Pieces of the Gibeon iron meteorite from Namibia, originating from an asteroid. Read more.
Former Asteroid
The Gibeon meteorite made three to four billion years ago, part of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter. Probably by a collision, the asteroid disintegrated and get off course. Some parts went their own way and passed regularly within the orbit of the earth. A few thousand years ago came to a crash, when many pieces struck iron around the Namibian village of Gibeon.
Special structures
The meteorite is known for its beautiful Widmanstätten structures. This is the triangular structure which becomes visible in the etching of the meteorite. These crystal forms caused by the meteorite it took millions of years to cool. The structures are therefore unique to meteorites and do not come on earth as iron cools much faster.
