| Mundrabilla | |
|---|---|
 Mundrabilla main mass | |
| Type | Iron |
| Structural classification | Mediumoctahedrite |
| Group | IAB |
| Composition | 65-75% iron-nickel (7.8%Ni, 0.48%Co) |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 30°47′S127°33′E / 30.783°S 127.550°E /-30.783; 127.550[1] |
| Observed fall | >1 million years[2] |
| Found date | 1911 |
| TKW | 22 tonnes (22 long tons; 24 short tons)[3] |
 Related media on Wikimedia Commons | |
TheMundrabilla meteorite is aniron meteorite found in 1911 in Australia,[1] one of the largest meteorites found, with atotal known weight of 22 tonnes and the main mass (the single largest fragment) accounting for 12.4 tonnes.[3]
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In 1911, an iron meteorite fragment of 112 g was found by Harry Kent, foreman in charge of camels for the Western Australian survey of thetranscontinental railway route, at31°1′S127°23′E / 31.017°S 127.383°E /-31.017; 127.383, on Premier Downs station on theNullarbor Plain. The small meteorite was calledPremier Downs I. Later in 1911 Kent found another small iron meteorite (116 g) about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west from the found location ofPremier Downs I, namedPremier Downs II. Both meteorites were medium octahedrites, believed to be part of the same fall.[4]
In 1918, a third similar small iron meteorite of 99 g was found in the area by A. Ewing, namedPremier Downs III.
In 1962, a small iron meteorite of 108 g with similar characteristics was found nearLoongana railway station by a rabbit trapper named Harrison. It was suggested as a possible pairing with the previous Premier Downs samples.[4]
In 1965, three small iron fragments (94.1 g, 45 g, 38.8 g) were found by Bill Crowle of theGeological Survey of Western Australia 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Mundrabilla Siding on the Trans Australian Railway at30°45′S127°30′E / 30.750°S 127.500°E /-30.750; 127.500.
In April 1966, two very large iron masses of 12.4 tonnes and 5.44 tonnes were found in the Nullarbor Plain at30°47′S127°33′E / 30.783°S 127.550°E /-30.783; 127.550 by geologists R.B. Wilson and A.M. Cooney during a geological survey. The two masses were lying 180 metres (590 ft) apart, in clayey soil within slight depressions. The masses were surrounded by a large number of small iron fragments. The meteorites were namedMundrabilla,[1][4] while the largest fragment, the eleventh largest found in the world as of 2013[update], is distinguished asMundrabilla I.[5][6]
In 1967, a small iron fragment of 66.5 g found at30°57′S126°58′E / 30.950°S 126.967°E /-30.950; 126.967 byHarry Butler, was namedLoongana Station West.[4]
It has been suggested that the Mundrabilla meteorites are closely related to the Loongana Station and Premier Downs meteorites, and were shed from the same mass during atmosphericablation.[7]
Mundrabilla I, the main mass of 12.4 tonnes, is now conserved at theWestern Australia Museum.[3][8]
The secondary piece of the Mundrabilla meteorite, weighed at approximately 3.5 tons, was recovered in 1988. It was taken by train from Loongana to Perth where it was studied at the Western Australia Museum. It is now on display at theMuseum of the Great Southern inAlbany, Western Australia.[9]
The meteorite is 65-75% iron-nickel, including 35% by volume oftroilite (iron sulphide), with inclusions ofschreibersite,graphite and silicates, mainlyolivine,pyroxene and potassium-richplagioclase.[4][10][11]
Mundrabilla is classified as part of theIAB group. TheIAB group is often viewed as complex of many different groups. In this complex, Mundrabilla, Waterville, and Buffalo Gap form the "Mundrabilla trio" or "Mundrabilla grouplet" (a group of meteorites with less than 5 members).[12][13] If two more meteorites with similar properties would be found they could form another group within theIAB complex.[14]
In March 2018, it was reported that evidence of tiny traces of low temperaturesuperconductivity was found in the 12.4-tonne (27-thousand-pound) main mass of the Mundrabilla meteorite. The superconductor appeared to be analloy ofindium,tin and possiblylead. This mix was already known as 5-kelvin (−268.15-degree-Celsius; −450.67-degree-Fahrenheit) superconductor but the find is a scientific breakthrough in other ways. The significance is thatthe scientists validated their technique for searching for naturally occurring superconductors, and meteorites are a good starting point.[incomprehensible] The best superconductor to find would work without need for any cooling.[15]
