Meteorite Muonionalusta sphere 2 cm – Norrbotten, Sweden
Perfect meteorite ball with a diameter of 2 cm.
It has beautiful Widmanstätten patterns all over its surface.
Type: iron meteorite, octahedrite IVA
Locality: Norrbotten, Sweden
Weight: 31-34g
Size: 2 cm
Year found: 1906
Total known weight: 230 kg
Please note: The photo is for illustrative purposes only, all marbles look almost identical including the very similar distinctive pattern.
| Category: | Muonionalusta |
|---|---|
| By name: | Muonionalusta |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Cut |
| Packaging: | None |
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Muonionalusta Meteorite – One of the Oldest Known Meteorite Falls on Earth
The Muonionalusta meteorite is estimated to have fallen to Earth around one million years BCE, making it one of the oldest known meteorite falls. It originates from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and its age is estimated at over 4.5 billion years. This belt contains many asteroids and meteorites that sometimes break off and travel through space until they eventually impact Earth. Muonionalusta is a fragment of one such asteroid that survived atmospheric entry and struck Earth's surface.
Discovery and Classification
The first fragment of this meteorite was discovered in 1906, with others found during the 20th and 21st centuries, some weighing up to several hundred kilograms. It is classified as a fine octahedrite of type IVA and is especially known for its striking Widmanstätten patterns, which are irregular iron-nickel crystal structures. These patterns form through the slow cooling of metal in space. Not all iron meteorites display these patterns. To reveal them, the surface must be polished and etched with diluted nitric acid, preferably mixed with methanol.
Composition
Muonionalusta consists of approximately 91% iron, 8.4% nickel, trace amounts of rare elements such as gallium, germanium, and iridium, and various minerals.