Lot 15
Gibeon ring/wedding band
The Robert Elliott Meteorite Collection Part II
Auction: 17 August 2011 at 15:00 BST
Description
rhodium plated
Dimensions
20mm diameter
Footnote
Gibeon (Namibian Desert, Africa) IVA (iron) - found 1836:
The Gibeon meteorite was first reported by a Captain J.E. Alexander in 1836. He heard of large masses of native iron on the east side of the Great Fish River and was able to obtain samples for analysis.
Europeans later established cattle ranches in the area and many more large iron meteorites were recognised and recovered.
When cut, polished and etched with acid, Gibeon reveals a beautiful and unique pattern called Widmanstatten figures - a crystal structure formed by nickel-rich and nickel-poor metallic bands as a result of an extremely low rate of cooling over thousands/millions of years. This Widmanstatten structure is absolute proof of a meteoric origin for many iron meteorites, as it is not something that can be copied or forged in a lifetime. Complete Gibeon meteorites exhibit large surface regmaglypts (thumbprint-like impressions) and twisted features, all evidence of being sculpted by a violent atmospheric passage.
This ring/wedding band has been fashioned from the Gibeon iron meteorite, etched to reveal the Widmanstatten crystal structure and electroplated in rhodium.
This example was shown to and briefly worn by Buzz Aldrin, NASA astronaut and the 2nd man to walk on the Moon, at a special dinner held at the Natural History Museum, London on 7th September 2000.