Pallasite

Pallasites
— Class —
A slice of the Esquel pallasite, clearly showing the large olivine crystals suspended in the metal matrix.
TypeStony-iron
Subgroups
CompositionMeteoric iron, Silicates
Total known specimens49 Main group, 5 Eagle Station, 2 Pyroxene grouplet, 38 ungrouped (93 total)

The pallasites are a class of stony–iron meteorite. They are relatively rare, and can be distinguished by the presence of large olivine crystal inclusions in the ferro-nickel matrix.

These crystals represent mantle and core material from differentiated planetesimals, which were destroyed by violent collisions during the early formation of the Solar System.

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