GIBEON METEORITE SPHERE
8360 gram 126 millimeters
Discovered in Great Namaqualand, Namibia Africia in 1836 by indigenous Aborigines in the area who brought stone to Captian James Alexander. Captian Alexander sent a specimen of the Gibeon meteorite to London, where it was confirmed as a meteorite by the astronomer John Herschel. Later research has determined the fall date to have been between 5,000 and 30,000 years ago
Gibeon meteorites are composed of 91.8% Iron, 7.7% Nickel, .5% Cobalt, .04% Phosphorus 2.4 PPM Iridium, 1.97 PPM Gallium and 0.111 PPM Germanium. Classified as a IVA Fine Octahedrite Iron Meteorite. Radiometric dating places the age of crystallization of the iron-nickel metal in the Gibeon at 4 billion years.
Widmanstatten lines and patterns are the result of crystallization of Iron Nickel alloys as it cooled with zero gravity in the vacuum of space over millions of years. When etching slices with dilute nitric acid the Iron Nickel alloys are disolved at different rates due to there density revealing the crystal stucture of the meteorite.
The recent ban on export and sale of meteoric discoveries by the Namibian Government assures Gibeon Meteorite value to continue to increase.
GIBEON METEORITE SPHERE
8360 gram 126 millimeters
INVESTING
If you wanted to trim it down and regrind into perfect sphere you would be left with a lot of meteorite pieces (approximately 20 to 30 pieces various sizes) and a perfect sphere over 100mm. The pictures show the the depth of the two deepest inclusions 4mm and 11mm.
If you check completed auction prices on Gibeon Meteorite spheres at upscale auction houses you will see the value in this auction.
COLLECTING
I Think it looks great with the contrasting crust parts and has definitely been my favorite of the pieces that i have had. I bought it at the San Mateo Gem & Mineral Show 25 years ago the moment I picked it up and felt how oddly heavy. I collected spheres and have picked up thousands between Quartzsite , Tuscan Gem and Mineral Shows for years this is my favorite.
That was the day I started collecting Meteorites.
Is 1 millimeter smaller then largest "shotput ball" and wieghs 2.43 pounds more.
Would benefit greatly from a professional etching by someone with proven success with Gibeon Meteorite.
Discovered in Great Namaqualand, Namibia Africia in 1836 by indigenous Aborigines in the area who brought stone to Captian James Alexander. Captian Alexander sent a specimen of the Gibeon meteorite to London, where it was confirmed as a meteorite by the astronomer John Herschel. Later research has determined the fall date to have been between 5,000 and 30,000 years ago
Gibeon meteorites are composed of 91.8% Iron, 7.7% Nickel, .5% Cobalt, .04% Phosphorus 2.4 PPM Iridium, 1.97 PPM Gallium and 0.111 PPM Germanium. Classified as a IVA Fine Octahedrite Iron Meteorite. Radiometric dating places the age of crystallization of the iron-nickel metal in the Gibeon at 4 billion years.
Widmanstatten lines and patterns are the result of crystallization of Iron Nickel alloys as it cooled with zero gravity in the vacuum of space over millions of years. When etching slices with dilute nitric acid the Iron Nickel alloys are disolved at different rates due to there density revealing the crystal stucture of the meteorite.
The recent ban on export and sale of meteoric discoveries by the Namibian Government assures Gibeon Meteorite value to continue to increase.