BRAHIN PALLASITE METEORITE

Lot 32
06.04.2022 14:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 10 710
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 737521
Lot 32 | BRAHIN PALLASITE METEORITE
Estimate value
£ 25 000 – 35 000
Chemically stabilized and was cut nearly 20 years ago. Small-to-medium peridot crystals, often shattered into angular or shard-like shapes are often brown to emerald green but mostly amber in colour.

Brahin is a pallasite, a stony-iron meteorite — the most uncommon class of meteorites (representing 0.2% of all meteorites) which are arguably the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Now offered is a section cut from such a meteorite. A mesmerizing mosaic of sparkling olivine and peridot crystals are showcased. Only the second known meteorite found in the Russian empire. Since that discovery in 1810, over 1000 kilograms of Brahin meteorites have been found. The designation, pallasite, is in honor of the German scientist, Peter Pallas, who discovered the first pallasitic mass in 1749 in Siberia. This is an honor Pallas is most fortunate to have received, for he fervently believed until his dying days that the unusual specimen he found could not possibly be from outer space

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.
160 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm (61/3 x 6 x 6 in.)
6.9kg.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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23.03.2022 – 06.04.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
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