COMPLETE MILLBILLILLIE METEORITE FROM THE ASTEROID VESTA - photo 1

COMPLETE MILLBILLILLIE METEORITE FROM THE ASTEROID VESTA

Sold
$ 9 375
Auction dateClassic
23.02.2021 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 491227
Lot 17 | COMPLETE MILLBILLILLIE METEORITE FROM THE ASTEROID VESTA
Extensive research points to Vesta, one of the largest asteroids at 555 km in diameter, as the parent body of this eucrite that fell onto Australia’s Outback in October 1960. After searches were later undertaken by aborigines (who left their government-subsidized jobs picking fruit to earn more collecting meteorites), further specimens of Millbillillie were recovered.

Millbillillie is a eucrite; it originated as a basalt flow on or near the surface of the second largest, and brightest, asteroid in the solar system — which at times is visible to the naked eye. Most scientists believe eucrites originate from Vesta because it is the only large asteroid with a basalt-covered surface. Data transmitted from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which orbited the asteroid Vesta in 2011 and 2012, support the conclusion of Vestan origin. And then there is the matter of a mammoth scoop of Vesta that is “missing” as a result of a cataclysmic impact with another asteroid. In counterpoint to the most primitive meteorite in this offering (see lot 70), Millbillillie is an achondrite: it does not contain chondrules. The chondritic material from which it originated underwent complete melting on Vesta.

This specimen itself evidences atmospheric frictional heating in three ways: patches of a glossy black “burnt sugar” fusion crust is seen as are aerodynamic regmaglypts on the reverse and flow lines—artifacts of the molten material flowing across the mass while the rock plunged through Earth’s atmosphere. The crust is further infused with a warm persimmon-hued band of terrestrial caliche (calcium carbonate), a signature of Millbillillie, courtesy of the Australian Outback. Embodying Millbillillie’s finest qualities, this is a select example of a legendary Australian meteorite.

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.


42 x 54 x 29mm (1.66 x 2 x 1 in.) and 115.8g (0.25 lbs)
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
09.02.2021 – 23.02.2021
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.