DRONINO METEORITE WITH NATURAL HOLE, 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. 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 natural perforation in the lower corner provides further embellishment. 109 x 73 x 23mm. (4¼ x 2¾ x 1 in.) and 477.9 g. (1 lbs)
A curious and atypical meteorite. 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. This specimen evidences the long, deep crenelated furrows of a quintessential Dronino meteorite.
Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalog note.
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The wavy, textured surface unique to Dronino meteorites is in evidence with long parallel furrows running the length of the specimen. 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 natural perforation in the lower corner provides further embellishment. 109 x 73 x 23mm. (4¼ x 2¾ x 1 in.) and 477.9 g. (1 lbs)
A curious and atypical meteorite. 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. This specimen evidences the long, deep crenelated furrows of a quintessential Dronino meteorite.
Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalog note.
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