Iron, coarsest octahedrite – IIAB; Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia

Similar to lots 10 and 63. This meteorite originates from the famed Siberian Sikhote-Alin fireball of February 12, 1947, among the more frightening phenomena in modern times. Streaking over the Sikhote-Alin Mountains of Siberia, part of the mass violently exploded at an altitude of 5 km. Another part of the mass split in the upper atmosphere, with innumerable specimens developing regmaglypts (indentations resulting from frictional heating during the plunge through Earth’s atmosphere) and fusion crust before raining onto the ground. The specimen now offered is of the latter variety — and it fascinates. The upper right area evidences regmaglypts that terminate halfway through the meteorite where a dramatic textural change is seen. This meteorite ripped apart during its atmospheric descent and began to remelt, but there was insufficient time for the process to be completed before achieving terminal velocity and freefalling to Earth. One benefit of this meteorite having been shorn apart in the upper atmosphere is that its mass became thinner; this made it easier for the perforation in the meteorite to occur near the left margin. A pocketful of wonderment from a historic event, this modestly-sized meteorite is from the largest meteorite shower of the modern era.

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.

32 x 49 x 12mm (1.25 x 2 x 0.5 in.) and 55.6 grams