Sikhote-Alin Oriented Russian Iron Meteorite Individual (with light lipping) 5.72g
Sikhote-Alin Oriented Russian Iron Meteorite Individual (with light lipping) 5.72g
The Sikhote-Alin meteorite is the largest observed fall in modern history. It was about 10:38am on the morning of February 12, 1947. The sky rained a shower of fireballs into the forest of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains. The fireball was as bright as the sun and cast moving shadows in broad daylight as it passed by observers. It's estimated that over 23,000 kilos of solid metal fell that morning, leaving a smoke trail that could be seen in the sky for hours! When the meteorite impacted the mountains, the explosion was so great that it was felt over 100 miles away. There are over 120 craters of different sizes from this one meteorite. The largest crater was 20 feet deep and 85 feet across. When the main mass exploded, it was like a shrapnel bomb went off. It blasted fragments in every direction. Pieces were even found embedded in the nearby surviving trees.
This is a beautiful, oriented individual with a very light lipping. Pieces like these are considered some of the more higher quality pieces from that fall.
The weight of this piece is 5.72 grams.
The measurements are about 25x12x6mm.