Sikhote-Alin shrapnel fragment lucite pyramid!
Presented by Geoff of Meteorite Men, the award-winning television series

Description: Iron meteorite from the Sikhote-Alin crater field
Class: Iron meteorite, coarsest octahedrite, type IIAB
Approximate dimensions of pyramid: 3" wide x 4.5" tall
Date and location of fall: Feb. 12, 1947. Maritime Provinces, Russia
Notes: Shrapnel specimen encapsulated in alluring crystal clear pyramid

The Sikhote-Alin meteorite fall, during the winter of 1947, was the largest recorded meteorite impact on earth in modern times. The daytime fireball and subsequent crater-forming event were witnessed by rural farmers in a remote part of eastern Siberia, near the Sikhote-Alin mountains — the range which gives this highly collectible meteorite its name. The Russian Academy of Sciences investigated the fall zone during a series of expeditions in the late 1940s, and approximately 100 separate meteorite craters were identified in a densely wooded area.

This meteorite specimen acquired its unique surface characteristics during flight through our own atmosphere. It is known as a shrapnel specimen — a fragment which exploded during flight, due to atmospheric pressure or collision with another meteorite.

All specimens we sell are guaranteed 100% authentic and as described. Your shrapnel specimen will be similar to the one photographed, but not exact. Meteorite sales directly fund future expeditions and research which, in turn, generate new published works and television documentaries. Display stands and scale cube not included.

[pictured above] The eminent Russian meteorite scientist E.L. Krinov traveled to the crater field in the 1940s. Shown here is the cover of his book about the Sikhote-Alin event—an illustration by the Russian painter Medvedev who witnessed the event—and one of Krinov's own diagrams showing the sequence of the meteorites' fall to Earth. The book is an extremely rare edition, published in Moscow in 1981 (reference purposes only, not included in auction).

Sikhote-Alin is described as a witnessed fall, in that its arrival on our planet was seen by credible observers. Witnessed falls are very rare, as are iron meteorites. Irons account, statistically, for only about 1 in 7 of all known meteorites. Witnessed iron falls are therefore extremely unusual, and only a small number have been documented by science.

Geoff is lucky enough to be friends with the professional meteorite hunters who worked at the Sikhote-Alin strewnfield, and this excellent specimen comes directly from the finders in Russia. Intensive hunting over the years has depleted the strewnfield and very few new specimens are being recovered. Sikhote-Alin is one of the best and most collectible meteorites available today. 

MEET THE SELLER: Geoff Notkin hosts the Science Channel's award-winning hit series Meteorite Men, a show that has aired in thirty countries around the world, and inspired and educated literally millions of people. He is the managing member of Aerolite Meteorites, LLC, the world's foremost provider of high quality meteorite specimens, a meteorite specialist, science writer, photographer and television host. Geoff has been actively involved in meteorite research and recovery since 1994 and has traveled the world in search of these elusive space rocks. In addition to Meteorite Men, Geoff has guest-starred on American Chopper, Ancient Aliens, Globe Trekker and numerous television documentaries including The Travel Channel's The Best Places to Find Cash & Treasures with Becky Worley; Wired Science for PBS; National Geographic's Naked Earth: Our Atmosphere; How the Earth Was Made for History Channel, and in Cosmic Collisions for the Discovery Channel.

He has been been interviewed about meteorite science by The Washington Post, The Huffington Post and Space.com, guested on the Today show, Coast to Coast, and appeared in numerous other TV shows for NASA, the BBC, TLC, History Channel, and other networks. The minor planet 132904, discovered at Mount Palomar, was named "Notkin" in recognition of Geoff's contributions to science and education and he is on the advisory board of Deep Space Industries, a private sector space exploration company.

Geoff is a widely published author specializing in meteorite studies, invertebrate paleontology, astronomy, history, adventure travel, technology and the arts. His autobiography, Rock Star: Adventures of a Meteorite Man was described by Astronomy magazine as "a fantastic blend of adventure story, meteorites, rock 'n' roll, and everything else that's fun in life," and his groundbreaking first book Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space won an IPPY Award as one of the best independently-published science books of 2012. Geoff's work has also appeared in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy Now, USA Today, All About Space, Meteorite magazine, Wired, Meteoryt (Poland), Geotimes, Reader's Digest, Rock & Gem, Seed, Mechanical Engineering, Lapidary Journal, The Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites, New York Press, The Village Voice and many other national and international publications.

Geoff is a fellow of the world famous Explorers Club and a member in good standing of the International Meteorite Collectors' Association (IMCA), the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences (AAPS), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), and the Society of Southwestern Authors (SSA).

Aerolite Meteorites, LLC guarantees the authenticity of every specimen we offer for sale!

You cannot get a better provenance than buying directly from The Meteorite Men!

SHIPPING DETAILS

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International shipping by USPS Priority Mail $32.95

Shipping discounts available on multiple orders.
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