[meteorite-list] Pallasite Crystals

From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:06:02 -0500
Message-ID: <159acf6a3d2-5471-c66_at_webprd-m56.mail.aol.com>

Thanks Sean!

I just got your kind email reply to me and Rob, and wanted to say you are on the right track! I just wanted to emphasize that one of the differences between a typical terrestrial gemstone in the jeweler market, and an extraterrestrial one from pallasite meteorites, represented from dealers, e.g. at gem shows and the like, is the essence of meteorite authenticity among collectors: its locality.

Authenticating a meteorite requires identification of its locality, since a great part of the value of a meteorite is the relative scarcity of the locality and in this case the corresponding issues with extracting suitable gemmy olivine crystals from said unique locality. Extraterrestrial peridots, like their parent meteorites are likely from different small solar system bodies, or at least from different portions. One pallasite locality can be easily sell for 10 times another and for the existing market of collectors, we collectors currently determine that value.

If a litmus test is suitable to distinguish among peridots being terrestrial vs. meteoritic, as you point out it is useful for some purposes to rule out obvious fakes, but beyond that, there is an extra all-important degree of sophistication needed to identify the locality.

If someone like GIA starts authenticating meteorites, they need to admit and openly disclose the limitations of their tests to their customers. Meteorites are a little more complicated. So this sort of testing has its place requires a high bar to be conclusive. No doubt that using trace metals like nickel concentration,(which, interestingly is lower in space olivines, the opposite of what we find in their parent meteorites) can be done along with optical tests. But we meteorite folk have seen before that if someone really wants to fake something they can make life hard. Look at the Shirokovsky pseudo-pallasite that got caught by nickel content.

The meteorite community has a long history of battling fakes, misrepresented meteorites, and fakers, which is why developing a bustling commodity space peridot market from stuff at gem show and yes, eBay and every place else that finds its way into the mix...for innocent consumers willing to shell out big bucks... is a little different from the simple solution of having a pedigree from a trusted meteorite supplier. Very, very few people are actually finding the pallasites.

Good luck with your project and I hope the discussion is useful!
Doug
Received on Tue 17 Jan 2017 10:06:02 AM PST