Pallasites are stony-iron meteorites made of olivine crystals held in iron-nickel metal. Cut and polished, the olivine can transmit light, and etching can reveal the structure of the metal.
Offered by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., IMCA Member #3323, with documented classification and provenance when applicable.
Pallasites are stony-iron meteorites made mainly of olivine crystals held in a framework of iron-nickel metal. When a pallasite is cut thin and polished, the olivine can transmit light, and etching the metal can bring out its internal structure. Unless specifically stated in the listing, specimens in this collection are Meteoritical Bulletin classified.
Every classified specimen is tied to a Meteoritical Bulletin entry, the official registry of meteorite names maintained by the Meteoritical Society. Each listing gives the classification exactly as the Bulletin records it. Where an entry is recorded simply as pallasite, the listing does not assign a group the Bulletin has not assigned. Read more: The Meteoritical Bulletin Explained
Main group pallasites (PMG) are the largest defined group. The Bulletin also lists anomalous members as PMG-an.
Eagle Station pallasites (PES) are a small group, named for the Eagle Station meteorite from Kentucky, that differ from the main group in the chemistry of their olivine and metal.
Ungrouped pallasites fit neither group, and a large number of entries are recorded simply as pallasite with no group assigned.
What is a pallasite made of? Mostly olivine and iron-nickel metal, with smaller amounts of other minerals. The proportions vary from one meteorite to another, and even across a single slice. Read more: What Is a Pallasite?
Where do pallasites come from? They have long been interpreted as material from the boundary between the metal core and rocky mantle of an early asteroid. More recent studies have proposed other ways olivine and metal could have been mixed, and the question is still open.
How many pallasites are there? The Meteoritical Bulletin database lists 221 entries in its pallasite category as of September 2026: 80 main group, 16 anomalous main group, 8 Eagle Station, 17 ungrouped, and 99 recorded simply as pallasite. These are counts of database entries, since pieces of one meteorite can be listed under separate names until they are paired. Read more: How Rare Are Meteorites?
Do pallasites show a Widmanstätten pattern? The metal in some pallasites shows one when etched, but not every specimen does, and the olivine takes up much of the cut surface. Read more: Widmanstätten Pattern Explained
Are pallasites magnetic? Yes. The iron-nickel metal makes them attract a magnet strongly. Read more: Are Meteorites Magnetic?
How should I care for a pallasite? Keep it dry. The metal can corrode where it meets the olivine, and humidity is the main risk. Read more: Do Meteorites Rust?
Are these specimens authenticated? Unless otherwise noted, every pallasite here has a Meteoritical Bulletin record and ships with a Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. certificate of authenticity.
See also: Stony-Iron Meteorites · Iron Meteorites · Muonionalusta · What Is a Pallasite? · Widmanstätten Pattern Explained · How Can You Tell if a Meteorite Is Real?
