Description:

Meteorite Oriented Sikhote-Alin With Flow Lines. This rare large 4.5 x 4 inch 824 gram (nearly 2 pound) Sikhote-Alin Iron-Nickel meteorite is a very rare example of a shrapnel type Sikhote-Alin meteorite because of its very definite orientation and deep flow lines. It shows many features of the huge explosion that took place on Feb. 10, 1947 high above the Sikhote-Alin mountains of Siberia. The enormous explosion tore the meteorite into thousands of smaller pieces and knocked people off their feet several miles away from the blast. The first explosion was high up in the atmosphere and the meteorites from this initial explosion exhibit regmaglypts (thumbprints) from melting for a longer time in the earth’s atmosphere. The secondary explosions occurred much closer to the ground and these meteorites show the ripping force of the explosion resulting in sharp edges; there was not enough time to form the regmaglypts. This rare meteorite shows signs of the explosive shearing force with sharp edges, distinctive attractive gun metal color, metal flowing over the edges and myriads of delicate entry flow lines on all sides of the meteorite. However the rarest feature is an oriented dome in the center of the meteorite with delicate flow lines flowing from its peak. The back side of the meteorite is flat which means that the orientation occurred because the meteorite did not tumble when it passed through the atmosphere but came in one direction, causing the melting to occur only on its top and forming a small dome. Meteorites that show clear orientation are in great demand and one such as this Sikhote with deep flow lines and classic shape are even more desirable.

Add $20 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $600 - 900.

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