Pallasite – PMG Magadan District, Russia (62°54’ N, 152°26’ E)

Details

END PIECE OF A LARGE SEYMCHAN METEORITE WITH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REVEALED
Pallasite – PMG
Magadan District, Russia (62°54’ N, 152°26’ E)
Punctuated by inclusions of schreibersite and black iron-rich silicates on the cut face, the external surface on the reverse is smooth and rounded, the result of exposure to Earth’s elements during its long tenure on our planet. An intriguing study of the interior structure and exterior surface of an iron meteorite.
141 x 143 x 79mm (5½ x 5 2/3 x 3in.)
5.80kg (12.7lbs)

Literature

Van Niekerk, et al. (2007), “Seymchan: A Main Group Pallasite – Not an Iron Meteorite.” Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, Vol. 42, p.5196.

Special notice

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.

Lot Essay

Similar to the previous lot, Seymchan meteorites are primarily non-aesthetic lumps, and so they are ideal for subdivision like the display piece now offered. Seymchan possesses what is among the most resplendent coarse Widmanstätten patterns known, which this specimen exhibits to great effect. These crystalline patterns result from the very slow intergrowth of two iron-nickel minerals (kamacite and taenite) deep within the core of a melted asteroid. Seymchan is among the most rust-resistant of iron-rich meteorites — perhaps due in part to its moderately high concentration of iridium, the second densest element and the most corrosion-resistant metal known.

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