In 2016 Los Vientos 171 was recovered by Polish meteorite hunters near Antofagasta, Chile in the Atacama Desert. Of the tens of thousands of chondritic meteorites known to exist (meteorites which contain silicate-rich spherules), Los Vientos 171 is a member of a very select club: researchers have determined it belongs to the 3.1 subtype which makes it among the most primitive planetary matter known. Unlike 99.9% of all meteorites, the constituents of this meteorite are almost unchanged — there is just a hint of alteration — since their origin in the early solar nebula when they formed within the cloud from which our solar system sprang. Prior to the discovery of Los Vientos 171, less than 40 kg of similarly primitive planetary material was known to exist. The only material more primitive are subtypes 3.05 and 3.00 — the latter of which is close to perfection…only minimal alteration (see lot 12).

This elongated complete slice is packed with a veritable galaxy of chondrules and other inclusions. It is extremely fresh; very little weathering is in evidence. A warm-hued fusion crust wraps the perimeter. Devoutly sought-after by scientists, such unmetamorphosed, primitive meteorites reveal the raw ingredients of the planets. For the sophisticated collector this specimen is a snapshot of droplets of planetary genesis frozen in time; the earliest stage of solid planet formation.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

201 x 89 x 2mm (8 x 3.5 x 0.1 in.) and 117.8 grams (0.25 lbs)