The Stone-iron meteorites called pallasites: a synthetic study of their structure and probable mode of formation

Abstract

Pallasites possess a remarkable structure of olivine, enclosed in a sponge or three-dimensional net of nickel iron. Structures which are more or less of this character are obtained in metallurgy, but pallasites cannot have originated in the same way, because the included olivine is less fusible than the metal, while iron slag is more fusible. The structure of the specimens figured can, however, be closely imitated by pouring molten alloy into a compact layer of stone fragments. The fragments used are angular or rounded, according to the character of the pallasite to be imitated.