Meteorite Brahin 1,3g – Extra Quality – Belarus
Type: Pallasite
Locality: Belarus
Weight: 1,3g
Dimensions: 17 x 8 x 2 mm
Year found: 1810
Total known weight: 823kg
Surface treatment: cut, polished slice
| Category: | Brahin |
|---|---|
| By name: | Brahin |
| ? Type: | Stony-iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Cut |
| Packaging: | None |
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Brahin Meteorite – Belarusian Pallasite
The Brahin meteorite is classified as a pallasite, a type of stony-iron meteorite. It was first discovered in 1810 in the area near the town of Brahin, located in Belarus. The strewn field of the meteorite measures approximately 15 kilometers in length and 3 kilometers in width and is crossed by the Dnieper River. The discovery was made by local residents who found metal fragments weighing 80 and 20 kilograms. The first samples were then handed over to scientists, who identified them as meteoritic material. Subsequent discoveries of larger fragments of the Brahin meteorite were reported throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, with the largest pieces weighing up to several hundred kilograms. The total weight of all recovered fragments is estimated at approximately 823 kilograms.
Structure
Pallasites are characterized by the presence of both metallic and silicate components in roughly equal proportions. The metallic component is primarily composed of iron and nickel. The metal matrix consists of the following major alloys:
- Taenite – a nickel-rich alloy (35–50 % Ni) known for its high hardness and silvery luster.
- Kamacite – an iron-rich alloy (usually 90–95 % Fe) with a lower nickel content (5–10 % Ni), typically silvery-gray in color with a metallic sheen. In meteorites, it often forms broad bands visible on cut surfaces. Kamacite is softer than taenite and, together with it, forms the basic structural component of the iron-nickel metal phase.
The olivines in the Brahin meteorite are often large, clear, and beautifully translucent, which enhances their aesthetic value. They are typically green to brownish in color, and their quality is high, making them suitable for jewelry.
Origin
The Brahin meteorite, like other pallasites, is interpreted as a fragment of a body formed in the transition zone between the core and mantle of a differentiated planetesimal. Planetesimals are small bodies that formed in the early Solar System, and some of them may have evolved into later planets. Pallasites, including the Brahin meteorite, are considered fragments of such bodies that underwent a process of differentiation, during which the metallic core separated from the silicate mantle.