Meteorite Udei Station 1,4g – Nigeria

Udei Station is an iron meteorite found in Nigeria that belongs to the rarer IAB meteorite group. Its name comes from the Udei railway station in Benue State, near where it fell. It is an observed fall from 1927, making it a relatively significant meteorite, as most iron meteorites were discovered long after their fall without any direct witnesses.

The meteorite consists primarily of an iron-nickel alloy, and when an etched section is examined, it reveals a beautiful Widmanstätten pattern typical of medium octahedrites. This structure formed through extremely slow cooling within the parent body over millions of years and is one of the main reasons why iron meteorites are so popular among collectors.

One of the most interesting features of the Udei Station meteorite is the silicate inclusions dispersed throughout the metallic matrix. These light-colored mineral formations contain minerals such as olivine, pyroxenes, and plagioclase. The presence of these inclusions has helped scientists better understand the formation of IAB complex meteorites and the evolution of their parent asteroids in the early Solar System.

The main recovered mass weighed approximately 103 kilograms. It was discovered several years after the fall in a shallow pit near the impact site. Due to the tropical climate of the region, any traces of the impact quickly disappeared through erosion and vegetation growth, so today the site no longer resembles the event that occurred in 1927.

For collectors, Udei Station is a highly attractive meteorite. It appears on the market far less frequently than well-known iron meteorites such as Gibeon or Sikhote-Alin. The most sought-after specimens are etched slices with a pronounced structure and pieces containing contrasting silicate inclusions, which give the meteorite its distinctive appearance.