Iron, fine octahedrite
Gibeon, Great Nama Land, Namibia
Diameter: 1.9 in. (4.8 cm)
Weight: 1.1 lbs. (500 g)

The intricate latticework of a Gibeon meteorite’s internal crystalline structure is revealed most dramatically in when exhibited in three dimensions—such as in a sphere, which inarguably makes this an extraterrestrial crystal ball. Like all crystal balls, the shape is the result of, in this instance, a Gibeon meteorite having been placed in a sphere-making machine. The pattern seen here is diagnostic in the identification of iron meteorites. The only environment where nickel-iron alloys can crystallize is in the vacuum of outer space. This piece measures 1.9 inches in diameter and weighs 1.1 pounds.