igneous

Iron Meteorite

Siderite (comprised primarily of Kamacite and Taenite alloys)

Hardness: 4.0-5.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark brown or black exterior (fusion crust), metallic silver interior; Luster: Metallic; Crystal Structure: Isometric (often showing Widmanstätten patterns when etched); Specific Gravity: 7.0-8.0 (very dense).

Hardness: 4
Luster: Metallic

Identified March 15, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in the molten cores of differentiated asteroids roughly 4.5 billion years ago. They are liberated by catastrophic collisions in space and fall to Earth after surviving atmospheric entry.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for scientific research, high-end collector specimens, and occasionally fashioned into 'out of this world' jewelry or watch faces.

Geological facts

Iron meteorites were the first source of usable iron for humans before the Bronze Age. The Hoba meteorite in Namibia is the largest known single iron meteorite on Earth, weighing about 60 tons.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its unusual weight (heavier than terrestrial rocks), strong magnetic attraction, and 'regmaglypts' (thumb-print-like indentations on the surface). Common locations include strewn fields like Campo del Cielo (Argentina) or Sikhote-Alin (Russia).

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral