AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — TRANSITIONAL SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE - photo 1
AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — TRANSITIONAL SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE - photo 2

AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — TRANSITIONAL SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE

Sold
£ 150 000
Auction dateClassic
25.05.2021 13:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 543551
Lot 8 | AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — TRANSITIONAL SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE
Dazzling crystals of olivine and peridot (birthstone of August) are seen to great effect in this three-dimensional presentation that has been lightly etched to reveal the robust Widmanstätten pattern in the metal. The crystals appear as continents on an otherwordly globe — reminiscent of its parent asteroid having been adrift in the void of interplanetary space. This specimen originates from a meteorite that underwent a number of stages of cutting, grinding and polishing. Supported on base.

The most beautiful extraterrestrial substances known are pallasites. They formed at the boundary of the stony mantle and molten core of an asteroid. Upon shattering following an impact with another asteroid, this “borderline” material became liberated, and a bit has landed on Earth. As one would then expect, pallasites are extremely rare and, indeed, they represent less than 0.2% of all known meteorites. The first Seymchan meteorites were found near a streambed in the Magadan district of Siberia — the location of Stalin’s infamous gulags. Most Seymchan meteorites are non-descript, prosaic masses until they are cut to reveal their splendor.

Given the amount of material lost during the grinding and polishing processes, to make a sphere of this size requires a mass nearly three times that of the sphere. A sphere provides a view of aspects of structure impossible to see in a flat surface, and now offered is a wondrous three-dimensional presentation of a pallasite — a specimen that can rightfully be considered an otherworldly crystal ball.

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.
3in. (7.7cm.) in diameter
6in. (15.5cm.) high on stand
1.28kg.
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
05.05.2021 – 25.05.2021
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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