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200.6 gram part slice. Iron, IAB-ung
TKW 24 MT. Observed fall: no. Found 1911, Western Australia.
From Wikipedia - Superconducting Meteorite:
In March 2018 it was reported that evidence of tiny traces of low temperature superconductivity was found in the 12.4 tonne main mass of the Mundrabilla meteorite. The superconductor appeared to be an alloy of indium, tin and possibly lead. The This mix was already known as 5Kelvin superconductor but the find is a scientific breakthrough in other ways. The significance is that the scientists validated their technique for searching for naturally occurring superconductors, and meteorites are a good starting point.
Matthias writes:
Part slice, one side polished, the other side polished and etched. With prominent Troilite inclusions which are so typical for this meteorite, forming a beautiful pattern together with the Nickel-Iron parts. The upper edge exposes the original surface of the iron with patina.
Acquired from Achim and Moritz Karl in Ensisheim 2019. End of the 1970's the Max-Planck-Institute in Heidelberg received a large mass of the Mundrabilla meteorite officially from Australia. Achim Karl was able to obtain some material from this mass. The two large full slices which today are in museums in Moscow and London were cut from this same mass. |
Click to view larger photos #1
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Found at the arrow (green or red) on the map below
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twink monrad 11/2/2019 8:22:31 PM |
wow what a great photograph |
matthias 11/2/2019 8:01:42 AM |
Somehow the Troilite has an elephant-skin-look. |
John Divelbiss 11/2/2019 7:53:41 AM |
Thanks Matthias, very nice...a larger slice like yours helps to understand the material's pattern that you described. Also, one can see a full slice photo of Mundrabilla in the MPOD photo from 5/17/16 taken at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC. |
Bernd Pauli 11/2/2019 6:07:12 AM |
When the first slice was cut from the 6.1-ton Mundrabilla with the help of a wire saw (wire thickness = 4 mm) and carborundum powder, it took Mr. Siegfried Haag of the MPI Heidelberg 188 hours to accomplish this feat. |
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