47. AGOUDAL — COMPLETE SLICE OF AN IRON METEORITE
Iron meteorite – IIAB
Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco
Found 2000 / 100 kg
The Agoudal iron meteorite is a member of the relatively rare IIAB chemical group, the same as Sikhote Alin (see lot 7). The fact they possess the same chemical signature indicates they originated from the same parent asteroid. Sikhote-Alin took the longer route to Earth; it dropped-in about 75 years ago while Agoudal was more of a rush and arrived in the Sahara approximately 100,000 years ago.
Evoking an otherworldly mosaic, the coarse crystalline structure seen is a result of a modest percentage of nickel (5.5%). As the nickel content of a meteorite increases, so does the fineness of its crystalline structure — up to a point. Showcasing the large-grained crystalline structure of Agoudal meteorites, two distinct troilite inclusions as well as several silvery filaments of schreibersite are also featured in this compelling complete slice.
255 x 211 x 3mm (10 x 8.33 x 0.1 in.) and 977.3g (2 lbs)
Estimate $2,500 – 3,500 * No Reserve