Aletai meteorite
The Aletai meteorite belongs to the rare IIIE-an group—iron meteorites with anomalous properties, a special chemical composition, and originating from the core of an ancient asteroid. It was representatives of this group that formed billions of years ago in the depths of protoplanetary bodies in the early stages of the Solar System's existence.
Aletai is the most famous meteorite of this classification. Its fragments were found in China, and the total mass of known material exceeds 74 tons. The fragments are located along a large scattering zone, indicating the destruction of a massive cosmic body during its entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
In June 2021, another large fragment weighing about 23 tons was discovered in the steppe area of Altai County (Aletai). The meteorite was lying under a layer of soil and grass and was covered with light brown rust. The site of the find is located near the areas where the Wuxilike and Akebulake arrays were previously discovered, confirming their common origin.
The meteorite consists mainly of iron and nickel. Its structure contains characteristic metal phases, which, after polishing, reveal a crystalline pattern that can only be formed during extremely slow cooling in outer space. This is a direct indication of the extraterrestrial origin of the material. The Aletai fragment is a genuine piece of the core of an ancient asteroid, a unique cosmic artifact billions of years old, combining scientific value, a history of discovery, and a tangible connection to deep space.
Chemical composition:
The mass consists mainly of kamacite (6.82-7.21 wt% Ni) and taenite (14.45-41.13 wt% Ni), with small amounts of plessite, schreibersite (34.20-48.86 wt% Ni) and gaxonite (4.68-4.87 wt% Ni, 0.13-0.27 wt% Co). Gaxonite is present in the center of plessite. The width of the kamacite band is approximately 1.0±0.2 mm. The composition of metallic Fe-Ni and the presence of gaxonite correspond to iron IIIE.
Fans of space themes and NASA can order this Aletai meteorite on our website or purchase it in our store at 50b Khreshchatyk Street, Kyiv. We provide fast delivery anywhere in the world and guarantee the quality of each product.
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