From the Russian Academy of Sciences — The 9kg Sikhote-Alin Meteorite of 1947

When the Sikhote-Alin meteorite hit Eastern Siberia at 10:38am in 1947, it was brighter than the sun and left a 20-mile-long smoke trail in the sky that took hours to dissipate.

This 9kg individual is in original condition with a fusion crust showing a light dusting of oxidation patina. It was formerly specimen number 1656 of the Russian Academy of Sciences collection in Moscow with original museum label below. This meteorite was found in 1947 on the first expedition months after the fall, led by Kulik.

The Sikhote-Alin meteorite is classified as an iron meteorite belonging to the meteorite group IIAB and with a coarse octahedrite structure. It is composed of approximately 93% iron, 5.9% nickel, 0.42% cobalt, 0.46% phosphorus, and 0.28% sulfur, with trace amounts of germanium and iridium.

One response to “From the Russian Academy of Sciences — The 9kg Sikhote-Alin Meteorite of 1947”

jurvetson

May 1, 2022 at 2:05 am

Photo of the original log book of Krinov in Moscow. You see the piece #1656 listed there as described in his inventory (Entry 251, 2nd from bottom). From the collection of Michael Farmer: "You can’t get pieces like this. Russia won’t let them go anymore."
In 1957, the Soviet Union issued a 10th anniversary stamp with a painting by an eyewitness:

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