Lot 781
Meteorite Containing Salt Crystals and Water. A very important meteorite was a witnessed fall on August 4, 1998 on a mountain in the vicinity of Zag, Morocco. This H3-6 stony meteorite is so important to science because it is one of just three meteorites found that contain salt crystals (Halite) and small amounts of water. What makes this meteorite so important is that radioisotope dating shows that both the Halite (sodium chloride) crystals and water formed within the first 2 million years of the formation of our solar system over 4.57 billion years ago. The radioactive decay of various material in the large asteroid provided enough heat to melt and evaporate most of the water leaving the salt crystals and inclusions that contain water. This water is older than any water found on Earth. It is believed that the parent body for the high iron type ordinary chondrites such as Zag is Asteroid 6 Hebe which has a diameter of about 120 miles.
This lot contains both a complete uncut fragment of Zag that is 1.75 x 1.3 inches with 40% fusion crust weighing 53.5 grams and a 1.5 x 1.4in 24.589 gram polished slice with fusion crust on three sides. The slice shows the interior of Zag with its white and brown chodrules, flecks of iron and larger dark brown inclusions from the impacting smaller asteroid that collided with 6 Hebe some 300 million years ago. Both specimens are housed in a 8 x 6 inch Riker mount.
Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $600 - 800
|
| |
| Unsold |
