Lot 650
Two Sikhote-Alin Iron-Nickel Meteorites, This lot contains both types of Sikhote-Alin iron-nickel meteorites, the scarcer type with regmaglypts and the sharp edged shrapnel type. On Feb. 10, 1947 high above the Sikhote-Alin mountains of Siberia, an enormous explosion tore apart a vary large iron-nickel meteorite into thousands of smaller pieces and knocked people off their feet several miles away from the blast. The first explosion was high up in the atmosphere and the meteorites from this initial explosion exhibit regmaglypts (thumbprints) from melting for a longer time in the earth's atmosphere. The secondary explosions occurred much closer to the ground and these meteorites show the ripping force of the explosion resulting in sharp edges and there was not enough time to form the regmaglypts. The larger 2.5 x 2 inch 129 gram complete meteorite is of the rarer first explosion type that is covered in small regmaglypts with a very esthetic shape so pristine that even lips of melted iron are still clearly preserved due to orientation in the meteorites descent and the back side of the meteorite is much smoother than the front from having partially melted. The second 2 x 1.5 inch 49 gram meteorite shows signs of the explosive shearing force with many sharp edges and just the start of regmaglypt formation that ceased when the meteorite struck the ground. Both meteorites come with a 2 inch magnetic stand for display.
Add $15 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $475 - 600
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| Realized $384 |
