In 2016, two brothers went out into the Kenyan bush to search for their camels. While conducting a search, they discovered several large and strange rocks. Given the lack of native rocks in the same area, it was assumed these new finds must be meteorites. Later analysis proved this assumption to be correct. In the time since then, hundreds of pieces have been pulled from a large strewnfield. Masses ranging from a few grams to over 100 kilos have been found so far. The Sericho meteorite is a main group pallasite which shares some visual similarities to Brenham when sliced. It is officially classified as a main group pallasite.
The specimen offered here is an uncut nugget that weighs approx. 11.6 grams.
Refer to the photo. The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included. You are purchasing the specimen shown. Your purchase will include an ID label.
From the Meteoritical Bulletin entry on Sericho :
Sericho 1°5’41.16"N, 39°6’8.30"E
Eastern, Kenya
Find: 2016
Classification: Pallasite
History: In 2016, two brothers were searching for their camels and came across several large, dense stones west of the village of Habaswein and south of Sericho, Kenya. There are no rocks in this area, so they decided they were meteorites. They spent several weeks collecting them with engine hoists and moving them to their homes in Habaswein. Though recognized as meteorites in 2016, the masses had been known to camel-herders for decades. One village elder said that as a child, he and his brothers would play on top of the stones. In early January 2017, Michael Farmer received an email showing a photo of “giant pallasite” weighing 107 kg. He traveled to Nairobi and purchased this stone. Two weeks later he returned to Kenya with Moritz Karl and traveled to Habaswein. Here they were shown more than one ton of specimens stacked in the courtyards of two house compounds. To date, more than 2800 kg has been found.
Physical characteristics: To date, masses ranging from <1 to 500 kg have been found in a strewnfield >45 km long, starting several km west of Habaswein and south of Sericho in Isiolo County. The smaller pieces were found nearer to Habaswein, but still in Isiolo County. The villagers continue to find pieces, mostly on the surface. The majority of the pieces are >50 kg. The meteorites found on the surface show minimal weathering, with patches of fusion crust on the metal. Most stones are blocky, exhibiting a few broad regmaplypts. Several flight-oriented specimens were found, including a 129 kg and two 16 kg stones.
