Seymchan Pallasite Meteorite

Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108103612" class="extiw" title="d:Q108103612"><span title="Wikipedian and OpenStreetMap mapper from Cologne, Open Data activist">Raimond Spekking</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Mineral NameSeymchan Pallasite Meteorite

Chemical Formula(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 (olivine) + Fe-Ni (nickel-iron alloy)

Mohs Hardness4

Streak ColorWhite (olivine), Gray-black (nickel-iron)

CleavagePoor (olivine), None (nickel-iron)

FractureConchoidal (olivine), Hackly (nickel-iron)

Specific Gravity4.5

Colorssilvery-gray, yellowish-green, brownish-green, golden-yellow

TransparencyTransparent to translucent (olivine), Opaque (nickel-iron)

Type LocalitySeymchan, Magadan Oblast, Russia

Mineral GroupStony-iron meteorite (Pallasite class)

Usesscientific study, collector specimens, jewelry

Associated Mineralsolivine, kamacite, taenite, troilite, schreibersite, chromite

Rarityrare

Description

This is a polished slice of the Seymchan pallasite meteorite, displaying numerous translucent, yellowish-orange to brownish-green olivine crystals embedded within a shiny, silvery-gray nickel-iron metal matrix. The backlighting highlights the gemmy quality of the olivine.

Geological Context

Pallasites are thought to have formed at the core-mantle boundary of differentiated asteroids, where molten metal from the core mixed with olivine-rich mantle material. They represent some of the most beautiful and scientifically significant extraterrestrial materials.

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