Fukang: One Of The Greatest Extraterrestrial Gemstones Of The 21st Century

| January 5, 2016 | Astronomy | No Comments

MessageToEagle.com – When the Fukang meteorite slammed into the surface of Earth, one suspected this extraterrestrial gemstone could mirror the stellar beauty of the cosmos, and it really did.

Its true beauty was revealed when the Fukang meteorite was divided into slices. The Fukang pallasite is one of the greatest meteorite discoveries of the 21st century.

Fukang is a spectacular pallasite found in the 2000s in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China’s Xinjiang Province. Photo: James. St. John
Fukang is a spectacular pallasite found in the 2000s in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China’s Xinjiang Province. Photo: James. St. John

Pallasites are extremely rare even among meteorites (only about 1% of all meteorites are this type).

The Fukang’s main mass is over 925 pounds (over 420 kilograms).

It displays celestial yellow-green olivine crystals in an prominent nickel-iron matrix. Backlit slices from the Fukang mass are reminiscent of stained glass windows crafted in the ancient solar system.

These stellar gemstones are composed of about 50% olivine (peridot), 50% nickel-iron and 100% breathtaking beauty. This is the main mass of the Fukang meteorite, which failed to sell after being valued at $2million. The intact space rock weighed as much as a small car! Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory
These stellar gemstones are composed of about 50% olivine (peridot), 50% nickel-iron and 100% breathtaking beauty. This is the main mass of the Fukang meteorite, which failed to sell after being valued at $2million. The intact space rock weighed as much as a small car! Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory

What makes the meteorite so extraordinary is without doubt its amazing glow!

Within the rock, translucent golden crystals of a mineral called olivine gleamed among a silvery honeycomb of nickel-iron.

This very beautiful and rare pallasite meteorite was discovered in 2000, in the Gobi Desert in China’s Xinjiang Province by an anonymous finder who recovered a 1003 kg specimen.

The Fukang's polished face provides a window into its wondrous mosaic of extraterrestrial crystals. It's an astounding treasure - a phenomenal and prestigious centerpiece for any natural history exhibit. Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory
The Fukang’s polished face provides a window into its wondrous mosaic of extraterrestrial crystals. It’s an astounding treasure – a phenomenal and prestigious centerpiece for any natural history exhibit. Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory

Pallasites, which are thought to be relics of forming planets, are a type of stony-iron meteorite with beautiful olivine crystals.

Marvin Killgore of the Arizona Meteorite Laboratory holds a 10 kg Fukang Slice Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory
Marvin Killgore of the Arizona Meteorite Laboratory holds a 10 kg Fukang Slice Image credit: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory

After its discovery the Fukang meteorite was divided into slices and an anonymous collector holds the largest portion, which weighs 925lb. in 2008, this piece was expected to fetch $2million (£1.26million) at auction at Bonham’s in New York – but it remained unsold.

Cool Science facts - Fukang meteorite is one of the greatest extraterrestrial gemstones ever found.

This rare meteorite is considered so valuable that even tiny chunks sell in the region of £20-30 per gram. Arizona’s Southwest Meteorite Laboratory, which holds about 70lb of the rock, says the remarkable find will turn out to be ‘one of the greatest meteorite discoveries of the 21st century.

MessageToEagle.com

source: Southwest Meteorite Laboratory

Related Posts