NWA 1827 MESOSIDERITE METEORITE - photo 1

NWA 1827 MESOSIDERITE METEORITE

Lot 31
06.04.2022 14:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 5 292
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 737520
Lot 31 | NWA 1827 MESOSIDERITE METEORITE
Estimate value
£ 25 000 – 35 000
A large end piece from the main mass. The polished face displays an attractive salt-and-pepper-like panorama of silvery metal grains separated by darker silicates and silicate-rich clasts.

The mesosiderites are arguably the most enigmatic group of meteorites and scientists actively debate their formation. In short – scientists still don’t know how they formed. They possess a mixture of crustal silicates mixed with lots of metal. The metal was likely molten when it was mixed with the crustal silicates. Even more confusing is the fact that the metal shows that these meteorites cooled very slowly, only one degree every million years. This specimen is a spectacular example of a mesosiderite, Northwest Africa 1827. This is a rare type of mesosiderite that doesn’t match many others. It is part of a new subgroup called C2. It lacks olivine and the nickel content of the iron is unusually low. Large mesosiderites are rare and this one is among the larger pieces found. About 80 kilograms of this meteorite have been recovered, mostly as small fragments.

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.
315 mm x 210 mm x 40 mm (121/2 x 81/4 x 11/2 in.)
4.9kg.
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
23.03.2022 – 06.04.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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