Pallasites are believed to form between the silicate mantle, or outer shell, and molten metal core of a differentiated asteroid. The primary silicate mineral in pallasites is olivine, distinguishable by its greenish hue.
Seymchan pallasite. Image copyright ASU/CMS.
The olivine crystals contained in the Marjalahti pallasite are of such consistently high purity that they were adopted as a scientific standard for the composition of olivine (aka the gemstone peridot).
Gem-quality peridot has been identified in multiple pallasite meteorites.
