Lot 32
PALLASITE METEORITE SPHERE
SEYMCHAN, MAGADAN DISTRICT, RUSSIA (62°54’ N, 152°26’ E), FORMED 4.56 BILLION YEARS B.P.
Auction: 28 May 2026 from 13:00 BST
Description
the sphere with abundant olivine crystals suspended within the iron-nickel matrix, raised on a bespoke wooden mount
Dimensions
Diameter: 5.1 cm
Weight: 309g
Provenance
Discovered in 1967 in a remote area of Siberia by the Soviet geologist F. A. Mednikov. The original mass of this meteorite was found in the bed of a stream flowing into the River Hekandue near the town of Seymchan.
Footnote
This specimen is abundant with extraterrestrial gemstones, showcasing a mesmerising array of olivine and peridot crystals. These crystals are the remnants of the asteroid's stony mantle, which became embedded within the molten iron-nickel core during its formation 4.56 billion years ago. This remarkable process occurred as the asteroid's metallic core cooled and solidified, trapping fragments of its silicate rich mantle and preserving them in their pristine, otherworldly form. The vibrant hues of the olivine and peridot crystals are a testament to the intense heat and pressure these materials endured in the asteroid's interior.