Pallasites are not only rare, representing less than 0.2% of all known meteorites, they are also widely considered the most dazzling otherworldly substance known. Pallasites form at the mantle-core boundary of an asteroid where the stony mantle and molten iron core intermingle and crystallize. Pallasites originate from an asteroid that no longer exists, i.e., this inner material would be unobtainable were it not for an enormously energetic impact with another asteroid that shattered this specimen’s parent body. Unlike most pallasites, the dispersion of olivine crystals in Seymchan is extremely heterogeneous. Referred to as a transitional pallasite, some specimens are olivine rich, some are olivine poor and some have no olivine at all. This is a fine example of an olivine-rich specimen with a homogenous dispersion of olivine and peridot (i.e., gem-quality olivine which is also the birthstone of August). Seymchan meteorites also contain schreibersite, a phosphorus-rich mineral which many researchers believe was delivered to Earth via asteroid impacts billions of years ago — and a major source of phosphorus which may have enabled life on Earth. Pallasites also contain iridium, the second densest element and most corrosion resistant metal known. This is a captivating complete slice of a meteorite with extraterrestrial gemstones. Modern cutting and polishing. Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue. 83 x 109 x 2mm (3.25 x 4.25 x 0.1 in.) and 77 grams