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SUPERIOR SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE FRAGMENT — FROM THE LARGEST METEORITE SHOWER SINCE THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION

Iron, coarsest octahedrite -- IIABMaritime Territory, Siberia, Russia

Details

SUPERIOR SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE FRAGMENT — FROM THE LARGEST METEORITE SHOWER SINCE THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION
Iron, coarsest octahedrite -- IIAB
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia
Deep grooves, twisting folds and striations surround a central protuberance. The patina ranges in hues from pewter to charcoal with chrome accents. The reverse is largely a smooth curved surface with faint criss-crossed striations. Accompanied by a custom armature.
3½ x 3 x 2in.( 89 x 79 x 50mm)
1 1/3lbs (623g)

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

At 10:30 A.M. on February 12, 1947 the largest meteorite fall since the dawn of civilization occurred. It streaked over the Sikhote-Alin Mountains and at an altitude of just 5 km it violently exploded, showering the snowy Siberian taiga with tens of tons of material. There are two types of Sikhote-Alin: those which experienced frictional heating in the upper atmosphere which are gently scalloped, and the jagged and twisted shrapnel-like specimens (from the low altitude explosion). This is an example of the latter. The fragments from this explosion, including the fragment now offered, fell within an elliptical debris field about 1.6 km² in area. The conspicuous shearing from a larger mass is testament to the massive forces this meteorite experienced before impact. Originating from the asteroid belt, this is a choice example from a historic meteorite shower.

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