Park Forest Meteorite & Impact Crater Ordinary Chondrite, L5...

Park Forest Meteorite & Impact Crater Ordinary Chondrite, L5 Cook County, Illinois, USA - (41° 29' 5"N, 87° 40' 45"W) Witnessed Fall: March 26, approx. 23:50 hrs local time Not only does this offering represent a witnessed fall, but it also includes an associated IMPACT CRATER. This most unusual, uncommon, and rarer association provides a most important context. Some 20 years ago, the village of Park Forest, Illinois – outside of the city of Chicago – was treated to a fireball from the sky seen by numerous observers on the night of March 26, 2003. Several homes, and even a fire station, were impacted by stones. One such meteorite hit the street, bounced off the finder's home then ended up landing in the freshly mowed front yard. That next morning, after hearing the report during the early morning news, the finder walked out to get the morning paper and, while walking back up the driveway, saw the stone on the lawn and then recovered what was the very FIRST from that Park Forest meteorite fall. With asphalt fused to the stone, the example of the L5 Chondrite weighing 886.2 grams (1.9 pounds) is a wonderful and complex specimen featuring partial fusion crust, brecciated grainy texture, angular clasts, and dark pockets of impact melt. A section of asphalt where the meteorite impacted the Earth comes as the second part of this unique offering. The impact site is readily visible on the block, and, of course, the meteorite specimen fits into the shallow and irregular indentation. The slab is relatively thick and heavy, with a conglomerate nature consistent with pavement. Indeed, this is no "ordinary" Ordinary Chondrite. The contrast of light grayish portions of the extraterrestrial rock against black sections is quite dramatic. Measurements: 4.63 x 3.43 x 2.59 inches (11.77 x 8.72 x 6.58 cm), weighs 886.2 grams HID09710052018 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved