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 iron meteorite, it formed over 4.5 billion years ago within the metallic core of an early asteroid. After preparation, the slice is acid etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern, a natural nickel-iron crystal structure formed during slow cooling in space.
This slice weighs 216 grams and exhibits a defined network of metallic crystal bands across its surface. These features developed over millions of years as the asteroid cooled at an extremely slow rate. The preserved structure and clean etching make this Aletai meteorite slice a reliable and visually strong specimen.
