Carbonaceous chondrite – CV3; Chihuahua, Mexico (26°58' N, 105°19' W)

Similar to lot 23. Calcium and aluminum-rich minerals were among the very first materials to have condensed out of the gaseous solar nebular cloud from which our solar system sprung. They are the primary components of CAIs (calcium aluminum inclusions). While these inclusions occur in every type of chondrite, they are most abundant in carbonaceous meteorites. Most CAIs are less than a millimeter in size; 99%+ are less than a centimeter. The very largest appear in CV3 carbonaceous chondrites like Allende. Seen in the upper quadrant of this specimen, and measuring 2cm in diameter, which makes it amongst the largest particles of the oldest matter that humankind can touch.

Allende is the most studied meteorite in the world. Hundreds of scientific papers have been written about the meteorite and what is a veritable galaxy of various components. Allende also contains tiny pre-solar grains that condensed in the gaseous envelopes circling dying stars, long before the formation of our solar system 4.56 billion years ago. (Lots 1, 8 and 46 contain the same.)

Allende fell to Earth on February 8, 1969 at 1:05 AM near Chihuahua, Mexico. Several new minerals have been discovered in Allende including the 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 endpiece evidences large patches of fusion crust on its reverse which formed as a result of frictional heating during its plunge through Earth’s atmosphere. The cut and polished surface reveals a graphite-hued matrix packed with inclusions including the prominent CAI previously referred to. 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.

(Image 3, The micrograph of Allende by Neil Buckland is not part of this lot.)

132 x 109 x 27mm (5.25 x 4.25 x 1 in.) and 505.6g (1 lb).