46. PARTIAL SLICE OF MESOSIDERITE — NWA 15346
MES-B2
The Sahara Desert, Western Sahara
Found 2020 / TKW: 67.5 kg
For decades the formation of mesosiderites baffled investigators. The leading model of mesosiderite formation is that the liberated semi-molten core of one asteroid collides with the basaltic surface of a larger asteroid. NWA 15346 was found in 2020 and is exceedingly fresh. The exterior rim of the specimen exhibits a desert varnish. The cut surface exhibits fine-grained metal and sulfide inclusions and a bounty of dark fine-grained silicates. While mesosiderites represent less than 0.5% of all meteorites, the B2 class is more rare still: of the 379 documented mesosiderites, only ten have the B2 designation.
110 x 59 x 4mm (4.33 x 2.33 x 0.1 inches) and 102.9g (0.25 lbs).
Provenance:
Stifler Collection of Meteorites
Estimate $800 – 1,200 * No Reserve