This remarkable and rare meteorite fragment was part of a group of meteorites that fell in prehistoric times in Namibia. Known as a Gibeon meteorite, this IVA-class octahedrite meteorite is comprised of an alloy of iron and nickel with significant amounts of cobalt and phosphorus. It is accompanied by a Gibeon cross-section slice displaying this otherworldly treasure's exceptional Widmanstätten pattern, which is highly prized for its unusual beauty. No other material on earth displays this pattern, and each Gibeon meteorite displays its own unique crystal arrangement.
Known as the “King of the Irons” for their incredible stability, the Gibeon meteorites were first reported in Great Namaqualand, Namibia, near the town of Gibeon, by Capt. J.E. Alexander in 1836. It is believed to have been derived from the core of an extinct planet that was blown apart approximately 4 billion of years ago during the formation of our solar system and pulled into Earth's atmosphere an estimated 30,000 years ago. Spread over a strewn field 70 miles wide by 230 miles long--one of the largest strewn fields in the world--Gibeon fragments are believed to have been first discovered by the Nama people who used them to make tools and weapons. After Alexander's discovery, large pieces were quickly found, the largest weighing over 1400 pounds, but smaller pieces such as this proved elusive until recently.
Circa 28,000 BC (Discovered by Europeans: 1836)
Fragment: 4 1/4” wide x 7 1/2” length x 3 1/4” high
Slice: 2” square
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