Rocksday

Pallasite

Pallasite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 4–7 and a metallic and vitreous luster, usually green, yellow, gray or silvery.

A stony-iron meteorite: gemmy olivine crystals set in nickel-iron, widely interpreted as material from the boundary of an asteroid's core and mantle.

Pallasite specimen
Photo: Doug Bowman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify pallasite

  • Translucent green or yellow olivine in a metal network.
  • A magnet sticks to the metal.
  • Heavier than a terrestrial rock of the same size.

Often confused with

Where it's found

  • Brenham, Kansas
  • Esquel, Argentina
  • Fukang, China
  • Imilac, Chile

Uses

Collector specimens and, rarely, peridot cut from the olivine.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

Slices of Esquel, Fukang and Imilac are the ones most often seen in museums, with olivine that glows when backlit.

Pallasite FAQ

What is pallasite?

Pallasite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 4–7 and a metallic and vitreous luster, usually green, yellow, gray or silvery. A stony-iron meteorite: gemmy olivine crystals set in nickel-iron, widely interpreted as material from the boundary of an asteroid's core and mantle.

How do you identify pallasite?

Translucent green or yellow olivine in a metal network. A magnet sticks to the metal. Heavier than a terrestrial rock of the same size.

How hard is pallasite?

Pallasite has a Mohs hardness of about 4–7. Its hardness varies from 4 to 7, so scratch tests depend on the piece.

Where is pallasite found?

Notable localities include Brenham, Kansas; Esquel, Argentina; Fukang, China; and Imilac, Chile.

What is pallasite used for?

Collector specimens and, rarely, peridot cut from the olivine.

Can you tumble pallasite?

It isn't a good choice for a rock tumbler.

What is pallasite often confused with?

Pallasite is most often confused with Iron Meteorite, Olivine and Peridotite. Iron meteorites have no olivine crystals. Peridot is the mineral alone, with no nickel-iron mesh. Peridotite is a rock of olivine without a metal network, and a magnet does not stick.

Think you could spot it from a blurry close-up?

Play today's Rocksday