Nantan Meteorite in Magnifying Box
Small Nantan meteorite pieces displayed in an acrylic box with magnifying lens lid. Each meteorite is held in place with museum putty. As we have multiple in stock, we hope you will entrust us to chose the best specimen available.
Measurements: Appx 1/2", box measures 1" x 1" x 7/8"
Location: China
According to documentation in the Nantan County Archives, the fall of the meteorite occurred in 1516 A.D. The record from the period states: “During summertime in May of Emperor Zhengde’s 11th year, stars fell from the northwest direction, five- to six-fold long, waving like snakes and dragons. They were bright as lightning and disappeared in seconds.” It was centuries later when the fall site was actually discovered. In 1958, China required a great deal of steel for industry during the so-called “Great Leap Forward,” and citizens were told to go out and find iron. The people of Nantan County felt lucky to find rocks so heavy with iron, but these “iron rocks” would not melt. This puzzled people, causing them to send a report to the Chinese Central Government. Geologists arrived to inspect the rocks and discovered that they were from meteorites.
The Nantan Meteorite was found in the Yoachi area of Lihu, Nantan County, Guangxi Zhuang, China. It was distributed in a northwesterly direction over an area 17 miles long and 5 miles wide.