Meteorite Saint-Aubin 4,9g – France
Type: Iron meteorite / IIIAB
Locality: Aube Champagne, France
Weight: 4,9g
Dimensions: 29 x 18 x 1 mm
Year of found: 1968
Total known weight: 6 tonnes
Surface treatment: cut, polished slice
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (8,4 x 5,8 x 2,4 cm)
| Category: | Saint-Aubin |
|---|---|
| By name: | Saint Aubin |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Cut |
| Packaging: | In box |
Free gift
For order over 20 $
Shipping within 2 working days
Saint-Aubin Meteorite – Iron Meteorite with Distinct Patterns from France
The Saint-Aubin meteorite is a large iron meteorite, discovered in the Saint-Aubin region of France. It belongs to the IIIAB class of iron meteorites, which places it among meteorites with a high iron and nickel content. It is estimated to have fallen to Earth approximately 55,000 years ago.
Discovery History and Finds
The Saint-Aubin meteorite was discovered in 1968 during agricultural work, when a farmer encountered a large piece of ferrous material. Subsequent excavations led to the discovery of additional fragments. In 2018, modern searches using metal detectors led to the discovery of many more pieces. Among the largest discovered fragments are pieces weighing 472 kg and 177 kg. The total mass of all fragments found exceeds 6 tons, making Saint-Aubin one of the largest iron meteorites in France.
Composition and Structure
Saint-Aubin is an iron meteorite with a high content of nickel and gold, but a low content of iridium. After cutting and etching, it shows attractive Widmanstätten patterns. Its composition also includes minerals such as sarcopside and graftonite and up to 6 cm long needles of schreibersite. It may also exhibit signs of shock structures, such as Neumann lines and shock “crosshatched” kamacite.