NMM 362 - Carl Berner

The ~0.4 mm Space rock is a cryptocrystalline (CC) type, a “turtleback” variety. There are increasing numbers of magnetite “Christmas tree” crystals towards the back (down in the photos, by Jan Kihle and yours truly), so this is a borderline type, tending towards a barred olivine (BO) type.

The sensation is the sculptural form, with unique crystal domains around the jet-black stone. This is indeed one of my all-time micrometeorite favourites. The stone was found during the very first season of micrometeorite verifications, 2015, in a rain gutter at Carl Berner, Oslo, Norway. The field search is described in the book “Star Hunter.”

 

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.