This etched Aletai meteorite slice is cut from the Aletai iron meteorite, discovered in 1898 in the Altay region of Xinjiang, northwest China. Classified as a coarse octahedrite, it formed over 4.5 billion years ago within the metallic core of a differentiated asteroid. After cutting and polishing, the surface was acid etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern, a natural crystalline structure of nickel-iron metal formed during extremely slow cooling in space.
This slice weighs 201 grams and shows a refined network of interlocking metallic crystal bands across its surface. These structures developed as the parent asteroid cooled gradually over millions of years. With its clear patterning and documented origin, this Aletai meteorite slice represents a well-preserved example of early solar system material.