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Mundrabilla
Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia
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Mundrabilla
History
Name: Mundrabilla
Location: Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia
Type: Octahedrite, Medium IRANOM with Sulphide and Silicate Inclusions
A mass of 112 grams was discovered in 1911 by Mr. H. Kent, a member of
the Transcontinental Railway Survey party, on the part of the Nullarbor
Plain known as Premier Downs. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Kent discovered
another small mass, of 116 grams, in the vicinity. Both meteorites were
complete individual masses of a peculiar knuckle-bone shape. A third
mass, of 99 grams, was reported later. In 1965 McCall & De Laeter
reported a fourth mass, of 108 grams. The finder reported it to be part
of a very large mass, but no further particulars became available until
Wilson & Cooney (1967) reported the discovery of two huge masses,
estimated to weigh 4-6 tons and 10-12 tons, respectively.
Unfortunately, these authors coined a new - and third - name for this
fall, Mundrabilla, neglecting the fact that Simpson (1912; 1938) and
simpson & Bowley (1914) had already dealt with the occurrence very
efficiently on the basis of the small samples available at a relatively
early stage. Wilson & Cooney noted that the masses had previously
been known to a rabbit trapper, presumably a Mr. Harrison, but they
were apparently not aware of other small masses having been found and
described on several previous occasions. At about the same time two
additional small samples, of 66.5 grams and 178 grams were discovered
by still other parties. In view of the fact that the knuckle-bone
shaped small masses represent the material from the main masses very
well, and considering that they were well described, with analyses, as
early as 1912, it appears unfortunate that the name Premier Downs has
been overruled by the name Mundrabilla. There was evidence of
fragmentation on the larger mass in a sharp, angular, vertical face
which matched in size and shape a similar sharp face on the smaller
mass. This appears plausible since the two masses were found at a
distance of only 180m from each other. They probably seperated very
late during the atmospheric flight. The masses, particularly the large
ones, exhibit a very unusual exterior on the exposed topsides. The
surfaces are knobby with numerous cavities, 1-3 cm across and 1-2 cm
deep. The holes indicate missing troilite; whether it burned out in the
atmosphere or weathered away during long terrestrial exposure, or,
plausibly, a combination of both has produced the effects, is difficult
to say. The meteorites of this fall are all corroded, and the fusion
crusts have been lost.
MARE METEORITICS
c/o MIKE MARTINEZ
P.O. BOX 677
Lathrop, CA. 95330
HOME (209) 481-9488
Email
Address: meteorites@att.net
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History
Location: Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia
Type: Octahedrite, Medium IRANOM with Sulphide and Silicate Inclusions
the Transcontinental Railway Survey party, on the part of the Nullarbor
Plain known as Premier Downs. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Kent discovered
another small mass, of 116 grams, in the vicinity. Both meteorites were
complete individual masses of a peculiar knuckle-bone shape. A third
mass, of 99 grams, was reported later. In 1965 McCall & De Laeter
reported a fourth mass, of 108 grams. The finder reported it to be part
of a very large mass, but no further particulars became available until
Wilson & Cooney (1967) reported the discovery of two huge masses,
estimated to weigh 4-6 tons and 10-12 tons, respectively.
Unfortunately, these authors coined a new - and third - name for this
fall, Mundrabilla, neglecting the fact that Simpson (1912; 1938) and
simpson & Bowley (1914) had already dealt with the occurrence very
efficiently on the basis of the small samples available at a relatively
early stage. Wilson & Cooney noted that the masses had previously
been known to a rabbit trapper, presumably a Mr. Harrison, but they
were apparently not aware of other small masses having been found and
described on several previous occasions. At about the same time two
additional small samples, of 66.5 grams and 178 grams were discovered
by still other parties. In view of the fact that the knuckle-bone
shaped small masses represent the material from the main masses very
well, and considering that they were well described, with analyses, as
early as 1912, it appears unfortunate that the name Premier Downs has
been overruled by the name Mundrabilla. There was evidence of
fragmentation on the larger mass in a sharp, angular, vertical face
which matched in size and shape a similar sharp face on the smaller
mass. This appears plausible since the two masses were found at a
distance of only 180m from each other. They probably seperated very
late during the atmospheric flight. The masses, particularly the large
ones, exhibit a very unusual exterior on the exposed topsides. The
surfaces are knobby with numerous cavities, 1-3 cm across and 1-2 cm
deep. The holes indicate missing troilite; whether it burned out in the
atmosphere or weathered away during long terrestrial exposure, or,
plausibly, a combination of both has produced the effects, is difficult
to say. The meteorites of this fall are all corroded, and the fusion
crusts have been lost.
c/o MIKE MARTINEZ
P.O. BOX 677
Lathrop, CA. 95330
HOME (209) 481-9488
Email
Address: meteorites@att.net