Dimmit Meteorite. Chondrite, H3.7. Texas, USA - (34° 35'N, 102° 10'W). Found: 1942. ...

Description

Dimmit Meteorite
Chondrite, H3.7
Texas, USA - (34° 35'N, 102° 10'W)
Found: 1942

This Texas meteorite stands as an important historical piece with amazing provenance. Weighing 667.4 grams, the H3.7 Chondrite known as Dimmit comes with an original Monnig Collection specimen card. A most intriguing fact is that this piece has two collection numbers. The rock is designated as "M-138.19," which is known as the "Monnig Number" and matches the label. The second number on the specimen is "12TH," which was actually painted by Glenn or Margaret Huss of the American Meteorite Laboratory who had been hired by curator Dr. Arthur Ehlmann to catalog the entire Monnig Collection. The second four-digit number is much more interesting and desirable and was hand-painted on some early pieces by Oscar Monnig himself. The late Dr. Ehlmann, who was a close friend of Monnig's, believed these represented some form of code indicating where the specimen had been found. This whole stone features a lighter brownish-orange coloration and has a very rocky appearance and texture. This offering from the West Texas region has a fragmentary form and is a "classic" representation of Dimmit, which was one of the largest known meteorites from North America and is significant as it represents an unequilibrated and gas-bearing regolith breccia from the surface of an asteroid. While first found in 1942, Dimmit was not recognized as a distinct fall until 1950. Most original specimens are with the Monnig Collection at Texas Christian University.
Measurements: 3.88 x 3.39 x 1.94 inches (9.86 x 8.62 x 4.92 cm), weighs 667.4 grams

Provenance: Ex. Oscar E. Monnig Collection #M138.19 & 12TH, The Geoff Notkin Collection

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