Iron, medium octahedrite – IIIAB; Ayacucho, Peru – (14°40' S, 74°30' W)

Tambo Quemado was discovered in 1949 in a remote part of the Andes. Brought to Lima in 1950, it was recovered by indigenous natives who traded the unique metallic stone for cement to build a school. Like Cape York (see lot 26), Tambo Quemado was classified as a IIIAB iron meteorite. Tambo’s unique crystalline structure, however, was determined to be the result of terrestrial reheating — most likely an attempt by natives to melt the meteorite for its iron. A meteorite’s etch can become less robust when terrestrially reheated, but not in this instance; this superlative partial slice features a dramatic etch on both sides. Prominently visible is an armored troilite inclusion as well as a small circular concavity featuring the meteorite’s external surface — clearly the bottom of a socket-like hollow in the mass. This is a choice partial slice of a meteorite with a matchless etch pattern. Modern cutting.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

100 x 129 x 5mm (5 x 4 x 0.1 in.) and 487.8 grams (1 lb)