Pallasite – PMG Magadan District, Russia (62°54’ N, 152°26’ E)

Details

SEYMCHAN SPHERE — AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL CRYSTAL BALL
Pallasite – PMG
Magadan District, Russia (62°54’ N, 152°26’ E)
Originating from a large Seymchan meteorite sample that underwent a number of stages of grinding and polishing in a sphere-making apparatus. Dazzling amber-hued olivine crystals are distributed throughout a highly-polished iron-nickel matrix.
53mm (2in.) diameter
434g

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Lot Essay

Similar to the previous lots, less than 0.2% of all meteorites are pallasites, the most beautiful extraterrestrial substances known. Pallasites are formed at the core-mantle boundary of an asteroid that underwent mixing of molten metal from the core with olivine from the mantle. The result is olivine crystals in suspension in an iron-nickel matrix. Seymchan also contains gem-quality olivine otherwise known as peridot (birthstone of August). Pallasites are the most dazzling of all meteorites and this is a wondrous three-dimensional presentation of a pallasite, revealing aspects of the structure impossible to see in a flat slab. This specimen can rightfully be considered an otherworldly crystal ball.

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