1.15" Polished Mesosiderite Meteorite Slice (17.3 g) - NWA 4576

This is a 1.15" wide (17.3 gram) mesosiderite meteorite slab from NWA 4576. This piece has been cut flat and polished to a glossy finish on one side, revealing the spectacular inner metallic inclusions.

NWA 4576 is a mesosiderite meteorite that was discovered in January of 2005 in Northwest Africa. The total mass of this meteor was greater than 30 kgs.

About Mesosiderites

Mesosiderites are a rare kind of stony-iron meteorite: only 208 are known, and over a quarter of them have been found in Antarctica. Only 7 mesosidertite falls have ever been witnessed, and what meteorites are found tend to be large masses.

They are characterized by an almost even proportion of metallic nickel-iron and silicates, and often have irregular, brecciated textures. They contain many compositional similarities to diogenites and eucrites from 4 Vesta. Some scientists believe they are sourced from the smaller asteroid 16 Psyche.

Perhaps the most well-known mesosiderite is the Vaca Muerta fall in Chile, which has produced well over 3 metric tons of material since its recognition as a meteorite in the 19th century. Other well-known mesosiderites include the Estherville meteorite, which fell in Iowa in 1879; the Lowicz fall in Poland in 1935; and the famous Chinguetti meteorite out of Mauritania.
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DETAILS
TYPE
Mesosiderite
LOCATION
Northwest Africa
SIZE
1.15 x 1.05", .2" thick, 17.3 grams
CATEGORY
ITEM
#286239