Dronino — Complete Slice

If the previous lot were cut — which should never occur as there are enough prosaically shaped Dronino meteorites from which to cut slices — its interior matrix would look exceedingly similar to the slice now offered. 

As previously described, Dronino is an exotic iron meteorite both chemically and in terms of its crenelated surface. One might then expect Dronino to have an internal structure that is also exotic for a meteorite — and Dronino does not disappoint. 

Banded, elongated and amoeboid troilite (iron sulfide) inclusions as well as other sulfide nodules accent the pewter-hued matrix. A new mineral, droninoite, was also discovered in a Dronino meteorite. As mentioned in the previous lot, given Dronino’s high nickel content it is intrinsically one of the more valuable meteorites to exist. Dronino is the only known sample of one of the protoplanets (i.e., an asteroid with a differentiated core, mantle and crust) that once existed in our solar system, and this splendid complete slice fascinates.