Iron medium octahedrite – IIIAB; Northern Territory, Australia

Stunning specimen showing the sheer force of the impact that created the Henbury meteorite craters. A twisted and shredded piece torn apart. Natural patina, as found. Old collection specimen number painted on.

Henbury is one of the great meteorite showers on record. Following a multi-million-year sojourn through interplanetary space, the iron mass fell in Northern Territory, Australia about 4,200 years ago creating a field of 13 craters measuring up to 180 meters across and 15 meters deep. This crater field is considered a sacred site to the Arrernte Aboriginal people whose elders would not camp near the craters nor drink rainwater collected there, referring to them as "chindu china waru chingi yabu", roughly translating to "sun walk fire devil rock". Although the craters were discovered in 1899, the first meteorites were not identified until 1931 following reports of metal stones being used by Aboriginal Australians.

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.
260 mm x 120 mm x 100 mm (10¹⁄₄ x 4³⁄₄ x 4in.)
6.1kg.

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