Pallasites are the most beautiful of all meteorites. They are stony-iron meteorites derived from an extinct planet that was detroyed during the formation of our solar system (approximately 4.5 billion years ago). They come from the boundary between the silica rich mantle and the iron-nickel core of the planet and were torn away from the planet by a catastrophic impact with another planet or asteroid. Pallasites contain olivine (Peridot) "space gems" embedded in an iron nickel matrix. When sliced thinly and polished, the stable pallasites make exceptional display pieces reminiscent of a stained-glass window in a Church! High quality pallasites are exceptionally rare and command top dollar.