Meteorite Slice, 14" X 11", 1632g, John A. Lednicky Estate

Lot description

Cased nickel-iron meteorite slice treated with nitol, a mixture of nitric acid and ethyl alcohol, enhancing the crystal nodule pattern, subsequently treated with lacquer to prevent rust, a tag within the frame reads "Meteorite, slice of 140 pound nickel-iron meteorite etched with nitol to bring out the Widmanstaan pattern peculiar to meteorites.  Bronze-like clusters of dentritic crystals called schreibersite. Granulation along one edge due to frictional heat called alteration zone.", the outer case marked "John A. Lednicky, Curator-1968, this specimen largest measurements are approx.11" x 6.7/8", 3/8" thick, 3.60lbs (1632.93 gr.), for shipping including the glass and aluminum custom made case approx. 11.5" x 14.5" x 1.25", 11.05lbs   *Provenance: Estate of John A. Lednicky, Oklahoma, Philippines, 1921-2018, U.S. Navy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1944).  Lednicky led the recovery of the Bondoc meteorite, the largest meteorite recovered in the Philippines (1955lbs), even participating in manual digging, and directed its shipment to the United States. The Bondoc meteorite is  now housed at Arizona State University, Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies. Reference: "Find A Falling Star", Harvey H. Nininger, Paul S. Eriksson, Inc, NY, 1972, pages 227-230 relates the Bondoc-Lednicky-Nininger story ; Online:  https://meteorites.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CMS-Newsletter-Issue7.pdf  ; and, https://meteoritegallery.com/bondoc-mesosiderite-b4/