Seymchan Meteorite Sphere

AN OTHERWORLDLY SCULPTURE OF GEMSTONES IN AN IRON-NICKEL MATRIX

Exceedingly rare, pallasites are widely considered the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Less than 0.2% of all meteorites are pallasites — and transitional pallasites (see below) represent a much smaller fraction still. Like the vast majority of pallasitic meteorites, Seymchan originated from the mantle-core boundary of an asteroid that broke apart during the early history of our solar system. Following pinball-like impacts, a large mass was serendipitously bumped into an Earth-crossing orbit. Having arrived on Earth thousands of years ago, specimens of the Seymchan meteorite were first discovered in 1967 near the settlement of Seymchan in the Magadan District of Russia's subarctic Far East region.

The crystals seen in this sizeable Seymchan sphere are the result of small pieces of the asteroid's stony mantle becoming suspended in the molten metal of its iron-nickel core before crystallizing. The silicate crystals of gleaming olivine and peridot (gem-quality olivine) range in hue from dark emerald to fiery amber.

Crafting a meteorite sphere is an incredibly skillful endeavor requiring highly trained artisans and state-of-the-art equipment. Because there is an ever-present danger that the meteorite will break or become damaged during the fabrication process, most meteorite owners are not willing to take on the burden or risk of creating something this magnificent.

REFERENCES:

Meteoritical Bulletin Entry for Seymchan