{"product_id":"aletai-meteorite-sculptural-anomalous-iiie-iron-specimen","title":"Aletai Meteorite – Sculptural Anomalous IIIE Iron Specimen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 41-gram Aletai meteorite has a compact, upright form with a distinctly sculptural character. Its irregular surfaces are built up with raised metallic structures, deep recesses and contrasting textured areas, giving the specimen a remarkable three-dimensional appearance. From the front and sides, different layers of natural relief become visible, making this a particularly characterful individual piece from the Aletai meteorite fall.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeteorite Type:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Anomalous IIIE Iron Meteorite (Coarse Octahedrite)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComposition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Kamacite, Taenite \u0026amp; Plessite, with elevated Cobalt, Gold \u0026amp; Iridium\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAccessory Minerals:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Schreibersite, Troilite, Cohenite, Haxonite \u0026amp; Daubréelite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrewn Field:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e More than 430 km — the largest recorded on Earth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTotal Recovered Mass:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e More than 74 tonnes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFall Location:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Northern Xinjiang, Altay Prefecture, China\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst Identified:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1898, originally catalogued as Armanty\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormal Name:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Aletai, adopted in 2016\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecimen Size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e ≈24mm wide × 15mm deep × 30mm high\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e✓ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 41g \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe History of the Aletai Meteorite\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Aletai meteorite holds a remarkable distinction in meteorite history: its strewn field extends for more than \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e430 kilometres\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making it the largest meteorite debris field ever recorded on Earth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScientists believe this extraordinary dispersal may have resulted from a highly unusual atmospheric trajectory. The incoming meteorite is thought to have entered Earth's atmosphere at a shallow angle, potentially skipping through the upper atmosphere like a stone across water before re-entering and eventually breaking apart over Northern Xinjiang.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis unusual journey also helps explain why the meteorite was not initially recognised as one enormous fall. Fragments recovered from different parts of the vast strewn field were catalogued separately for decades under names including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArmanty, Xinjiang and Ulasitai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Chemical and mineralogical studies eventually established that these materials shared a common origin, and in 2016 the known material was formally named \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAletai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, after the Altay Prefecture of China.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAletai is classified as an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eanomalous IIIE iron meteorite and coarse octahedrite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, distinguished by its unusual chemistry and a Widmanstätten pattern unlike other known IIIE irons. Its chemistry includes elevated concentrations of elements such as cobalt, gold and iridium. With a total recovered mass exceeding 74 tonnes, Aletai represents an extraordinary meteorite event and one of the most fascinating iron meteorites available to collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdd This Sculptural Aletai to Your Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith its upright form, pronounced relief and intricate metallic textures, this 41-gram Aletai is a fascinating specimen to explore from every angle. Add it to your collection and own a distinctive fragment from the world's largest recorded meteorite strewn field.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ForeverGems_SA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46971714076868,"sku":"S407","price":760.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1599\/4699\/files\/S407AletaiMeteorite_1.webp?v=1791466303","url":"https:\/\/www.forevergems.co.za\/products\/aletai-meteorite-sculptural-anomalous-iiie-iron-specimen","provider":"ForeverGems_SA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}