Canyon Diablo Meteorite

This meteorite originates from Meteor Crater northeast of Sedona, Arizona, the most famous and best-preserved meteorite crater on Earth. Like most meteorites, this piece originated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and was part of a tremendous iron mass that plowed into the desert approximately 50,000 years ago, forming Meteor Crater in an explosion estimated to have had a force of between 2 and 20 million tons of TNT. Most of the mass vaporized on impact while fragments were flung as far as 11 miles from the impact site. This particular meteorite has a rich gunmetal patina with deep red highlights that accentuate its sculptural form. Meteorites originating from this celebrated event are prized by museums and private collectors throughout the world. This is a wonderful example of one of the most renowned and sought-after American meteorites and whose impact crater receives more than 200,000 visitors every year.