Tenham is one of Australia’s most historically significant meteorite falls. On the evening of 1879, a brilliant fireball was observed over western Queensland, scattering a shower of stones across the outback. With a total known mass of 160 kg, Tenham has been a cornerstone of meteoritical collections worldwide for over a century. It is classified as an L6 ordinary chondrite and is notable for being one of the first meteorites in which high-pressure shock minerals (majorite and ringwoodite) were identified — providing direct evidence of the intense collisional history of the asteroid belt.
This specimen is a single stone individual weighing 18.16 grams, measuring 31 × 25 × 13 mm. The stone bears its original collection number S218 and carries an exceptional provenance chain: ex. Schwade collection, ex. Ouzillou collection, sourced from noted dealer Marlin Cilz in March 1988. This is a well-documented, old-collection piece with the kind of paper trail that serious collectors prize.
Classification Data
Classification: L6 Ordinary Chondrite
Observed Fall: Yes — 1879
Location: Tenham Station, Queensland, Australia
Total Known Mass: 160 kg
NHM Catalogue: 5th Edition (2000) — L6
Provenance: Ex. Schwade → Ex. Ouzillou → Sourced from Marlin Cilz, March 1988
Collection Number: S218
Comes with a labeled specimen card documenting full provenance. All sales are final on meteorites. Other notes, S218 is the original Schwade Collection of meteorites number from his catalogue. This stone was also featured in the November 1st 2023 Meteorite Times Magazine.
