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 an early asteroid. The slice has been polished and acid-etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern, a crystalline structure of nickel-iron metal produced during slow cooling in space.
This specimen weighs 288 grams and displays a strong, well-defined pattern of metallic crystal bands across its surface. These features formed over extended periods as the asteroid cooled at an extremely slow rate. Its size and clarity make it a standout piece within a collection.