ALETAI

The Aletai Iron Meteorites of Xinjiang, China

Multiple substantial iron meteorite masses have been discovered in the northern region of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. These meteorites include notable specimens such as Akebulake (18 tons), Wuxilike (5 tons), and Ulasitai (0.43 tons). The presence of these meteorites, alongside the 28 ton Armanty iron, suggests that these masses have a common origin and are paired. Future discovers of chemically pair irons will be officially referred to as "Aletai," named after a local county in Xinjiang.

History: A new, 23 tonne mass of Aletai was found recently in a pasture of Aletai county (48°2’17"N, 88°23’3"E) in June, 2021. It was buried by soil and grass and covered with light-brown rust. The place where this mass was found is quite close to the coordinates for the Wuxilike and Akebulake masses of Aletai. The nearest place is named WuQilike on the Baidu map.

Physical Characteristics: The kamacite bandwidth in these meteorites measures 0.89±0.41 mm, reflecting the meteorite physical properties of the coarse octahedrite iron structure.

Petrography: The primary mineral phases present in the Aletai meteorites are kamacite, taenite, and plessite. Additionally, minor phases observed include schreibersite, daubréelite, troilite, and haxonite, contributing to the overall petrographic profile of these iron meteorites.

Geochemistry: The mass is mainly composed of kamacite (6.82-7.21 wt.% Ni) and taenite (14.45-41.13 wt.% Ni),with minor plessite, schreibersite (34.20-48.86 wt.% Ni) and haxonite (4.68-4.87 wt.% Ni, 0.13-0.27 wt.% Co). Haxonite is present in the center of plessite. Kamacite bandwidth is about 1.0±0.2 mm. Composition of metallic Fe-Ni and the occurrence of haxonite is compatible with IIIE iron.