meteorite
Iron Meteorite
Siderite (Iron-Nickel Alloy)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness: 4-5. Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust), metallic silver/grey when cut. Luster: Metallic. Structure: Octahedrite or Hexahedrite. Specific Gravity: 7.0-8.0. Highly magnetic.
- Hardness
- 4-5
- Luster
- Metallic
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness: 4-5. Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust), metallic silver/grey when cut. Luster: Metallic. Structure: Octahedrite or Hexahedrite. Specific Gravity: 7.0-8.0. Highly magnetic.
Formation & geological history
Formed in the cores of differentiated asteroids roughly 4.5 billion years ago. They are released into space via massive collisions before eventually falling to Earth.
Uses & applications
Used for scientific research into the early solar system, high-end jewelry (often etched to show Widmanstatten patterns), and as highly sought-after collector items.
Geological facts
Iron meteorites are the sources of the first iron used by humans before the development of smelting. Famous examples include the Hoba meteorite and Canyon Diablo specimens.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme weight for its size, strong attraction to magnets, and the presence of a fusion crust or regmaglypts (thumbprint-like indentations). Commonly found in arid deserts or Antarctic ice fields.
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