Lot 1007
Rarest Stony Meteorite. Gujba, a Bencubbin-like meteorite, is the rarest of all types of stony meteorites, rarer than both Lunar and Martian meteorites. Gujba is a Carbonaceous Chondrite (Class CB) that contains more iron-nickel than stone. It is not a stony-iron meteorite like a Pallasite but rather just a stony meteorite with elliptical chondrules composed mostly of iron-nickel along with some troilite, silicate spheroids and metal rich olivine. More than 50% of the meteorite is composed of iron-nickel chondrules. Gujba fell April 3,1984 near Yobe, Nigeria and is called Bencubbin-like because its composition closely matches the first of this type of meteorite to be analyzed which was Bencubbin which fell in Western Australia in 1930. This 30 x 30 mm complete slice weighs 8.51 grams with natural fusion crust on all sides. It shows about 80% iron-nickel chondrules, some larger brecciated silicate chondrules including one large sea shell shaped chondrule that contains a mixture of reddish brown and gray minerals and a dark brown matrix. It is speculated that Gujba may be from one of the largest of the asteroids 2 Pallas (2nd asteroid to be discovered in 1802) because the spectra analysis of 2 Pallas closely matches the silicates of olivine and pyroxene found in the Bencubbin-like meteorites. Since the surface of 2 Pallas is low in iron, the iron-nickel in this meteorite would have come from an impact of 2 Pallas with an iron-nickel meteorite that resulted in a metal rich gas that condensed to form the unusual elliptical chondrules of iron-nickel and was mixed with the silicate globules from the surface of 2 Pallas. Using lead isotope dating of Gujba (4.563 billion years) indicates that this massive impact occurred within the first 2-3 million years after the formation of our solar system.
This rare meteorite slice is contained in a clear membrane box for viewing all surfaces including the fusion crust and placed in a 6 x 5 inch Riker Box. All meteorite collections should contain a specimen of the rare Bencubbin-like Carbonaceous meteorite.
Add $15 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,200.
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