{"product_id":"muonionalusta-iron-meteorite-50-9g-full-slice-from-the-core-of-an-asteroid","title":"Muonionalusta Iron Meteorite - 50.9g Full Slice - From The Core Of An Asteroid!","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeep within the vast expanse of northern Scandinavia, concealed beneath the enchanting spectacle of the Northern Lights, rests the ancient Muonionalusta meteorite. With a distinctive imprint and a narrative spanning over a million years, this iron meteorite stands as a true marvel of natural history. Classified as an iron meteorite owing to its composition of iron and nickel, this pristine octahedron descended from the heavens over a million years in the past, alighting in northern Scandinavia just west of the Swedish-Finnish border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout several ice ages, the Muonionalusta meteorite lay concealed, awaiting humanity to discover It. Its impeccably proportioned and exquisite pattern arises from the extraordinary \"Widmanstätten texture,\" a result of the meteorite's exceptionally gradual cooling process. This distinguished pattern bestows the Muonionalusta meteorite with its extraordinary allure, and has attracted the attention of many high end, luxury watch companies such as Rolex, along with many high end jewelry companies. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFriendly Reminder: iron meteorites are going to exhibit signs of rust.  It’s solid nickel\/iron! This is a normal occurrence with iron meteorites. At some point in its life with you, it will need to be cared for.  Please see our care guide on our FAQ for further details on how to keep rust at bay.  Remember, you can always send the meteorite back to us at any time you feel necessary and we will re-stabilize the stone and bring it back to perfection, which is at a minimum cost ($30-$50 depending upon the size of the stone). \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Iron Meteorites:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIron 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Interstellar Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51707038630183,"sku":null,"price":560.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0682\/2556\/4967\/files\/A218B449-461F-463E-AAFB-C0DA518CF63B.jpg?v=1785005589","url":"https:\/\/theinterstellarcollection.com\/products\/muonionalusta-iron-meteorite-50-9g-full-slice-from-the-core-of-an-asteroid","provider":"The Interstellar Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}