A GIBEON METEORITE CRYSTAL — EXTRATERRESTRIAL STEEL

Among the most spectacular iron meteorites known are the Gibeons found in Namibia’s Kalahari Desert. Although familiar to the natives, who had hammered small pieces into weapons and tools, the Gibeon meteorite was not known to westerners until about 1836. Gibeon crystallized deep in the molten iron core of an asteroid. An enormous impact event later shattered this asteroid and ejected the Gibeon mass into interplanetary space where it resided for millions of years until it impacted Earth. Gibeon meteorites are comprised primarily of two iron-nickel alloys whose molecules slowly organized into their crystalline octahedral habit. Exposure to the elements during a residency on Earth for thousands of years is not the most hospitable environment for meteorites. As a result of expanding and contracting from heating and cooling, some Gibeon iron meteorites slowly split along their crystalline planes (see lot 9). This example is not only defined by its crystalline cleavage but the very process of splitting is also in evidence.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note.