SIKHOTE-ALIN: EXCELLENT LARGE INDIVIDUAL . Iron, Coarse Octahedrite - IIAB. Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia (46...

Description

SIKHOTE-ALIN: EXCELLENT LARGE INDIVIDUAL
Iron, Coarse Octahedrite - IIAB
Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia (46°09'36"N, 134°39'12"E)
Witnessed Fall: 1947

For any living thing in the area, the Sikhote-Alin Fall had to have been scary as hell, with some 200 recorded craters and pits left after the smoke cleared. Some pieces were removed from tree trunks, where they were embedded like artillery shrapnel, and, in fact, that's what the meteorite collectors call the twisted remains of some of this fall: Shrapnel. Noticeably different from the more common "shrapnel" are the "individuals" - pieces of the original mass that remained in one piece during their fiery entry. This is one of those rare individuals. They are found in much smaller numbers than shrapnel and their appearance is quite different, with regmaglypts: thumbprint-like, concave shapes seemingly pressed into the steely surface of the piece, and other signs of having been exposed to the fiery blast of entry. This is a large individual weighing over 6 pounds with metallic luster and complex form. The word from Russia is that the government has clamped down on recovery operations and no new material is going to be making its appearance in the future.
Overall Measurements: 4.25 x 3.75 x 3.88 inches (10.8 x 9.53 x 9.84 cm), weighs 2.859 kg (6 lb. 4.8 oz.)
Offered at no reserve.

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