A TRANSITIONAL SLICE OF SEYMCHAN METEORITE

DISCOVERED IN RUSSIA, 1967; MODERN CUTTING

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A TRANSITIONAL SLICE OF SEYMCHAN METEORITE
DISCOVERED IN RUSSIA, 1967; MODERN CUTTING
A highly aesthetic Seymchan transitional pallasite and a notable example of the textural heterogeneity of the Seymchan meteorite. The metal-rich areas display a prominent Widmanstätten pattern and represent the olivine-free region at the top of the iron-nickel core. The olivine-rich aggregates were derived from a fragmented olivine layer at the bottom of the mantle that was invaded by a metallic liquid during mixing at the core-mantle boundary; supported on fitted stand.
7½ x 7½in. (19 x 19cm.)

Lot Essay

Seymchan is an unusual and remarkable pallasite; large portions of the rock are olivine free. Pallasites are formed at the core-mantle boundary of an asteroid that experienced melting: molten metal from the core mixed with olivine crystals settling downwards from the mantle.

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