Gibeon (meteorite)

Gibeon
Gibeon meteorites in Post Street Mall, Windhoek
Type	Iron
Structural classification	Fine octahedrite
Group	IVA[1]
Composition	91,8% Fe; 7,7% Ni; 0,5% Co; 0,04% P; 2,4 ppm Ir; 1,97 ppm Ga; 0,111 ppm Ge
Country	Namibia
Region	Great Namaqualand
Coordinates	25°20′S 18°00′E / 25.333°S 18.000°ECoordinates: 25°20′S 18°00′E / 25.333°S 18.000°E
Observed fall	No
Fall date	prehistoric times
Found date	1838[1]
TKW	26000 kg[1]
Strewn field	Yes
Widmanstätten pattern

Gibeon is a meteorite that fell in prehistoric times in Namibia. It was named after the nearest town: Gibeon, Namibia.

History

The meteorite was discovered by the Nama people and used by them to make tools and weapons.

In 1836^[1] the English captain J. E. Alexander collected samples of the meteorite in the vicinity of the Great Fish River and sent them to London. There John Herschel analyzed them and confirmed for the first time the extraterrestrial nature of the material.

Strewn field

The fragments of the meteorite in the strewn field are dispersed over an elliptical area 275 kilometres (171 mi) long and 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide.

Composition and classification

Gibeon full slice, NMNH

The term Gibeon encompasses the whole meteoritic material fallen from the sky during this fall. This material is classified as iron meteorite belonging to the chemical group IVA.^[1]

Gibeon meteorites are composed of an iron-nickel alloy containing significant amounts of cobalt and phosphorus. The crystal structure of this meteorite provides a classic example of fine octahedrite and the Widmanstätten pattern is appreciated for its beauty both by collectors and designers of jewelry.

See also

• Glossary of meteoritics

References

1. Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Gibeon

External links

• Gibeon Iron Meteorites: Their Discovery, History and Research