The Brenham Pallasite Meteorite

In October 2005 a record setting 1,400 kg Brenham Meteorite was discovered by Steve Arnold. This meteorite was the largest pallasite to be found in the United States.  The meteorite was excavated in the old Brenham strewn field in Kiowa County, Kansas. 

A pallasite is classified as a stony iron meteorite with an equal composition of iron and silicate minerals.  Pallasites are considered some of the most beautiful meteorites due to crystals that are predominant features in these specimens.  The eye catching crystals are formed amid the core and the mantle. The mantel is composed primarily of olivine which cools at a slower rate than the core allowing for the development of crystals.

This slice is from a specimen found by Steve Arnold, it weighs in at 30.1 g and is 6 mm thick.   A specimen card will be included. Some rust spots are present.

This is a stony iron meteorite. The iron part is important, as iron and water don’t mix. You must take care of the specimen, keep it away from moisture. It has been treated to mitigate the oxygen & water attack that will cause all iron to rust.  It has been put under a deep vacuum to remove interstitial water and oxygen. Impregnated with a corrosion inhibitor, and sealed in both Opticon and again with a protective epoxy coat to keep away oxygen.  But all of these are only going to delay the fate of all iron on earth.  Take care of your specimen!

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