Meteorite | Imilac | Pallasite | 18,8 g

Product detailed description

It was 1822. The arid Atacama Desert in northern Chile gave up its secret when explorers came across strange, heavy, metallic fragments scattered across the inhospitable landscape. These stones glistened and stood out from their surroundings, which immediately attracted their attention. As time went on, more fragments were found, and so the Imilac meteorite was introduced to the world of science and collecting.

Imilac is a very rare type of meteorite called a pallasite, which makes up less than 1% of all meteorites found to date. To give you an idea, only about 100 pallasites have been discovered on Earth so far.

These meteorites form in the transition region between the core and mantle of larger asteroids and only reach Earth through collisions between these giant bodies. Imilac is made up of a metallic base of iron and nickel in which olivine crystals are embedded. These crystals glow various shades of green, yellow and gold, while the metal part of the meteorite reveals beautiful Widmanstätten patterns when etched.

Due to being found in the extremely dry environment of the Atacama Desert, this piece has been preserved in exceptionally good condition. It is one of the most beautiful pallasites ever found, making it a sought-after specimen for collectors and scientists around the world.