Lot 358
Meteorite Muonionalusta Sphere. Muonionalusta is an iron-nickel meteorite that was found in Norrbotten, Sweden in 1906 and since then additional meteorites have been found in one of the largest strewnfields on earth at 30 x 10 kilometers. It is the only meteorite found north of the arctic circle and fell several hundred thousand years ago and was carried by glaciers. Muonionalusta is classified as a fine octahedrite and even though its outward appearance is not attractive due to the erosion from the glacier it has one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns when it is etched. Widmanstatten patterns form when the two alloys of nickel Kamacite and Taenite separate in the iron core of the large asteroid that was destroyed by collision with another large asteroid in the asteroid belt billions of years ago. This separation and pattern form only when the iron core cools at a rate of only a few degrees per million years and is not found on any iron-nickel stones on earth. This large 50mm diameter 488 gram sphere has been laboriously cut from a much larger specimen and etched to display one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten pattern found on any iron-nickel meteorite. It is very similar to the pattern found on the Gibeon meteorite which is probably from the same parent asteroid body.
Add $15 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $800 - 900.
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| Realized $705 |
