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Pallasovka (meteorite)
Encyclopedia
Pallasovka is a pallasite
meteorite
found in 1990 near the town of Pallasovka, Russia
.
. The pond
and dike were built in 1978 using explosives so the mass has probably been lifted to the surface from a depth of about 2 m. In fall 2004, Kharitonov gave a small sample to A. Ye. Milanovsky who transferred it to the Vernadsky Institute (Moscow
) and then proved its meteoritic origin.
(1741-1811), a famous naturalist who took part in the discovery and the study of the first pallasite
, a type of stony-iron meteorite
named after him. Coincidentally, Pallasovka is a pallasite meteorite named after a town named after the discoverer of pallasites.
consists of approximately equal parts of olivine
and metal. Some olivine crystals reach a size of 3 cm. Its composition is similar to the Main Group pallasites, however it is called anomalous because chromites differ in composition both from that of the Main and Eagle Station pallasite groups.
A 9336 g sample and one polished section are on deposit at Vernad.
Pallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
found in 1990 near the town of Pallasovka, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
History
One single mass of 198 kg was found 27.5 km from the town of Pallasovka by N. F. Kharitonov (a local resident) on a dike on the edge of an artificial water reservoirWater reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
. The pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
and dike were built in 1978 using explosives so the mass has probably been lifted to the surface from a depth of about 2 m. In fall 2004, Kharitonov gave a small sample to A. Ye. Milanovsky who transferred it to the Vernadsky Institute (Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) and then proved its meteoritic origin.
Pallasovka and Peter Pallas
The town of Pallasovka was named after Peter PallasPeter Simon Pallas
Peter Simon Pallas was a German zoologist and botanist who worked in Russia.- Life and work :Pallas was born in Berlin, the son of Professor of Surgery Simon Pallas. He studied with private tutors and took an interest in natural history, later attending the University of Halle and the University...
(1741-1811), a famous naturalist who took part in the discovery and the study of the first pallasite
Pallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
, a type of stony-iron meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
named after him. Coincidentally, Pallasovka is a pallasite meteorite named after a town named after the discoverer of pallasites.
Composition and classification
This pallasitePallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
consists of approximately equal parts of olivine
Olivine
The mineral olivine is a magnesium iron silicate with the formula 2SiO4. It is a common mineral in the Earth's subsurface but weathers quickly on the surface....
and metal. Some olivine crystals reach a size of 3 cm. Its composition is similar to the Main Group pallasites, however it is called anomalous because chromites differ in composition both from that of the Main and Eagle Station pallasite groups.
Specimens
The main mass has abundant rusty fusion crust with some regmaglypts and was held by an anonymous purchaser.A 9336 g sample and one polished section are on deposit at Vernad.