Name: Iron var. Kamacite with fine Widmanstätten patterns
Brand: The Arkenstone
Price: 2000 USD
Availability: InStock

Iron var. Kamacite with fine Widmanstätten patterns - image 1

Updated 1d ago

Iron var. Kamacite with fine Widmanstätten patterns

A thick, beautiful example of a rare extraterrestrial iron, from the Brahin meteorite (found 1810), and of which there is reported 823 kg recovered. This specimen shows the thick and rich patterning of prominent Widmanstätten patterns, which this material is known for. These patterns reflect the different cooling and physical properties of closely related forms of the extraterrestrial iron, as it cooled slowly over millions of years. While this meteorite is known as a pallasite, and some sections have holes with olivine crystals within, this seems a solid slab. This is a 509 gram slice, well polished on both sides, well proportioned as a display specimen, and showing amazing thick patterning. We obtained a small collection of pretty, well-labeled meteorite slabs and thought we would share some on iRocks gallery for our customers, as these are, after all, simply another variety of native iron. Kamacite is a nickel-iron alloy mineral, with a composition of roughly 90% iron and 10% nickel, that is a principal component of most iron meteorites. It is known for forming thick, prominent characteristic geometric patterns, called Widmanstätten patterns, when etched with acid, which helps identify different meteorite types. However, the mineral does not occur naturally on Earth. These distinctive geometric patterns are formed by the intergrowth of two nickel-iron alloys, kamacite and taenite, during the meteorite's slow cooling over millions of years. 510 grams.

$2,000.00