LARGE FORMAT MESOSIDERITE COMPLETE SLICE — NWA 15346 - photo 1

LARGE FORMAT MESOSIDERITE COMPLETE SLICE — NWA 15346

Lot 64
28.03.2023 11:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 9 450
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 927055
Lot 64 | LARGE FORMAT MESOSIDERITE COMPLETE SLICE — NWA 15346
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
Exceedingly similar to lot 55 which was adjoining the complete slice offered here. There are three different types of meteorites: Stones (see lots 49, 59 and 60), Irons (see lots 15, 46 and 47) and the smallest group, a combination of the two, Stony-irons. There are two classes of stony irons, pallasites, which contain extraterrestrial gemstones (see lots 4, 20, 41 and 44) and mesosiderites — like the specimen now offered. Pallasites are known to originate from the mantle/core boundary of an asteroid. Mesosiderites, however, are still somewhat of an enigma. The most widely accepted theory of mesosiderite formation is they result from an impact of a semi-molten metallic core of a previously shattered asteroid with the basaltic surface of a larger, intact asteroid.

NWA 15346 was found in 2020 and is exceedingly fresh. The exterior rim of the specimen exhibits a desert varnish. The cut surface reveals pervasive fine-grained metal and sulfide inclusions and a bounty of dark fine-grained silicates. Scattered larger silicates accent this otherworldly abstraction. The silicates are primarily comprised of pyroxene with a bit of plagioclase and trace amounts of silica, merrillite, chromite and schreibersite. Segregated metal and some brecciation is in evidence. All of the aforementioned result in NWA 15346 — the 15,246th meteorite from the North West African grid of the Sahara to be recovered, analyzed, classified and published — being assigned a B2 classification. While mesosiderites represent less than 0.5% of all meteorites, the B2 class is more rare still: of the 316 documented mesosiderites, only nine are designated B2. Moreover, NWA 15346 is the 11th largest mesosiderite on record and now offered is among the largest complete slices of a mesosiderite available — a large format example of an exquisite, enigmatic 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.

438 x 311 x 3mm (17.25 x 12.25 x 0.1 in.) and 1391 grams (3 lbs)
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
28.03.2023
27.03.2023
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

Related terms

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.