The natural exterior surface of this meteorite is covered in fusion crust (the result of burning through Earth’s atmosphere). The crust is tinted in a palette of cocoa-hues with darker accents—a patina acquired from having been exposed to the elements while laying on Earth’s surface. The cut and polished interior face is also rendered in deep earthen hues, but accented with flecks of metal. The original Nininger catalog label “92.538” is evident.
63 x 75 x 29mm. (2½ x 3 x 1in.)

225.9g. (½ lbs)

Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University
H.H. Nininger Collection of Meteorites

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Lot Essay

First discovered in 1915, the Plainview site was visited nearly twenty years later by the man who would later be called “The Father of Meteoritics”, H.H. Nininger. Dr. George Merrill of the Smithsonian, discouraged Nininger to search the area as he felt there was little likelihood of recovering additional material. Nininger was nothing if not determined, and he recovered hundreds of additional meteorites including the current offering. This triangular half-stone reveals the both the interior and exterior of a Plainview meteorite. “92.538” seen on the side of the specimen is the actual Nininger catalog number and this specimen is listed on page 85 of the Nininger Collection of Meteorites hardback edition of 1950.

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 catalog note.