Imilac Explained

Imilac
Type:Stony–iron
Class:Pallasite
Group:Main Group Pallasite (MGP)
Composition:90% Fe, 9.9% Ni, 21.1 ppm Ga, 46.0 ppm Ge, 0.071 ppm Ir
Country:Chile
Region:Atacama Desert, Atacama Region
Lat Long:-24.2128°N -68.8086°W
Observed Fall:No
Found Date:1822
Tkw:920 kg
Strewn Field:Yes

Imilac is a pallasite meteorite found in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile in 1822.

Classification

Imilac is classified as a stony–iron pallasite. Imilac specimens are highly prized by meteorite collectors due to its high concentration of beautiful olivine grains.

Strewn field

Numerous masses were found in a valley to the SW of Imilac. The total weight of the Imilac fall is estimated to be around . The primary strewn field is long about .[1]

Specimens

Due to weathering, intact olivine grains are present only on large specimens (over). Smaller samples contain darker altered olivine crystals. On the market there are also a lot of very small (few grams) Imilac individuals called metal skeletons: they are severely weathered and lack olivine grains.

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1989LPICo.712..192P Pedersen, H., Lindgren, H., & Canut de Bon, C. Strewn-fields of Imilac and Vaca Muerta.