18.2g Aletai Meteorite - Beautiful Pattern with A Strike of Shreibersite! From The Core Of An Asteroid!

You are viewing a stunning full slice of the famous Aletai meteorite!  This specimen weighs 278.9g and has beautiful inclusions in it. This is a perfect iron meteorite to add to any collection, and is quite large for extra viewing pleasure!

About Aletai:

Since 1898, five massive iron-rich meteorites have been discovered scattered over a vast area of approximately 430 kilometers along the China-Mongolia border. It wasn't until recent years, however, that scientists were able to identify all five fragments as remnants of the same ancient space rock, now known as Aletai.

This iron meteorite created the longest known strewnfield known today, and computer models suggest that the unusual entry angle of Aletai is responsible for its unprecedented dispersal pattern.  As the meteorite skipped across the Earth's surface, it released energy gradually over its long trajectory, rather than concentrating it upon impact. This unusual flight pattern provides strong evidence that the Aletai meteorites originated from a single event.

About Iron Meteorites:

Iron meteorites consist almost entirely of nickel and iron and are thought to originate from the cores of ancient, differentiated asteroids. In the early solar system, these large asteroids underwent internal melting, causing heavier elements like iron and nickel to sink toward their centers—much like the Earth’s own core. Over time, catastrophic collisions shattered these bodies, sending fragments hurtling through space until some eventually landed on Earth as meteorites.

One of the most striking features of iron meteorites is the Widmanstätten pattern—a distinctive interlocking crystalline structure of nickel-iron alloys that can be revealed through careful acid etching. This process requires expert preparation, including stabilization, slicing, and polishing, as even slight errors can damage the specimen. The pattern itself is often called the meteorite’s “thumbprint” because it is entirely unique and cannot be replicated in laboratory conditions. Its formation requires incredibly slow cooling—about one degree Celsius every 10,000 years—making it a visual testament to the vast timescales and processes that shaped our solar system.