Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Imilac

Imilac is a pallasite meteorite found in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile in 1822.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
214 w
Citations
3
Source
Imilac
3747g full slice from the main mass
TypeStony–iron
ClassPallasite
GroupMain Group Pallasite (MGP)1
Composition90% Fe, 9.9% Ni, 21.1 ppm Ga, 46.0 ppm Ge, 0.071 ppm Ir
CountryChile
RegionAtacama Desert, Atacama Region
Coordinates24°12′46″S 68°48′31″W / 24.21278°S 68.80861°W / -24.21278; -68.808611
Observed fallNo
Found date1822
TKW920 kg
Strewn fieldYes
Related media on Wikimedia Commons
A "Metal Skeleton" source ↗

Imilac is a pallasite meteorite found in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile in 1822.

Classification

Imilac is classified as a stony–iron pallasite. Imilac specimens are highly prized by meteorite collectors due to its high concentration of beautiful olivine grains.

Strewn field

Numerous masses were found in a valley to the southwest of Imilac. The total weight of the Imilac fall is estimated to be around 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). The primary strewn field is about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) long.2

Specimens

Individual source ↗

Due to weathering, intact olivine grains are present only on large specimens (over 1 kilogram (2.2 lb)). Smaller samples contain darker altered olivine crystals. On the market there are also a lot of very small (few grams) Imilac individuals called metal skeletons: they are severely weathered and lack olivine grains.

Notes

Notes

See also

See also