Allende Meteorite — The Oldest Matter That Can Be Seen And Touched

This is a select complete slice of the most studied meteorite of all time. Rare by virtue of its carbonaceous chondrite classification, Allende contains particles that scientists believe were created during the explosion of a super nova prior to the formation of our solar system. The white calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs) seen here are aggregates of stardust — and Allende is among the relatively few meteorites to contain such particles. CAIs are also among the first particles to have condensed out of the gaseous solar nebula from which our solar system formed. In effect, the specimen now offered contains the oldest matter mankind can discern and touch without a microscope.

Thousands of scientific papers have been written about Allende, and the mineral panguite — named after the ancient Chinese god Pan Gu, the creator of the world who separated yin (earth) from yang (sky) — was first discovered in Allende specimens. The field of cosmochemistry has not been the same since February 8, 1969 when Allende meteorites themselves separated out of the sky and rained down near Chihuahua, Mexico.

Rimmed with patches of fusion crust, dappled with CAIs and a galaxy of other inclusions, this is a mesmerizing specimen of early cosmic history.