Fossils and Related
Munionalusta Meteorite Slice with Beautiful Widmanstatten Pattern
Slice of Iron-Nickel Munionalusta Meteorite from Norrboten, Sweden.
Munionalusta is an iron-nickel meteorite found in Sweden in 1906, and since then additional meteorites have been found in one of the largest strewnfields on Earth, covering 30 x 10 kilometers. Munionalusta is classified as a fine octahedrite and has one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns when it is etched. Widmanstatten patterns form when the two alloys of nickel, Kamacite and Taenite, separate in the iron core of the large asteroid that was destroyed by collision with another large asteroid in the asteroid belt billions of years ago. This separation and pattern form only when the iron core cools at a rate of only a few degrees per million years and is not found on any iron-nickel stones on earth. This large, 7.25" x 2.5", 227-gram meteorite section has been etched on both sides and displays one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns found on any iron-nickel meteorite--it is very similar to the pattern found on the Gibeon meteorite which is probably from the same parent asteroid body.
Munionalusta Meteorite Slice with Beautiful Widmanstatten Pattern
Slice of Iron-Nickel Munionalusta Meteorite from Norrboten, Sweden.
Munionalusta is an iron-nickel meteorite found in Sweden in 1906, and since then additional meteorites have been found in one of the largest strewnfields on Earth, covering 30 x 10 kilometers. Munionalusta is classified as a fine octahedrite and has one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns when it is etched. Widmanstatten patterns form when the two alloys of nickel, Kamacite and Taenite, separate in the iron core of the large asteroid that was destroyed by collision with another large asteroid in the asteroid belt billions of years ago. This separation and pattern form only when the iron core cools at a rate of only a few degrees per million years and is not found on any iron-nickel stones on earth. This large, 7.25" x 2.5", 227-gram meteorite section has been etched on both sides and displays one of the most beautiful Widmanstatten patterns found on any iron-nickel meteorite--it is very similar to the pattern found on the Gibeon meteorite which is probably from the same parent asteroid body.
Images
Click on thumbnails to see larger images:
Additional lots in this auction
Similar lots up for auction
Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 18th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
