SKU:S415

Aletai Meteorite Altay Prefecture China

Name: Aletai Meteorite Altay Prefecture China
Brand: ForeverGems_Tuc26
SKU: S415
Price: 800.00 ZAR
Availability: InStock

Aletai Meteorite Altay Prefecture China

R800.00 ZAR

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1 in stock

The Aletai meteorite takes its name from the Altay Prefecture in Northern China's Xinjiang region — the landscape where fragments of one of the most remarkable iron meteorites ever discovered were gradually recovered over more than a century. First identified in 1898 under the name Armanty, the meteorite was known by several names as additional masses came to light. It was not until 2016 that the scientific community formally unified all known fragments under the single name Aletai, confirming what the chemistry had long suggested: that every recovered mass originated from the same ancient cosmic body.

The Altay Prefecture was the final destination of a fall that produced the largest meteorite strewn field ever recorded on Earth — at least 430 kilometres long, almost certainly the result of a unique stone-skipping atmospheric trajectory. Total recovered mass exceeds 74 tonnes, placing Aletai among the most massive iron meteorite falls on record.

Classified as an anomalous IIIE iron meteorite and a coarse octahedrite unlike any other known sample, the Aletai meteorite carries a mineralogy rich in kamacite, taenite, plessite, and rare accessory minerals, alongside elevated cobalt, gold, and iridium. Its Widmanstätten pattern is distinct even from other IIIE irons. This is a meteorite that rewards both the collector and the scientist.

The Specimen Details

✓ Meteorite Type: Anomalous IIIE Iron Meteorite (Coarse Octahedrite)

✓ Composition: Kamacite, Taenite, Plessite; elevated Cobalt, Gold & Iridium

✓ Accessory Minerals: Schreibersite, Troilite, Cohenite, Haxonite, Daubréelite

✓ Strewn Field: 430+ km — longest ever recorded on Earth

✓ Total Recovered Mass: Exceeds 74 tonnes

✓ Fall Location: Northern Xinjiang (Altay Prefecture), China

✓ First Identified: 1898 (as Armanty); formally named Aletai in 2016

✓ Specimen Size: ≈32mm x 19mm x 13mm

✓ Weight: 35 gram

Own a genuine Aletai meteorite from the Altay Prefecture — a fragment of China's most extraordinary cosmic event, formally named in 2016.

Before You Add to Cart ✨

Online Only: This exact piece is available online only. Similar pieces may be available in store so please check with us before you visit Forever Gems in Franschhoek. Want to view it in-store? Just ask — we’ll arrange it.

Photos: We shoot for accuracy, but colors may vary slightly by screen or lighting.

Size & Weight: Full details are in the description. Please check before buying.

What You See Is What You Get: The item pictured is the exact piece you’ll receive.

Authenticity Guaranteed 🛡️

Every specimen at Forever Gems is personally hand-selected and verified. We source exclusively from trusted IMCA-registered dealers, artisanal miners, and long-standing partners we meet with annually at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

Any replica or reproduction fossils are always clearly labeled and sold separately.

Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee

We stand behind the authenticity of every fossil we sell. If a fossil purchased from Forever Gems can be scientifically proven not to be authentic, it may be returned at any time for a full refund, provided supporting proof is supplied. This lifetime authenticity guarantee is in addition to our standard 30-day return policy.

Rather than paper certificates, we rely on over 13 years of experience, expert knowledge, and trusted supplier relationships to ensure authenticity and quality.

Shipping & Collection 🚚

We ship nationwide with The Courier Guy and RAM Hand-to-Hand Couriers primarily and worldwide with FedEx. Tracking provided on all orders.

Local pickup: Wellington by appointment, Franschhoek Store Fri–Sun, or Franschhoek Village Market Saturdays (weather permitting).

Own courier: We’ll notify you when ready for collection from Wellington, SA.

International: Shipping options show at checkout. Duties/taxes, if any, are paid by the buyer.

All specimens are securely packaged to arrive safely. Questions? Contact us

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