Pallasite Meteorite
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/47445767@N05">James St. John</a> (CC BY 2.0)
Mineral NamePallasite Meteorite
Chemical Formula(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 (olivine) + Fe-Ni (iron-nickel alloy)
Mohs HardnessOlivine: 6.5-7; Iron-nickel: 4-5
Streak ColorOlivine: White; Iron-nickel: Gray to black
CleavageOlivine: Poor on {010} and {100}; Iron-nickel: None
FractureOlivine: Conchoidal; Iron-nickel: Hackly
Specific Gravity4.5
Colorsamber, orange, yellowish-green, black, silvery-gray
TransparencyOlivine: Transparent to translucent; Iron-nickel: Opaque
Type LocalityFukang, Xinjiang, China
Mineral GroupStony-iron meteorite
Usesscientific research, meteorite collecting, jewelry, ornamental
Associated Mineralsolivine (forsterite), kamacite, taenite, troilite, chromite
Rarityrare
Description
A polished slice of the Fukang pallasite meteorite, featuring numerous translucent, fractured, amber-to-orange olivine crystals set within a dark, opaque metallic iron-nickel matrix.
Geological Context
Pallasites are thought to have formed at the core-mantle boundary of differentiated asteroids, representing a mixture of silicate mantle material and metallic core material. They are extraterrestrial in origin.
