What is the Gibeon meteorite?
Gibeon is a large iron meteorite shower in Namibia, scattered over a huge strewn field in prehistoric times, famous for its delicate Widmanstätten pattern.
The Gibeon meteorite fell in prehistoric times over a vast area in what is now southern Namibia, around the town of Gibeon. Its strewn field is one of the largest known, about 275 kilometres long and 100 kilometres wide.
Discovery. Local Nama people knew of the iron masses and used them to make tools and weapons. Europeans first reported the meteorite in the 1830s, after a British explorer described it. Since then, many masses have been found, totalling more than 26 tonnes, with the largest single pieces weighing hundreds of kilograms.
Type. Gibeon is a IVA iron meteorite, a fine octahedrite with a beautiful, delicate Widmanstätten pattern. Because of this, Gibeon slices are popular for display, jewellery and watch faces.
Protected. Namibia declared the Gibeon meteorites a protected national monument, and collecting or exporting them without permission is illegal. A group of 33 large masses is displayed on columns in a public square in Windhoek, the capital.
Science. IVA irons like Gibeon have been studied to understand the cooling of their parent body. Their wide range of cooling rates suggests the parent body was disrupted by a collision while still hot, exposing its core.
Terrestrial age. Gibeon is thought to have fallen in prehistoric times, probably tens of thousands of years ago or more, though the exact date is unknown.
Gibeon shows how meteorites can become part of a nation's heritage.