SIKHOTE ALIN METEORITE — COMPLETE INDIVIDUAL

SIKHOTE ALIN METEORITE — COMPLETE INDIVIDUAL

Iron, Coarse Octahedrite – IIAB 

Maritime Province north of Vladavistok, Siberia, Russia 

Witnessed fall on February 12, 1947

6 x 3 ½ x 2 ¼ inches (15.24 x 8.89 x 5.71 cm) and weighing 5 ¾ lb. (2,614 gram).

The Sikhote-Alin fall was one of the largest meteorite showers in human history and was witnessed by thousands of people up to 300 km away from the impact site near Luchegorsk, Siberia. The resulting explosion upon impact terrified the local population. Miraculously, no one was injured as the immediate area of impact was not populated. (catalogue note)

Both faces of this fine individual are covered by regmaglypts, evidencing the superficial melting that occurred during the meteorites descent through the Earth’s atmosphere. The larger size of these regmaglypts implies that this individual broke off a larger mass high up in the stratosphere during the early stages of the meteorite showers entry. The meteorite displays the classic gunmetal patina. A choice meteorite from one of the most famous meteorite showers in history.