Sikhote-Alin Meteorite - 315.2 Grams. Iron, IIAB. Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia - (46°09'36"N, 134° 39'12"E). ... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Sikhote-Alin Meteorite - 315.2 Grams
Iron, IIAB
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia - (46°09'36"N, 134° 39'12"E)
Witnessed Fall: February 12, 1947, 10:30 am local time

This 315.2-gram specimen is a dramatic fragment from the historic Sikhote-Alin Meteorite fall, one of the most significant and well-documented meteoritic events of the 20th century. On the morning of February 12, 1947, a brilliant fireball exploded in Earth's atmosphere above the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in Siberia, producing a powerful aerial detonation visible for hundreds of kilometers. The resulting explosion was so intense that it shattered the main body into thousands of fragments, many of which rained down across the snow-covered taiga, shaking buildings and knocking observers off their feet miles from the blast. This particular example represents a shrapnel-type fragment, created by the lower-altitude explosion that occurred closer to the Earth's surface. It bears striking evidence of this violent event: sharply sheared edges, a sleek gunmetal fusion crust, and delicate flow lines etched into the surface-remnants of its searing passage through Earth's atmosphere. Subtle ripples in the iron hint at aerodynamic melting and the rapid cooling that occurred in the final seconds before impact. Unlike the regmaglypted specimens that formed higher in the atmosphere, this shrapnel-type piece tells a story of explosive fragmentation and raw force. Its sculptural form and metallic sheen make it a compelling object, not only for its extraterrestrial origin but for the powerful narrative it carries. As part of a witnessed fall, and from a meteorite shower that forever shaped modern meteoritics, this specimen offers a rare opportunity to own a physical remnant of one of Earth's most dramatic celestial encounters.
Measurements: 2.51 x 1.85 x 1.37 inches (6.38 x 4.70 x 3.49 cm), weighs 315.2 grams

Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern California Collector

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