of 13-19 kilometres per second, where it broke apart again and again before impacting Far-Eastern Siberia.

More from Meteorites

View All