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 More igneous →
Explore Iron Meteorite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
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).
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).
