Nova 019

Purchased in USA

Purchased: 2016

Classification: Iron meteorite (IVA)

History: Purchased by Raymond Klein in Hammonton, NJ in 2016 from an antique shop.

Physical characteristics: The original mass has a roughly triangular shape measuring about 28 × 20 × 16.5 cm. It has a dark brown, in parts shiny, exterior and is locally rusty red to light orange. Mass before cutting = 19867.3 g. Mass after cutting = 19421.2 g.

Petrography: J. Gross and S. Stevenson, Rut. Optical and Electron Microprobe (EPMA) investigation and bandwidth measurement of a 2 × 3.5 cm polished and etched slice reveals a well-developed Widmanstatten pattern consistent with a fine octahedrite (average bandwidth = 0.325 ±0.075 mm, n = 20). Plessite is common. One Iron sulfide inclusion was observed that seemed to be zoned from core to rim.

Geochemistry: J. Gross and S. Stevenson, Rut. Bulk composition obtained by solution ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS using Hoba, Gibeon, and NIST glasses as a calibration standard: Ni = 7.95 wt%, Co = 3.64 mg/g; Ir = 1.6, Pt = 5.1, Os = 2.0, Ru = 2.5, Au = 1.1, Ga = 1.8, Ge = 0.4, As = 3.0, Re = 0.2, Cu = 202.1, Mn = 0.5, P = 315.4, Mo = 4.3, Cr = 191.6 (all μg/g). Iron Sulfide inclusion by EPMA. Core: Fe = 57.4, S = 36.6, Cr =4.0, Ni = 0.05 (n = 15; all in element wt%); Rim: Fe = 73.9, S = 20.4, Cr = 1.4, Ni = 3.0 (n= 10; all in element wt%).

Classification: Iron, IVA, fine octahedrite.

Specimens: A total of 19323 g (one stone). Type specimen of 20.7 g at AMNH. 77.5 g remains at Rut for analyses; Raymond Klein holds the main mass.