Nantan meteorite (iron nickel)

Item Description

A sharp, large octahedral crystal of iron meteorite, naturally crystallized! Crystals of any size in meteorites are super rare and this meteorite is famous for them, and comes from a 1516 fall in China. The fall site was not discovered until much later, in 1958. Many collectors have referred to these as Kamacite, an iron mineral, although an extraterrestrial version. From literature on a card passed around with these when many were sold at tucson years ao by Rob Sielecki from Australia: "Nantan iron meteorites represent one of the rare witnessed iron meteorite falls in the world. The fall was vividly recorded (in Chinese records): "During summertime in May of Emperor Zhengde's 11th year, stars fell from the northwest direction, five-to six-fold long, waving like snakes and dragons. They were bright as lightning and disappeared in seconds.' "These records show the meteorite to have fallen in the year 1516 AD. The specimens have a coarse octahedral structure, and contain 92.35% iron and 6.96% nickel, belonging to IIICD classification of Wasson et al (1980's)." This bright, very sharply shaped specimen weighs 170 grams. It is a rare example of crystalline material from off the earth, and also a fine native iron specimen!