A superb end piece of the Fukang pallasite, Fukang, Xinjiang Uygur Province, China. Photo Heritage Auctions

Meteorites that originate from the core-mantle boundary of a small planet or asteroid destroyed during, or shortly after, the formation of our solar system are called pallasites. Thus, pallasites were formed at the very beginning of our solar system, and radioactive fission-track dating confirms ages of 4.1 to 4.4 billion years for a large sampling of known pallasites.

Pallasites are made up of a combination of silvery nickel-iron core metal and dense silicates - usually olivine, often in its gorgeous crystalline gem form called Peridot. Peridot is a highly sought-after gemstone that was prized by the ancient Egyptians who used it extensively in their royal jewelry. Peridot can range in color from emerald green to orange to dark smoky jet. This combination of beautiful gemmy crystals of olivine, contrasted by the silvery nickel-iron matrix metal, make pallasites the most beautiful of all meteorites, and Fukang is considered to be the very best of the pallasites.

Fukang is further distinguished by the fact that it possesses the largest crystals of olivine found in any of the more well-known pallasites, such as Esquel or Imilac.

Collected in 2003, only two specimens were recovered, and these have been painstakingly sliced and polished often requiring 40 hours of work per slice with very hi-tech wire saws to create these beautiful examples of interstellar art. This superb end piece exhibits the original dark red oxide fusion crust on one side with the olivine crystals visible as glassy areas interspersed across the original surface of the meteorite. The three cut and polished faces display the very large and beautiful transparent olivine crystals ranging in hue from emerald green to yellow-green.

This Fukang is an exceptional, matchless display meteorite. It measures 5.75 x 4.5 inches (146.05 x 114.3 mm) and weighs 8.41 pounds (3,821 grams). [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $40,000 - $50,000

Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com