Vaalbult, Witlclip, Queens Mercy, Witclip, Hoba, Vaalbult. Africa, the world’s largest continent, is home to some of the most distinct and unique meteorites in the world. Namibia in particular is blessed with being the point of arrival for two unique and valued meteorites: Hoba and the iron-laden Gibeon Meteorite.
Similar to its “neighbor”, the Hoba Meteorite, scientists are not quite certain of when the Gibeon Meteorite fell, although Gibeon’s age has been estimated to be at least 4 billion years by using a scientific method known as radiometric dating. This makes the Gibeon Meteorite an older meteorite in comparison to others and one of the oldest iron meteorites currently on Earth.
With combined fragments weighing an estimated 28 tons, Gibeon’s makeup is 90% iron and 8% nickel, with the rest of its makeup being phosphorus and cobalt and 99% of its minerals being kaemite and taenite. Gibeon’s classification is IVA.
Like many ancient or prehistoric meteorites, the natives who found it would take pieces of the meteorite’s iron to create tools and weapons, but there is no evidence available as to if the Namaqua worshipped or even named the meteorite. British ship captain John E. Alexander is credited with Gibeon’s modern discovery, having heard rumors of an iron mass near the Great Fish River. He collected a few masses and shipped them to John Herschel who declared the masses to be pieces of an iron meteorite.
Many Gibeon Meteorite fragments have been collected since its modern discovery in 1836, making it a favorite of collectors in many ways. After the discovery of the meteorite in 1836, a “treasure hunt” for more of its masses ensued among the British, with some explorers finding masses as large as 500kg. The Gibeon Meteorite’s strewn field is currently 275 km long and 100, though given the degree to which the Namqua collected masses is unknown, they may have found fragments outside of this radius in the past.
As collectors have since fashioned Gibeon Meteorite fragments into many different things, such as cooking utensils, picture frames, even swords. Depending on the size, shape, and rarity, a Gibeon fragment can be sold at a place such as E-Bay for up to 6,000.
Watch out if you’re a potential Gibeon collector—there’s just as many fake fragments and things made from it as there are real Gibeon fragments and crafting. Maybe more.
Christopher L. Shelby, M.D.