Sericho Pallasite
Image: Ahmad Fairuz (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameSericho Pallasite
Chemical Formula(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 (Olivine); Ni-Fe (Nickel-Iron); Mg3(PO4)2 (Farringtonite)
Mohs Hardness4
Streak ColorWhite (Olivine, Farringtonite); Gray to Black (Nickel-Iron)
CleavageVariable, from none (Nickel-Iron) to poor (Olivine) to perfect (Farringtonite)
FractureConchoidal (Olivine); Hackly (Nickel-Iron); Uneven (Farringtonite)
Specific Gravity4.5
Colorsgolden-yellow, amber, dark brown, black, silvery-gray, cream
TransparencyTransparent to Translucent (Olivine, Farringtonite); Opaque (Nickel-Iron)
Type LocalitySericho, Kenya
Mineral GroupStony-Iron Meteorite (Pallasite class); composed of Silicates, Native Elements/Alloys, Phosphates
Usesscientific research, meteorite collecting, ornamental slices, jewelry
Associated Mineralsolivine, kamacite, taenite, farringtonite
Rarityrare
Description
A polished slice of Sericho Pallasite displaying numerous angular to rounded crystals of golden-yellow to dark brown olivine, embedded within a silvery-gray nickel-iron metallic matrix, with some lighter cream-colored farringtonite also visible.
Geological Context
Pallasites are believed to have formed at the core-mantle boundary of differentiated asteroids, representing a mixture of the asteroid's metallic core and silicate mantle. They provide insights into the early solar system and planetary formation processes.
