Lot 77
Kapoeta
The Robert Elliott Meteorite Collection Part II
Auction: 17 August 2011 at 15:00 BST
Description
fragment
Dimensions
0.4g
Footnote
Kapoeta (Equatoria, Sudan) Howardite (stone) - fell 22nd April 1942:
The Kapoeta meteorite fell in front of an armoured column in the Sudan during WWII.
Kapoeta is a howardite, an extremely rare brecciated achondrite formed on the surface of the parent body. In the case of Kapoeta, this is believed to be asteroid VESTA, one of the largest and brightest known asteroids. Howardites are basically the surface layer or "soil" of the asteroid, comprised of different types of meteorites that have slammed into the surface and resolidified under pressure. The new surface rock then contains a fragmented mixture of diogenites, eucrites and chondritic material all in one. This is a very hard meteorite to obtain and one which is highly prized among collectors.
Provenance: Dupont Collection, Planetary Studies Foundation, Illinois