Meteorite Wabar – Saudia Arabia
Type: Iron meteorite, IIIAB
Locality: Saudi Arabia
Weight: 0,9g
Dimensions: 16 x 9 x 4 mm
Year found: 1863
Total known weight: 2,55 tonnes
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Wabar |
|---|---|
| By name: | Wabar |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
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Wabar Meteorite – iron meteorite with craters in Rub' al Khali
Characteristics and composition
The Wabar meteorite is classified as an iron meteorite of type IIIAB and is known for its significant impact crater located in southeastern Saudi Arabia, in the area known as Rub' al Khali. It is one of the few known impact craters on the Arabian Peninsula. One of the largest fragments found at the site weighs 2.2 tons and is known as "Camel's Hump". This fragment was discovered in 1966 and is now on display at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
Wabar Craters
The Wabar craters are a group of impact craters located in the Rub' al Khali desert in Saudi Arabia. Explorer Harry St. John Philby discovered and first investigated them in 1932 during his expedition to find the legendary city of Ubar, also known as Wabar, associated with the legend called the "Atlantis of the Sands".
The Wabar craters cover an area of approximately 500 × 1000 meters and contain three distinct circular craters. The largest crater has a diameter of 116 meters and is almost completely filled with sand. The surface of the area is covered with black glassy material and impact glass.
The Rub' al Khali region where the craters are located is one of the most inhospitable areas in the world. This part of Saudi Arabia is known for its extreme temperatures and huge sand dunes, making expeditions to this area very challenging and dangerous.
Dating and history
Dating by thermoluminescence suggests that the impact occurred less than 250 years ago, which corresponds to Arabic records of a fireball that passed over Riyadh in 1863 or 1891 heading southeast. The total mass of the meteorite was over 3,500 tons. When it struck Earth, its relatively low velocity of 11–17 km/s caused it to break into four parts before impact.
Composition
Analysis of the iron meteorite showed that it consists of approximately 90% iron and 5% nickel, with other elements such as copper, cobalt, and high concentrations of iridium, confirming its extraterrestrial origin.
Origin of the meteorite
Like most iron meteorites, the Wabar meteorite probably originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This belt is full of small planetesimals and debris that can be deflected from their orbit and hit Earth, resulting in meteor impacts.
Interesting facts
Wabar pearls are small round pieces of impact glass that formed due to the intense heat and pressure accompanying the meteorite's impact. These spheres were shaped both by the impact itself and by subsequent sand and wind activity.