NMM 1448 - Liertoppen

NMM 1448 is a bluish-green vitreous (glass) type with a large nickel-iron bead in the front. The metal has triggered the growth of a conical-shaped region of olivine (forsterite) crystals. An iconic treasure from Space with no less than two pages (38-39) in the Atlas of Micrometeorites!

Opposite the front, a large gas vesicle of escaping volatiles has burst out through the glass bubble. Note the little nickel bead on the surface, which has triggered a secondary conical crystallisation. Note also the wide opening of the burst vesicle in the back, a rare “bag formation” which is known from the study of raindrops.

On this ~0.3 mm stone, we can also see beautiful examples of the “soap bubble” effect, where isolated pyramidal crystals have started to grow in the glass outside the border of the main crystallisation. This polysomatic phenomenon can be seen in several YouTube videos of freezing soap bubbles, see also pages 280-281 in the Atlas of Micrometeorites.

 

PROVENANCE: The catalogue number refers to the NMM archive, the index of Jon Larsen’s Project Stardust collection, which is the reference collection for urban micrometeorites. The stone was found, curated, and selected by Larsen. It is in pristine condition, fresh from Space. Follow Jon Larsen’s Project Stardust and get exclusive micrometeorite content: https://www.patreon.com/c/ProjectStardust826

 

VERIFICATION: The MM has been confirmed extraterrestrial by visual identification and/or SEM/EDS analysis by Jon Larsen. The stone is mounted on a durable aluminium/glass/cardboard microslide and is delivered together with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and four photo files. This micrometeorite is a unique museum-quality specimen and a jewel in any collection.