Lot 106
Cape York
The Robert Elliott Meteorite Collection
Auction: 18 August 2009 at 15:00 BST
Description
Etched part slice
Dimensions
2.8kg, 23.4 x 32.2cm
Footnote
Cape York (Agpalilik, Greenland) IIIA Medium Octahedrite (iron) - found 1818
This meteorite was discovered by British explorer Captain John Ross after being shown knives and crude iron implements manufactured by the local Eskimos, who told him that they had removed the metal from a large iron 'rock' situated on the north shore. Bad weather prevented a proper search, but Ross already suspected that it was an iron meteorite.
76 years later, three large masses, weighing respectively 34 tons, 3 tons and 1100lbs, and named 'The Tent', 'The Woman' and 'The Dog' were found in Western Greenland by arctic explorer Robert E. Peary and later transported to New York.
Several more large masses have since been found and recovered from the strewnfield, including a 15-ton discovery at Agpalilik - this is thought to be the legendary 'Man' - the fourth member of the Cape York family.