Nantan Meteorite, from China (REF:NM0010)

Type;Iron

Group;IAB-MG

First Found;1958

Observed Fall:Possibly

Country:China

Fall Date;1516

Nantan meteorites have for many years been popular with collectors. They often show strong signs of weathering due to the length of time they have been exposed to the elements on Earth.

It is believed that the fall may have been witnessed in 1516, but, it is virtually impossible to confirm any link between the account of the fall and the pieces that were recovered in the 1950’s.

The Meteorite burst during its flight through Earths atmosphere due to the atmospheric friction causing the gasses contained within the meteorite to heat and expand. The pieces were scattered near the city of Nantan, from which they get their name, with the strewn field stretching 28 kilometres (17 miles) and around 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide.

During the 1950’s large quantities of fragments were retrieved for smelting during the growing industrialisation of China. Despite urban myths that tractors (among other things) were made from this iron infant it was found that the meteorite fragments contained too much Nickel for smelting. 

It is estimated that since the fall around 9,500 kilograms of meteorite have been recovered. The largest of which weighed 2,000kg.

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