Micrometeorite | NMM 2301 - Buskerud | Cryptocrystalline

Product detailed description

Billions of years ago, somewhere in the distant universe, there was a giant star. Its insatiable gravity fed an unimaginable amount of energy. Constantly converting lighter elements into heavier ones, it defied irreversible fate for hundreds of millions of years. But one day, the fuel ran out, and in a huge explosion, the star blew most of its mass as microscopic particles into deep space. Most of these grains of matter eventually formed into new suns, planets, moons or asteroids. But a large fraction of them have spent all their time travelling alone. As grains of dust, they came into existence, and as grains of dust they still exist today. Stardust.

One such grain of stardust collided with the Earth. It was lucky enough not to evaporate as it passed through the atmosphere. It just melted and formed into a new shape. In this case, a shape resembling a turtle shell. By continuing coincidence, it stuck to Jon Larsen's magnet in Buskerud, Norway, on April 21, 2020.

This was followed by a detailed examination under an electron microscope, a unique photographic process (which involves focusing and compositing dozens of sub-photos for maximum photo quality), and compositional analysis for definitive confirmation of extraterrestrial origin.

Micrometeorite NMM 2301 is a crypto-crystalline type with a diameter of approximately 0.3 mm. It is an exceptional piece because it contains a very rare platinum nugget (PGN). A heavy metal that was only formed at the very end of the supernova's life, when the star was already converting the heaviest elements we know. The nugget is very clear in the black and white electron microscope image and is confirmed by the attached compositional analysis (EDS). This black, subrounded stone with atypical gas vacuoles on its surface is a real gem for future collections.

If you decide to be one of the world's first private owners of micrometeorite and order from us, you will not only get the stone itself, but everything you need to enjoy this natural unique to the fullest. The package includes a high-resolution digital photograph, the autobiographical book Star Hunter by Jon Larsen, and of course the meteorite itself along with a signed certificate of authenticity.

The stone is housed in a durable case with a covered slide-out microscope slide. It is therefore possible to enjoy its unique beauty at any time by observing it yourself under a microscope.

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Provenance: the catalog number refers to the NMM Archives, the index to Jon Larsen's Project Stardust collection, a reference collection for urban micrometeorites. The stone was found, managed and collected by Larsen and is in pristine condition, straight from space.