Natural History - British Fossil Ammonite

A coarse octahedrite class IIB iron meteorite from a witnessed fall in the former USSR, showing exceptional ablation forms and surface preservation, cleaned. 11.7 grams, 19 mm



Acquired from Steve Arnold, co-star of 'Meteorite Men'. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.

Sikhote-Alin is an iron meteorite that fell on February, 13, 1947 on the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in eastern Siberia. Though large iron meteorite falls had been witnessed previously and fragments recovered, never before in recorded history had a fall of this magnitude been observed. An estimated 70 tonnes of material survived the fiery passage through the atmosphere and reached the Earth. The strewn field for this meteorite covered an elliptical area of about 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi). Some of the fragments made impact craters, the largest of which was about 26 m (85 ft) across and 6 m (20 ft) deep. Fragments of the meteorite were also driven into the surrounding trees. The Soviet Union issued a stamp for the 10th anniversary of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite shower and this reproduces a painting by P. J. Medvedev, a Soviet artist who witnessed the fall: he was sitting in his window starting a sketch when the fireball appeared, so he immediately began drawing what he saw.

Comprising three rectangular resin blocks featuring a scorpion, an iridescent beetle, and a spider. 247 grams total, 73 x 40 mm each



Acquired from Newark Fossil and Gem Fair, circa 2012. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.

From the left side of Ursus spelaeuslower jaw, displaying a canine (repaired) and three molars. 312 grams, 20.3 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman formed since 2003.

The cave bear was a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia, and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum.