Iron Meteorite – Chinga

Iron Meteorite – Chinga

Iron Nickel, ataxite

Discovered in 1913 by gold prospectors

Eastern Siberia, Russia, near the border with Tibet

Measuring 3 ½ x 5 x 1 ½ inches (11.43 x 10.16 x 3.81 cm) and weighing 2.3 lbs. (1,041 grams).

Chingas are a rare type of iron meteorite known as an ataxite. Ataxites have a very high nickel content (this meteorites contain 16% nickel), which explains their lustrous appearance.

From a fall with limited specimens, this complete Chinga exhibits the small thumbprint-like depressions, known as regmaglypts, which were caused by burning and melting during the meteorite's descent through the atmosphere.