Meteorite-Polished Slice with Outer Space Gemstones

Meteorite-Polished Slice with Outer Space Gemstones
Pallasite
Chubut, Argentina
This large section of Esquel has been polished on both sides to display the maximum reflection of the iron-nickel matrix, as well as the many beautiful, translucent, lightly shocked green olivine crystals. Discovered in 1951 by an Argentine farmer, the meteorite known as Esquel has been in great demand as the most beautiful of the rare type of meteorites known as pallasites. There are three major types of meteorites - iron, stony and stony-iron. Pallasites are stony-iron meteorites originating from the core-mantle boundary of large planetary-sized asteroids which were destroyed early in the formation of the solar system. This rare type of meteorite consists of iron-nickel from the core of the asteroid as well as olivine crystals or, peridot, from the mantle. Peridot crystals (the gem state of olivine crystals) are the only known gemstones from space found in meteorites. Esquel is considered to be the most beautiful of all pallasites and is now rarely available, as the single discovered meteorite has been completely sectioned with only the main mass end piece remaining. Measuring 74 x 58 x 3 millimeters; Weighing 63.2 grams; Mount measuring 6 x 5 1/2in