2474

The Aguas Zarcas Roof Panel and Hammer Stone Fragments

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
The Aguas Zarcas Roof Panel and Hammer Stone Fragments

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Auction Date:2020 Jul 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
AGUAS ZARCAS HAMMER STONE FRAGMENT WITH PAINT: Carbonaceous chondrite, CM2. Witnessed fall, Alajuela, Costa Rica, April 23, 2019. Fusion-crusted part hammer stone with green paint from impact weighing 3.87 grams and and measuring 24 mm x 21 mm x 12 mm.

AGUAS ZARCAS IMPACT ARTIFACT: Exceptional and unique impact artifact. Section of corrugated roof from La Marina, Costa Rica, mounted, with display items and photographs. As noted above [SEE AGUAS ZARCAS LOTS 2473 and 2475] the Aguas Zarcas carbonaceous chondrite witnessed fall of April 23, 2019 in Costa Rica is regarded as an important event due to the extreme rarity of the meteorite’s type—a CM2—and the rapidity with which fallen pieces were recovered. Perhaps of even greater interest to collectors and historians is what one of those meteorites struck.

As reported by the Spacerocks Club: “At 9:07pm CST on April 23rd, 2019 a meteor was seen in the sky above Alajuela province in Costa Rica. Sonic boom explosions followed a few moments later and pieces of rock rained down on the villages of: La Palmera, La Marina, Santa Rosa and Aguas Zarcas. The falling rocks were heard rustling through the high grass and leaves of the trees surrounding resident’s houses.

A few people reported loud crashes as the fragments hit roofs of buildings and in one case, a dog house. It was a rare type of meteorite classified as a carbonaceous chondrite which makes up only three percent of all meteorites. Meteorites of this type are extremely valuable for science. They contain calcium aluminum inclusions that predate our sun and the birth of our solar system.

The following day Danny Rojas Castro happened to be renovating the community center Salon Juan Rafael Rojas Quiros/Amalia Kopper Dodero of La Marina when he noticed a strange damaged panel. Then he noticed the fragments of rock on the street and sidewalk below the roof. Fortunately even despite Danny’s lack of knowledge on the subject of meteorites he had enough wits to recover the rock fragments, which amounted to about 81 grams total.

An enterprising collector who traveled to the scene in hopes of finding meteorites acquired this extraordinary artifact directly from Senõr Castro, along with several of the meteorite fragments. This lot comprises the actual section of green corrugated roof that was hit by one of the incoming Aguas Zarcas meteorites, together with a paint-streaked fragment of the meteorite itself (see below). The dent or tear in the metal, formed by the impact, can clearly be seen towards the top left of the panel.

The roof panel has been mounted on a wooden display board with a frame edge. Also mounted on the board is a photograph of the building itself, a photograph of the removed roof panel (at the site) being held by Senõr Castro, and four informational plaques.

The other portion of this lot consists of a 3.87-gram fusion-crusted fragment of the actual impactor, or hammer stone, that hit the roof. The hammer stone broke into several pieces, following the impact. Two other fragments of 5.4 grams [LOT 2473] and 1.3 grams [LOT 2475] are offered separately.

Note the green paint on the leading surface of the meteorite, which is clearly a match for the green paint of the roof panel. Note also the rich, fresh fusion crust indicating this specimen was retrieved shortly after the fall, and also note the multiple visible cracks in the meteorite’s surface, likely formed by its high-speed impact with a flat metal surface.

A pairing of a hammer stone and roof panel impact artifact is an extraordinarily rare and unusual occurrence. The pairing was exhibited by Aerolite Meteorites, Inc., during January and February 2020 at the international gem show in Tucson, Arizona where it was seen by an estimated 60,000 people. Displays such as this are a source of wonder, and not just for meteorite enthusiasts. Such pieces make us remember and realize that our planet is a target in space and that, when meteorites do land, they can land anywhere...and hit anything. Such things perhaps make us more aware of our place in the cosmos. Our resident meteorite expert said this pairing “Would likely make an eternally popular and crowd-drawing exhibit at any science museum.” This lot is also accompanied by a signed affidavit of authenticity from the acquiring agent.