That Fukang Meteorite

I can't believe that it took me this long to learn this, but in the year 2000 a truly exceptional extraterrestrial treasure was unearthed: the Fukang Meteorite! It was discovered in Fukang, China by a Fukang hiker who initially mistook it for a duck. A Fukang duck. The Fukang Meteorite is a remarkable pallasite believed to be approximately 4.5 billion years old. These kind of numbers always confuse me. If everything began at the Big Bang when God said, "Let there be light," then should everything be the same age? Anyway, this stunning space rock is not just visually captivating with its embedded olivine crystals, but also offers scientists a unique window into the early days of our solar system. 

The Fukang meteorite continues to be an object of fascination for both scientists and the public, offering a tangible connection to the deep history of our solar system and the cosmic events that shaped it. 

In 2000, a truly exceptional extraterrestrial treasure was unearthed near Fukang, China – the Fukang meteorite, a remarkable pallasite believed to be approximately 4.5 billion years old. This stunning space rock is not just visually captivating with its embedded olivine crystals, but also offers scientists a unique window into the early days of our solar system. 

Discovery and Characteristics:

• Discovered by an unnamed hiker who initially mistook it for a curious terrestrial rock, the Fukang meteorite was later confirmed to be a pallasite, a very rare type of stony-iron meteorite.
• Pallasites, constituting less than 1% of all known meteorites, are characterized by a striking blend of nickel-iron metal and olivine crystals.
• When polished, the Fukang meteorite's crystals, composed of the mineral olivine, display a mesmerizing translucent quality that evokes the appearance of stained glass when held up to light.
• The original mass of the Fukang meteorite weighed an astonishing 1,003 kilograms (over 2,200 pounds), making it one of the largest pallasites ever recovered. 

Scientific Significance:

• Scientists believe pallasites like Fukang originated at the boundary between the core and mantle of asteroids that underwent differentiation, a process where heavier metals sink to the center and lighter materials form a mantle.
• Studying the composition and structure of the Fukang meteorite provides valuable insights into the formation processes within asteroids and, by extension, the early stages of planetary formation within our solar system.
• The presence of tridymite, a mineral similar to quartz but with a distinct crystalline structure, within the Fukang meteorite's olivine is particularly noteworthy. The unusual coexistence of tridymite and the dominant magnesium-rich olivine suggests rapid and drastic changes in pressure, temperature, and chemical conditions during the meteorite's history, potentially pointing to a "reheating" stage where molten metal was rapidly injected into the olivine. 

Public and Commercial Presence:

• Large portions of the Fukang meteorite have been showcased at events like the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2005.
• While a massive 420-kilogram slice was put up for auction in 2008 and expected to fetch over $2 million, it failed to sell at the time.
• Smaller pieces of the Fukang meteorite have been successfully sold at auction, including a piece that fetched $30,000 at a Christie's auction in 2021.
• The Fukang meteorite's stunning beauty and scientific importance have made it highly sought after by collectors and a centerpiece in natural history exhibits. 

The Fukang meteorite continues to be an object of fascination for both scientists and the public, offering a tangible connection to the deep history of our solar system and the cosmic events that shaped it.