MARJALAHTI METEORITE — LARGE PARTIAL SLICE OF A RARE WITNESSED FALL PALLASITE
Pallasite - PAL
Viipuri, Karelia ASSR

Marjalahti is the gold standard of pallasites. Marjalahti fell on the Finnish/Soviet border on June 1, 1902 and is one of only pallasites whose descent to Earth was witnessed. Its olivine crystals are homogenously chartreuse and there is no other pallasite with a similar appearance. It is extremely difficult to obtain a slice of Marjalahti with intact crystals for multiple reasons. Unlike the other pallasites in this offering that experienced somewhat softer landings, Marjalahti crashed into a granite outcropping—which shattered its olivine crystals at an end of the meteorite. Its finder, who believed he was blessed with otherworldly riches, dipped the other end of the meteorite in acid in a failed effort to remove the nickel iron matrix from the still gleaming crystals. It was later determined that these same crystals were so pure that they should be the international standard for olivine composition and crystals were then plucked out and distributed to labs and research centers for the calibration of their instruments. Only three kilos of sliced Marjalahti with intact olivine crystals exist, and the current offering, deaccessioned during an exchange with the University of Helsinki’s Geological Museum. This is an important, historic specimen of a distinguished meteorite which features Marjalahti’s signature resplendent crystals. There is one large curve of fusion crust and one cut edge. This specimen also reveals where one crystal had been plucked from its margin at the lower left. This is one of the largest slices of one of the most sought-after pallasites available. 133 x 162 x 3mm (5.25 x 6.25 x 0.1 inches) and 287.4 grams (0.6 pounds).

Estimate: $12,000 - 15,000