Iron meteorite Aletai from China weighing 7.60 grams More
The Aletai meteorite is a rare iron meteorite (coarse octahedrite) belonging to the exceptionally rare chemical group IIIE-an (chemical group IIIE with anomalous properties). This type is extraordinary, as currently, only two meteorites fall into this group. The Aletai meteorite distinguishes itself from other members of the IIIE group with higher gold (Au) and cobalt (Co) content and unexpected iridium (Ir) content that does not follow the typical Au-Ir trend of other IIIE iron meteorites.
Composition and Structure:
- Main minerals: Kamacite (76% volume), taenite (10%), plessite (10.6%), with schreibersite (3.4%) and minor amounts of troilite, cohenite, and daubréelite.
- Widmanstätten Patterns: The meteorite features beautiful medium-sized Widmanstätten patterns with kamacite bandwidths ranging from 0.9–1.8 mm and an average of 1.2 ± 0.2 mm. Coarse laths of schreibersite measure up to 1.2 mm wide and 8.9 mm long in etched polished sections.
- Additional Features: Rare minerals such as small grains of schreibersite (<20 μm) are found along the grain boundaries of kamacite, taenite, and sulfides and inside plessite.
- Weight: 7.60 grams
- Sizes: 30 x 12 x 6 mm
Due to its unique chemical composition and internal structure, the Aletai meteorite stands unmatched in the world meteorite collection. This exceptional combination of chemical elements and petrologic properties suggests that all pieces of the Aletai meteorite originated from the same fall event.
Origin: Aletai region, Xinjiang, China.
This meteorite is an invaluable treasure for collectors and a captivating object for enthusiasts of geology and space, notable not only for its beauty but also for its scientific value.
!!! You are buying the exact tektite that is shown in the photo !!!