Allende is the most studied meteorite in the world. Hundreds of scientific papers have been written about the meteorite and its components. The sample now offered contains tiny pre-solar grains that formed in the gaseous envelopes around dying stars long before the formation of our solar system 4.56 billion years ago. (Lots 6, 61 and 66 contain the same) . Also present in Allende are prominent white clasts, known as calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs), which are among the oldest materials formed within the solar system.

Allende fell to Earth on February 8, 1969 at 1:05 AM near Chihuahua, Mexico. Several new minerals have been discovered in Allende including a titanium oxide named panguite after the ancient Chinese god Pan Gu, the creator of the world who separated yin from yang, the earth from the sky.

This partial slice of Allende evidences fusion crust — formed during its fiery plunge through Earths’ atmosphere — along the length of its right edge with two small patches atop. Its charcoal-hued matrix is filled with a galaxy of inclusions including CAIs — the oldest matter mankind can touch — with an especially prominent example in the upper right corner. 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.


101 x 69 x 8mm (4 x 2.75 x 0.33 in.) and 112.7g (0.25 lbs)