• Type: Pallasite
• Location: China
• Weight: 267 g
• Size: 14.5 x 16.3 x 4 mm
• Year of discovery: 2020
• Known total weight: 17.61 kg
• Surface treatment: cut, Polished slice
• Note: The slice is encased in resin for better stability and protection
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Gyarub Zangbo meteorite The Gyarub Zangbo meteorite is a pallasite discovered in October 2020 by Mr. G. Tulga during an exploration of an uninhabited area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, northeast of the Gyarub Zangbo River, in China. Several scattered fragments composed of olivine and metal were found, as well as a larger, metal-rich specimen nearby. The total mass of recovered material was approximately 17.6 kg. Pallasites are rare stony-iron meteorites primarily composed of olivine and iron-nickel metal. They are believed to have formed at the core-mantle boundary of planetesimals, making them very valuable objects for studying early planetary differentiation processes. Composition Analyses have shown that the olivine present in the Gyarub Zangbo meteorite is homogeneous with fayalite content. The metallic component contains approximately 15.8% nickel and traces of other elements such as cobalt, copper, and germanium. The isotopic composition of oxygen and chromium indicates that this meteorite is closely related to carbonaceous chondrites, making it an anomalous carbonaceous pallasite. Pallasite meteorites are extremely rare. Only about 200 specimens are known, representing less than 0.2% of all classified meteorites. Their unique composition and structure provide valuable insights into the processes that occurred during the formation of planetesimals and the differentiation of planetary bodies.