This is a partial slice from a single 140 kg. meteorite discovered atop unforested grassland just west of Russia’s border with Kazakhstan. Much of this locality, the Astrakhan oblast, is below sea level and is referred to as being part of the Caspian Depression — an area filled with salt flats and salt lakes.  Locals knew of the stone as it was such an anomaly and a decade elapsed before a sample was taken and determined to be a meteorite. Veins radiate throughout the milk-chocolate hued matrix which becomes much darker upon polishing. Signature patches of iron-nickel flakes are scattered across the surface, most often associated with signature lighter patches of matrix whose origin is unclear. To this author, no other meteorite looks quite like Kharabali. Cut at the base, this partial slice is delimited by the meteorite’s natural exterior surface.

150 x 297 x 6mm (6 x 11.75 x 0.25 in.) and 817.9 grams (1.75 lbs)

Provenance: The Meteorite Collection of Sergey Afanasev and Dima Sadalenko

Estimate: $2,500 – 3,500 * Reserve: $2,000