A Gem That's Out of This World!

Pallasite is a type of meteorite that contains crystalline olivine in a nickel-iron matrix. It is believed that pallasites only form in certain types of asteroids, which explains their relative rarity. Gem-quality olivine crystals, or peridot, can sometimes be extracted from pallasite meteorites to make beautiful—although typically small (less than 0.50 carat)—faceted gems. Extraterrestrial peridot can be separated from peridot that formed on Earth through its trace element chemistry and unusual inclusions. This particular slab was from a meteorite found in Argentina.