EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE - photo 1

EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE

Sold
$ 13 860
Auction dateClassic
23.02.2022 00:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 716412
Lot 27 | EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL — SEYMCHAN METEORITE SPHERE
Similar to lot 60 but smaller. The most beautiful extraterrestrial substances known are pallasites, formed at the boundary of the stony mantle and molten metal core of an asteroid. This material was liberated when the parent asteroid shattered following an impact with another asteroid — and a very small bit landed on Earth. As one might expect, samples of a boundary region within an asteroid are extremely rare and, indeed, they represent only about 0.2% of all known meteorites.

A sphere provides a perspective impossible to see on 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. Older than Earth, dazzling crystals of olivine and peridot (birthstone of August) are seen to great effect in this crystal ball 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.

39mm (1.5 in.) in diameter and 147.3g (0.33 lbs)
Category:Meteorite, Sphere
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.02.2022 – 23.02.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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