Pride CI1 carbonaceous meteorite - Height: 2 mm - Width: 1.5 mm - 0.01 g - (1)

The Orgueil meteorite is one of the most precious and studied space rocks in the history of science. Fell in France on May 14, 1864, this CI1 carbonaceous chondrite is an exceptional witness to the primitive matter of our Solar System. It is at once extremely rare and of crucial scientific interest. It belongs to the rare group of CI1 carbonaceous chondrites, of which only a handful of examples are known on Earth, and it serves as an absolute reference for understanding the formation of the Solar System.

Rarity
• Less than 1% of meteorites found on Earth are CI-type carbonaceous chondrites.
• This group contains very few cataloged individuals worldwide, because these rocks are very rich in water and volatile compounds and readily disintegrate in the atmosphere or weather very quickly once on the ground.

A historical fall
• Precise date: May 14, 1864 around 8:00 p.m.
• Impact site: The municipality of Orgueil, near Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne).
• Phenomenon: A meteor traversed the Southwest sky and exploded at high altitude.
• Harvest: A rain of dark fragments fell over several kilometers.

A unique scientific composition
• Type CI1: An extremely rare class of carbonaceous chondrites (fewer than 10 cataloged worldwide).
• Chemical reference: Solar composition: Its overall chemical makeup is almost identical to that of the Sun, making it the ultimate reference (the 'Rosetta stone') of cosmic chemistry for studying the primitive nebula.
• Cometary origin: Analyses suggest it came from an ancient extinct comet.
• Water and carbon: It contains about 20% water bound in hydrous minerals and nearly 5% carbon, aligning with the nature of asteroids analyzed by recent space missions. [1, 2]
• Primitive origin: It has preserved traces of presolar dust (such as diamond grains or isotopic anomalies) from supernovae preceding the birth of our system.

Organic matter and the hoax
• Amino acids: It was the first meteorite to reveal extraterrestrial amino acids.
• The fake fossil: In 1961, an analysis revealed reed seeds and insect fragments inserted inside a fragment.
• The mystery solved: It was a hoax dating from the 19th century, probably designed to deceive scientists of the time about the presence of extraterrestrial life. The rock itself contains no trace of life.

To enrich my collection, a few years ago I had the opportunity to acquire about 0.5 g of this exceptional meteorite from well-known and reputable collectors.
You are bidding here on a fragment of about 8 mg of this incredible meteorite.
This fragment will be accompanied by 2 Certificates of Authenticity (mine and that of the renowned previous collector).

Beautiful, clearly visible specimen of 8 mg (2x1.5x1.5 mm) in a solid glass display case!
Buy with confidence, I have been collecting meteorites for over 35 years and I am IMCA member #7669 (International Meteorite Collector Association). Take advantage of the opportunity as I am gradually reorganizing my collection, which still includes several hundred specimens...

Alien Rocks Meteorites – The Alexandre Debienne Meteorite Collection since 1991!