THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PORTALES VALLEY METEORITE - photo 1
THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PORTALES VALLEY METEORITE - photo 2
THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PORTALES VALLEY METEORITE - photo 3

THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PORTALES VALLEY METEORITE

Sold
£ 44 100
Auction dateClassic
06.04.2022 14:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 737572
Lot 83 | THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PORTALES VALLEY METEORITE
Metal-rich specimen with large metal veins and near-flawless crust.

Portales Valley is a very rare meteorite, an iron-rich impact-breccia. Iron was liquified and filled the fractures after an impact, then solidified. This is now the remaining main mass, the two larger pieces having been cut up. It was found 48 hours after the fall by Skip Wilson, a famous meteorite hunter who amazingly had pieces fall on his farm. On 13 June 1998 after detonations were heard and smoky trails seen in the sky, a shower of meteorites landed near Portales, New Mexico. 53 objects were recovered, with a total mass of 71.4 kg. This is the largest example extant.

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.
150 mm x 130 mm x 145 mm
5026g.
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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