Pallasite – PALChubut, Argentina

Pallasites are the most dazzling extraterrestrial substance known, and Esquel is among the most coveted. Esquel’s crystals were not heavily shocked, and as a result, its highly translucent olivine crystals range in hue from amber to forest-green. This specimen also contains gem-quality olivine or peridot (birthstone of August); relatedly Esquel was the first pallasite material to be utilized in modern jewelry applications. Pallasites formed at the core-mantle boundary of an asteroid after stony olivine (a magnesium-rich silicate mineral) settled atop the asteroid’s molten metal core. This partial slice has a Macovich Collection provenance—as does the giant complete slice of Esquel on display at the American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center for Earth & Space. As a result of their sheer beauty, pallasites are the most sought after of all meteorite types. Named after 18th Century scientist Peter Pallas (an honor Pallas is fortunate to have received, as he never accepted the fact that the strange boulder he found originated in outer space), pallasites are exceedingly rare, comprising less than 1% of all known meteorites. This superlative complete slice showcases a sparkling mosaic of crystalline olivine and peridot in an iron-nickel matrix.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalog note.