Seymchan Sculptural Showpiece

A UNIQUE DISPLAY FEATURING FEATURING FIVE COMPLETE METEORITE SLICES AND AN END PIECE

This unique display piece consists of a section of the Seymchan meteorite, sliced to reveal its mesmerizing internal structure, while keeping the original exterior of the meteorite intact. The internal slices show the shimmering, translucent olivine crystals, unique to pallasites, embedded in an iron-nickel matrix. On one side, the slices have been etched to reveal the beautiful interlocking crystalline structure of the metal known as the Widmanstätten pattern.

Seymchan is among the most celebrated of all meteorites, remarkable for combining the qualities of both iron meteorites and pallasites within a single mass. Discovered in 1967 in the Magadan District of the Russian Far East, it has become especially prized for the variety and beauty of the structures visible when cut and prepared.

The present display is exceptional in the way it reveals these contrasting characteristics while preserving the natural outer form of the meteorite. The internal slices show translucent olivine crystals, the hallmark of pallasitic material, suspended within an iron-nickel matrix. These crystals, ranging in tone from honey to olive brown, were formed deep within the parent body and are among the most visually striking features found in any meteorite. On one side, the metal has been etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern, the interlocking crystalline structure produced by the extraordinarily slow cooling of iron-nickel alloys in space over millions of years. On the other, the polished surface presents the matrix in a more reflective and sculptural manner.

REFERENCES:

Meteoritical Bulletin Entry for Seymchan