This etched Aletai meteorite slice is cut from the Aletai iron meteorite, first documented in 1898 in the Altay region of Xinjiang in northwest China. The meteorite is a coarse octahedrite and formed more than 4.5 billion years ago within the metallic core of a differentiated asteroid. After polishing, the slice is acid etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern formed by interlocking nickel-iron crystals.
This slice weighs 246 grams and shows a distinct arrangement of metallic crystal bands across its surface. These structures developed gradually as the parent asteroid cooled over millions of years. Its size, structure, and clean etching make it a dependable specimen for collectors.
