This etched Aletai meteorite slice is cut from the Aletai iron meteorite, first identified in 1898 in the Altay region of Xinjiang in northwest China. The meteorite is classified as a coarse octahedrite and formed more than 4.5 billion years ago within the metallic core of a differentiated asteroid. After cutting and polishing, the slice is acid etched to reveal the Widmanstätten pattern formed by nickel-iron crystals.
This larger slice weighs 368 grams and clearly displays an extensive network of metallic crystal bands across the surface. These structures developed during extremely slow cooling within the parent asteroid. Its size and strong structural visibility make it a prominent display specimen suited for advanced collectors.