Pallasite – PMG; Atacama Desert, Chile

Similar to lot 20. Only 0.2% of all meteorites are pallasites because these rocks originated from the narrow mantle/core boundary of an asteroid. The crystals seen here are the result of small chunks of the asteroid’s stony mantle becoming suspended in molten metal of its iron-nickel core. The cut and polished metallic matrix features crystals of gleaming olivine and peridot (birthstone of August) in varied hues of amber. The meteorite from which this slice was cut was found in the Atacama Desert atop the Andes, the highest desert on Earth.

Both sides are polished to a mirror finish and translucent olivine and peridot are plentiful. The natural exterior surface of the meteorite arcs across the top while a cut surface forms the base.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

82 x 149 x 2mm (3.25 x 6 x 0.1 in.) and 90.3 grams