This 282.5 gram Sikhote-Alin meteorite fell in the eastern USSR on February 12, 1947, as witnessed by passengers on a train. Specimens collected since include both blast shrapnel and stones such as this which were shaped by the heat and turbulence of entry. Not many new specimens are being produced, the field is pretty well picked over.

I bought this one about 10 years ago and I've shown it to many people who were astounded by being able to hold in their hands a 'little piece of heaven' :-)

It is completely covered with regmaglypts up to 12mm (1/2 inch) in size formed in passing through the atmosphere. This is a real 'type' specimen for iron meteorites, very showy. In addition it has an almost life-like shape - like a pointy-nosed otter or a penguin. Very distinctive, if you put this in a public display with the caption 'Space Fossil?' people would stop and look :-)

NO, IT IS NOT A REAL FOSSIL! It is an iron meteorite. :-)

Approximate dimensions: Nose to tail - 8.5 cm (3.5 inches), height 3.6 cm (1.5 inches), grid in photos is 6mm (1/4 inch).

Listed on Ebay 10/12/2013. Search Ebay for "Space Fossil" :-)

To the eye it looks black, but under high magnification and flash you can see reddish-brown in the pits and crevices. Interesting.