This meteorite is one of the biggest meteorite falls in recorded history. It was felt over 300km away with a bolide that the witnesses describe as brighter than the Sun. It crossed the atmosphere at 14km/s above the Sikhote Alin mountains. The fall happened in Russian fast East, close the the China border at 10:38 h local time the 12 February 1947. Sikhote Alin is classified as IIAB octahedrite iron meteorite. Iron meteorites come from the core of dead asteroids. In them the heavy elements sunk to the center due to gravity. The asteroids were then destroyed by impacts with other bodies, releasing the iron core to space. Iron meteorites are alloys of iron and nickel mainly although they contain other trace elements. Sikhote Alin fragmented in its descent until the pressure of the atmosphere was so high that made it explode. The event left mainly 2 types of meteorites, one with smooth surfaces due to the higher time being ablated and one with intricate shapes due to the explosion. This specimen comes from the fragmentation of the meteor that produced shaprnel pieces. The second picture represents the fall of the Sikhote Alin meteorite by a local artist that witnessed the event. It is just informative and is not inlcuded in the sale of this auction. Certificate of authenticity included. IMCA 5591. Packages are usually sent the morning after the auction. Shipping is combined in all my listings - if you win multiple items, only one shipping cost is paid. Do not miss this opportunity!