Aletai Meteorite Slice - ALT-01

A genuine slice of the Aletai meteorite, an iron-nickel meteorite recovered from the Altay region of Xinjiang, China. Aletai is one of the largest known iron meteorites, with recovery ongoing since 1898 and a total known mass exceeding 74,000 kg.

Classified as a coarse octahedrite in the rare IIIE-an chemical group, Aletai is composed primarily of iron-nickel metal with trace cobalt, gallium, and other elements that give it a distinct chemical makeup.

When cut, polished, and etched, slices reveal the Widmanstätten pattern - bold, interlocking bands that form only through extremely slow cooling over millions of years within a metallic asteroid core.

Each slice is one-of-a-kind - the specimen pictured is the exact piece you will receive. Size, shape, and weight vary by listing.

Natural meteoritic material may contain surface oxidation, fractures, and irregularities. These are authentic characteristics of the specimen, not defects.