Aletai Meteorite [IIIE-an]

Aletai is a rare iron meteorite from Xinjiang, China, officially classified as Iron, IIIE-an (anomalous IIIE). Composed predominantly of iron-nickel metal, it originated within the differentiated metallic interior of an ancient asteroidal body formed during the earliest stages of the Solar System, more than 4.4 billion years ago. Following the disruption of that body, fragments travelled through space before eventually encountering Earth. During atmospheric entry, intense heating and ablation shaped the exterior before the meteorite reached the surface. Aletai specimens may retain distinctive regmaglypts, shallow depressions formed by atmospheric ablation, together with natural fractures and weathering acquired during their time on Earth. Our specimens are preserved in their original form, retaining the sculpted fusion surface created during their passage through the atmosphere. Large Aletai masses are commonly sectioned into smaller specimens and processed for jewellery and other applications. Substantial masses retaining their original exterior are consequently uncommon. At 1-3 tonnes, these specimens represent an exceptional scale of preservation. Within the iron-nickel metal is evidence of a much earlier stage of its history. Iron meteorites originate from the metallic interiors of differentiated asteroidal bodies, where the metal cooled extraordinarily slowly over geological timescales. This produced the interlocking structures of kamacite and taenite, which can reveal the distinctive Widmanstätten pattern when cut and etched. [The latter two photographs offer an insight into this internal structure, revealing the crystalline arrangement preserved within the Aletai meteorite and providing a view beyond its fusion exterior.] Formed billions of years ago, the Widmanstätten structure preserves evidence of the meteorite's ancient cooling history. Aletai's unusual chemical characteristics and exceptional recovered masses make it an important meteorite for the study of asteroid differentiation and the early evolution of the Solar System. STAT Type: Iron Meteorite - IIIE-an Name: Aletai Origin: Xinjiang, CN Discovery: 1898 Total Recorded Mass: ~74 tonnes Composition: Iron-nickel metal Age: Approximately 4.5 billion years Status: Meteorite discoveries Example photographed: 1.45 tonne [1450 kg] Example size: 100 x 60 x 50 cm Preorder availability: 1-3 tonne Documented and certified by IMCA