As we've reported, I M Chait are offering a section of the Brenham meteorite, a recent pallasite discovery in Kansas in their Natural History auction in just under three weeks' time. The beautiful piece is filled with greenish, translucent olivine 'gems'.

That is perhaps the most spectacular piece, but it is probably not the most valuable. One lot which is expected to achieve more is an end piece from an Algerian meteorite, the silicated iron piece known as NWA 5549.

The rugged, highly textured fusion crust of this excellent specimen vividly evokes the terrible rending forces subjected to the semi-molten metal as it plummeted through the Earth's atmosphere; of roughly triangular shape, one sharp right-angled ridge suggests a possible orientation for the original mass.

Algerian iron meteorite end piece

The cut face on the other hand presents a shimmering silvery aspect, etched to reveal the gradations of shading in the criss-cross stress lines of the Widmanstätten patterns. Measuring 10 5/8 x 7 1/4 x 2 1/4 inches and weighing 7.69kg, it should make an excellent investment.

This is an excellent example from a highly collectible fall and expected to achieve $25,000-30,000 in the auction which takes place on March 24 in New York and online.