The Esquel meteorite which is a Stoney-Iron Pallasite, was first discovered in 1951 in Esquel, Chubut, Argentina, South America where a single mass of 1500 kilo grams ( 3,307 Pounds ) was located imbedded in the ground. The mass was brought out of the country by an American meteorite specialist in 1992. Speciments of Esquel have been furnished to various Universities, Museums, Scientific Research Groups, and Collectors around the world. This specimen is from the original discovery in 1992.

Esquel is known as the most highly stable of all Pallasites. When it is sliced extremely thin like the specimen above, it is highly translucent and very beautiful. Esquel, when properly prepared, never ceases to impress collectors and non-collectors alike.

The Esquel Pallasite consist of magnesium-rich olivine crystals set in a nickel-iron matrix, usually displaying an olivine-to-metal volume ratio of about 2 to 1. Olivine crystals may be as large as 1 cm across embedded in the Iron-Nickel alloy matrix and are green to golden in color. Esthetically, Esquel is easily one of the most beautiful meteorites in the world, especially when cut and polished. When etched, the metal phase may exhibit a Widmanstatten pattern.

Esquel Pallasites are thought to have been formed at the core-mantle boundary within a differentiated asteroid. The iron would be derived from the asteroid's core, while the olivine crystals would come from the base of its mantle. Boundary regions between metal and olivine often contain accessory minerals such as troilite, schreibersite, and chromite. The elemental and oxygen isotopic compositions of the nickel-iron metal are similar to the values determined for group IIIAB irons, suggesting a common parent body for both groups.

Scientists believe that the Esquel Pallasite meteorite was created when it'a parent planet was formed, over 4.0 Billion years ago at the formation time of our own solar system. The material from the molten metal core of the planet mixed with silicate magma, and the olivine crystallized out of the silicate as the molten mass cooled. These crystals were then formed into a metal "mold" when the mass solidified, forming a unique matrix.

The Esquel 44 Gram ( 1552 Ounces or 0.097 Pound ) Pallasite meteorite pictured above is believed by leading scientist in the field, to be 4.0 Billion years in age through various scientific dating processes. It is one of the older meteorites known to mankind. The main Pallasite meteorite mass had travelled hundreds of millions of billions of miles before reaching our planet and arriving into our collection. Upon close examination, details may easily be seen of its Crystal and Nickel Matrix formation.

This particular specimen was formerly a portion of the world famous Michael Casper Collection. On September 1, 2002 Michael Casper who is one of the world's best known leading scientist in the meteorite research field, a consultant for NASA, Adjunct Professor of Meteorological Studies at Cornell University, and a Research Consultant for the Smithsonian; as well as having authored, and been a photographic contributor to numerous research papers, and books in the field, presented the above pictured Esquel Pallasite specimen for inclusion in the Lowry Collection. He authenticated its identification, date of original discovery, and qualified it as being of museum quality.

Additional information is available on the Internet concerning Michael Casper and the Michael Casper Collection.

Additional information is also available on the Internet regarding the Esquel Meteorite.