Holbrook — The Oriented Meteorite Depicted in Foote’s 1912 Abstract and the Original Abstract
L6
Navajo County, Arizona
Similar to the previous lot—but far larger. It was on July 19th around dinnertime that multiple detonations in the sky drew dozens of people to the Aztec Rail Yard along the Santa Fe Railway in Holbrook, Arizona, where the majority of Holbrook meteorites were recovered. The largest meteorite weighed 14 pounds, but most were the size of peppercorns (see previous description).
The most distinctive characteristic of the lot offered here is that it is oriented; it did not tumble along its vertical axis during its descent through the atmosphere. Appropriately, this meteorite is replete with telltale flow lines and rivulets of what was molten material rippling across the meteorite’s broad obverse surface. The reverse possesses a very different character due to the fact that a low-pressure area forms on the far side of an oriented meteorite during its descent. Indeed, evidence of pooled molten material that came to a boil is plainly seen in this example. This oriented stone meteorite is noteworthy for yet another reason: its image appears twice in Arthur Foote's renowned monograph Preliminary Note on the Shower of Meteoritic Stones at Aztec, Near Holbrook, Navajo County, Arixona (1912) devoted to the Holbrook meteorite shower.
This distinguished meteorite is marked on the reverse with two catalog numbers of unknown origin, “9243” and “0805-6.” On the obverse a label reads, “HOLBROOK Figs.11&12.”, which is consistent with the numbered illustrations in the Foote monograph. This is a historic, exemplary specimen from a famous American meteorite shower. An original copy of the Foote monograph is included in this offering.(2)
127 x 81 x 37mm (5 x 3 x 1.5in) and 604 grams (1.3 pounds)
Navajo County, Arizona
Similar to the previous lot—but far larger. It was on July 19th around dinnertime that multiple detonations in the sky drew dozens of people to the Aztec Rail Yard along the Santa Fe Railway in Holbrook, Arizona, where the majority of Holbrook meteorites were recovered. The largest meteorite weighed 14 pounds, but most were the size of peppercorns (see previous description).
The most distinctive characteristic of the lot offered here is that it is oriented; it did not tumble along its vertical axis during its descent through the atmosphere. Appropriately, this meteorite is replete with telltale flow lines and rivulets of what was molten material rippling across the meteorite’s broad obverse surface. The reverse possesses a very different character due to the fact that a low-pressure area forms on the far side of an oriented meteorite during its descent. Indeed, evidence of pooled molten material that came to a boil is plainly seen in this example. This oriented stone meteorite is noteworthy for yet another reason: its image appears twice in Arthur Foote's renowned monograph Preliminary Note on the Shower of Meteoritic Stones at Aztec, Near Holbrook, Navajo County, Arixona (1912) devoted to the Holbrook meteorite shower.
This distinguished meteorite is marked on the reverse with two catalog numbers of unknown origin, “9243” and “0805-6.” On the obverse a label reads, “HOLBROOK Figs.11&12.”, which is consistent with the numbered illustrations in the Foote monograph. This is a historic, exemplary specimen from a famous American meteorite shower. An original copy of the Foote monograph is included in this offering.(2)
127 x 81 x 37mm (5 x 3 x 1.5in) and 604 grams (1.3 pounds)
Sold for
US$ 15,535
inc. premium
Category: Natural History
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