2.1g Imilac Pallasite Meteorite - Discovered in 1822 in Chile!

The Imilac meteorite is one of the most visually striking meteorites ever discovered and is a classic example of a pallasite. It was found in 1822 in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, a region whose dry climate helped preserve the meteorite remarkably well. Rather than a single large mass, Imilac was recovered as many fragments scattered across the desert, suggesting it broke apart during its descent through Earth’s atmosphere. Since its discovery, it has become one of the most studied pallasites in the world.

What makes Imilac especially distinctive is its internal structure. When cut and polished, it reveals translucent crystals of olivine suspended within an iron-nickel metal framework. Many of these crystals are gem-quality and range in color from yellow-green to deep olive, giving Imilac a dramatic, almost stained-glass appearance. This combination reflects its origin at the boundary between the metallic core and rocky mantle of a differentiated asteroid, where metal and silicate were mixed before being ejected by a catastrophic collision early in the solar system’s history. Today, Imilac specimens are prized by both scientists and collectors for their beauty and for the insight they provide into planetary formation processes.

About Stony-Iron Meteorites: Stony-iron meteorites, the rarest and often considered the most visually-desirable of the three meteorite categories, consist of iron-nickel, silicate minerals and gemstones. Within the stony-iron category, we have two different types: Pallasites and Mesosiderites.