Lot 28
28
A COMPLETE DRONINO METEORITE — AN EXOTIC SAMPLE FROM INTERPLANETARY SPACE
These lots have been imported from outside the EU … Read more
A COMPLETE DRONINO METEORITE — AN EXOTIC SAMPLE FROM INTERPLANETARY SPACE

Iron, ataxite (ungrouped)Ryazan district, Russia (54° 44' N, 41° 25' E

Details
A COMPLETE DRONINO METEORITE — AN EXOTIC SAMPLE FROM INTERPLANETARY SPACE
Iron, ataxite (ungrouped)
Ryazan district, Russia (54° 44' N, 41° 25' E
The wavy, textured surface unique to Dronino meteorites is in evidence with long parallel furrows running the length of the specimen — with a deep furrow at the base. The surface is sheathed in a platinum-hued patina — the result of a centuries-long interaction of this meteorite’s unique chemical composition with that of moist earth. A singularly atypical meteorite, this is a select Dronino specimen.
5 1/3 x 3¾ x 2in. (137 x 97 x49mm.)
1.71kg
Provenance
Macovich Collection of Meteorites, New York
Special Notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

While 89% of iron meteorites are members of established chemical groups, the other 11% are chemically unrelated. Dronino is one of these exotic, ungrouped irons, which is to imply it originated from an otherwise unknown parent asteroid. Dronino meteorites fell approximately 20 kilometers from an ancient town founded in 1152. As nothing was ever written about what would have been the memorable event of a fireball accompanied by sonic booms and smoke trails, it can be inferred Dronino‘s arrival occurred when the area was unpopulated. Given the extent of terrestrial sculpting seen, a descent to Earth more than a millennium ago can be confidently fixed. The first Dronino meteorite was discovered by a mushroom hunter in Russia in 2000. This specimen evidences the long, deep crenellated furrows of a quintessential Dronino meteorite.

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