Lot 28
Lot 28
SPRINGWATER METEORITE COMPLETE SLICE

Pallasite – PMG-AN; Saskatchewan, Canada – (52° 0'N, 108° 18'W)

Price Realised GBP 3,528
Estimate
GBP 4,000 - GBP 6,000
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SPRINGWATER METEORITE COMPLETE SLICE

Pallasite – PMG-AN; Saskatchewan, Canada – (52° 0'N, 108° 18'W)

Price Realised GBP 3,528
Price Realised GBP 3,528
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This exquisite slice is flawlessly prepared, polished on one side and polished and etched on the reverse revealing the Widmänstatten pattern.

The meteorite was discovered in 1931 in Saskatchewan Canada by farmers clearing rocks from fields.
The Springwater meteorite is a classic and historic pallasite. In the 1930’s locals made a living by selling this pallasite during the difficult times of the Great Depression. Several masses were found; sadly, the largest was thrown down a deep well and has been lost. In 2008 Michael Farmer found a hand drawn “treasure” map in the archives of the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University. The hand drawn map sent to Harvey Nininger, the most famous meteorite hunter/collector
of the age; the map was still in the envelope it was mailed in. This led Farmer’s team to Springwater to re-discover the lost strewn field. The team found many meteorites, this slice being cut from one of them. The largest mass was sold to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto as a national treasure of Canada. Once the government received the largest piece, the remainder was given export permits to leave Canada.
Springwater is well known for its stability, the nice small green- to golden-coloured
peridot crystals, and the rare phosphate mineral farringtonite, which was discovered in this meteorite.

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.
225 mm x 120 mm x 1.5 mm (878 x 434 x 18 in.)
202g.
Special notice
This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.
Brought to you by
James HyslopHead of Department, Science & Natural History
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

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Meteorites from the collection of Michael Farmer