Huckitta Meteorite
Huckitta is a fascinating meteorite, belonging to the group of pallasites, a rare type of meteorite containing both metallic and silicate components. It was discovered in 1924 in an area known as Huckitta Station, located in the Northern Territory of Australia. The find consisted of several larger fragments scattered across the central Australian desert. A local farmer found a piece of metallic meteorite, and later several additional fragments were discovered. The main fragment weighed approximately 1,400 kg, making it one of the largest pallasite meteorites discovered on the Australian continent. The total recovered mass reached 2,300 kg.
Composition
The olivine crystals in Huckitta are often greenish-yellow to brown, although some may show subtle color transitions. These crystals are usually transparent to translucent. Huckitta contains high amounts of iron and nickel, forming the metallic component of the meteorite.
Structure
Although pallasites typically do not display Widmanstätten patterns as prominently as some iron meteorites, the metallic structure of Huckitta may reveal fine patterns when properly processed.
Origin
Pallasites like Huckitta likely originated in the transitional zone between the mantle and core of planetesimals, meaning they may contain information about processes that took place during the formation of these bodies in the early solar system.
