The Bilanga Diogenite fell on October 27, 1999 amongst and between the villages of Bilanga-Yanga and Gomposago, in Burkina-Faso. The fall was accompanied by the sound of several loud detonations, but the fireball was obscured by clouds. The locals heard the reports associated with the fall and were pelted with rocks from the sky soon afterwards. Dealers purchased approximately 25 kilograms of the meteorite from locals, and subsequent work on the meteorite showed it to be a monomict diogenite breccia composed primarily of orthopyroxene.
Bilanga is one of the eleven witnessed diogenite falls, and its availability has remained next to nil for the past few years. Online prices that I was able to find ranged from $50/g to over $100/g. The only other diogenite fall available in any quantity is Johnstown, and good luck finding that for under $250-300 per gram.
11.969 grams - $475
This 1/4 cut exhibits Bilanga's strange texture, with some orthopyroxenes rimmed with fine veins of metallic Fe-Ni. One side is covered with finely textured primary crust and one smaller side has patchier secondary crust (3rd photo, far right). Minor chromite is present - the largest of which is the dark spot visible on the top-left edge of the last photo. This specimen is a fine example of the fall, and a stunning example of a diogenite. 11.969 grams - $475 Send an Email
