What is Pallasite?
Pallasite is a stony-iron meteorite material in which olivine crystals are suspended in an iron-nickel matrix, producing one of nature's most dramatic extraterrestrial textures.
Mineralogy and crystal structure
Reference formula: Fe-Ni + (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Pallasite is multi-phase extraterrestrial material, not one mineral species. It intentionally receives no single artificial lattice; olivine and Fe-Ni metal require separate structures. Pallasite is classified with meteorite material and has a not applicable crystal system. Typical hardness is 6–7 on the Mohs scale and specific gravity is approximately 3.0–7.5.
Colour, lustre and habit
Typical colours include metallic grey, olive-green, brown, black. The usual granular, brecciated, massive habit and metallic, vitreous lustre help describe a specimen, but colour alone is not diagnostic.
Formation and notable localities
Pallasite forms in or is associated with differentiation and metal-silicate mixing in meteorite parent bodies. Important documented localities include Seymchan, Esquel, Brenham, Fukang and authenticated meteorite finds worldwide.
A window into a broken planetary core
Pallasite is a high-value display material because a slice can show translucent olivine and metal together, like a polished cross-section of a differentiated asteroid.
Collecting and care
Store dry and stable, monitor metal for corrosion and keep certificates, classification and provenance with every specimen.
