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| Gibeon |
| Scientific Name: Gibeon IVA iron |
| Object Type: Meteorite |
| Dimensions: Centimetres: 16 x 17 x 1 |
| Fall Date: Found in 1836 |
| Museum ID Number: M47659 |
| Image Number: ROM2004_867_3 | | |
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Description: The Gibeon is an iron meteorite from a large fall in Namibia. All "iron" meteorites are actually composed of iron-nickel alloys.It is likely that such metallic meteorites are fragments from metallic cores of large asteroids. Such meteorites are among the evidence in support of a predominantly iron or iron-nickel composition for the Earth's core.
This piece of the Gibeon has been sliced and polished, and then etched to reveal a distinctive pattern of crystals of two iron-nickel minerals, known as the Widmanstatten pattern. When present, this pattern is diagnostic of iron meteorites. |
Location: Great Namaqualand; Namibia |
Object History: Gift of David Gregory and Family, St Thomas, Ontario in 1998. Certified by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board under the terms of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. |
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