MUNDRABILLA METEORITE WITH NATURAL HOLE

MUNDRABILLA METEORITE WITH NATURAL HOLE

Iron medium octahedrite – IIICD

Nullarbor Plain, Australia (30°47′S, 127°33′E)

49 x 52 x 49mm (2 x 2 x 2 in.) and 321.8g (0.75 lbs)

This meteorite originates from one of the larger meteorite events on record — and one of the oldest meteorites, in terms of Earth age, known to exist. It was during a geological survey of Australia’s Great Nullarbor Plain that geologists discovered the first Mundrabilla meteorites in 1911. Meteorites are named after a locality in which they are found and the closest landmark in this middle-of-nowhere spot in the Nullarbor (“null arbor” or “no trees”) was the Mundrabilla Sheep Station — from which it received its name. It was later determined these meteorites were part of large meteorite shower that occurred approximately 1,000,000 years ago. Originating from the asteroid belt, Mundrabilla is a most unusual meteorite, richly populated with sulfide, silicate and graphite inclusions. As a result of its long tenure in the Nullarbor many of its sulfide inclusions oxidized out of the metallic matrix resulting in Mundrabilla’s unique nodular appearance — and this specimen features a sought-after rarity: a natural hole penetrating its mass.