Sikhote-Alin meteorite Iron meteorite - Height: 97 mm - Width: 73 mm - 472 g
09
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Selected by Francesco Moser
Over 20 years collecting meteorites; former museum curator and experienced restorer.
Estimate € 1,400 - € 1,600
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Météorite de Sikhote-Alin, iron meteorite from Sikhote-Alin, Primorié, Russia; weight 472 g; dimensions 97 × 73 × 28 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
1. The Sikhote-Alin meteorite fall occurred on February 12, 1947 in the Russian Far East, in the Sikhote-Alin mountains (Primorye region).
Type: metallic meteorite (iron-rich)
Group: IIAB
Initial estimated mass: ≈ 90 to 100 tonnes
Recovered mass: ≈ 23 tonnes
This is the largest meteorite fall observed in modern history.
2. Course of the fall
Atmospheric entry
Velocity: about 14 km/s
Visible object: a fireball brighter than the Sun
Smoke trail: ~30 km, visible for several hours
Explosion and fragmentation
At about 5.6 km altitude, the meteorite violently disintegrates (airburst)
and ejects thousands of fragments
Impact on the ground
Dispersion zone: ~1.3 km²
Over 100 craters formed
Largest crater: 26 m in diameter, 6 m deep
Some fragments penetrated up to 6 meters into the frozen ground.
3. Composition and structure
The Sikhote-Alin meteorite is an excellent example of an iron meteorite.
Chemical composition
Iron (Fe): ~93%
Nickel (Ni): ~5.9%
Cobalt, phosphorus, sulfur (trace)
Internal structure
Type: coarse octahedrite
Constituents:
kamacite (iron-nickel alloy)
taenite
troilite, chromite, etc.
This structure reveals slow cooling in the metallic core of an ancient asteroid.
Fragment types
Two large categories distinguish:
"Individual" fragments
Rounded shape
Surface sculpted (impressions called regmaglypts)
Result of melting during atmospheric passage
"Shrapnel" fragments
Angular, torn shapes
Result of violent explosion
Appearance similar to metal splinters
5. Cosmic origin
Orbital analyses indicate that:
the object probably originated from the asteroid belt
its orbit was elliptical, crossing that of Earth
It was likely a fragment of the metallic core of a destroyed asteroid.
The proposed rough fragment underwent violent deformation visible as flow lines and a torsion of the metal at the edge.
This fragment weighs 473 g and measures 97x73x28 mm.
With certificate invoice.
1. The Sikhote-Alin meteorite fall occurred on February 12, 1947 in the Russian Far East, in the Sikhote-Alin mountains (Primorye region).
Type: metallic meteorite (iron-rich)
Group: IIAB
Initial estimated mass: ≈ 90 to 100 tonnes
Recovered mass: ≈ 23 tonnes
This is the largest meteorite fall observed in modern history.
2. Course of the fall
Atmospheric entry
Velocity: about 14 km/s
Visible object: a fireball brighter than the Sun
Smoke trail: ~30 km, visible for several hours
Explosion and fragmentation
At about 5.6 km altitude, the meteorite violently disintegrates (airburst)
and ejects thousands of fragments
Impact on the ground
Dispersion zone: ~1.3 km²
Over 100 craters formed
Largest crater: 26 m in diameter, 6 m deep
Some fragments penetrated up to 6 meters into the frozen ground.
3. Composition and structure
The Sikhote-Alin meteorite is an excellent example of an iron meteorite.
Chemical composition
Iron (Fe): ~93%
Nickel (Ni): ~5.9%
Cobalt, phosphorus, sulfur (trace)
Internal structure
Type: coarse octahedrite
Constituents:
kamacite (iron-nickel alloy)
taenite
troilite, chromite, etc.
This structure reveals slow cooling in the metallic core of an ancient asteroid.
Fragment types
Two large categories distinguish:
"Individual" fragments
Rounded shape
Surface sculpted (impressions called regmaglypts)
Result of melting during atmospheric passage
"Shrapnel" fragments
Angular, torn shapes
Result of violent explosion
Appearance similar to metal splinters
5. Cosmic origin
Orbital analyses indicate that:
the object probably originated from the asteroid belt
its orbit was elliptical, crossing that of Earth
It was likely a fragment of the metallic core of a destroyed asteroid.
The proposed rough fragment underwent violent deformation visible as flow lines and a torsion of the metal at the edge.
This fragment weighs 473 g and measures 97x73x28 mm.
With certificate invoice.
Details
Name of meteorite
Sikhote-Alin meteorite
Type of meteorite
Iron meteorite
Weight
472 g
Country of origin
Russia
Height
97 mm
Width
73 mm
Depth
28 cm
