meteorite

Iron Meteorite

Meteoritic Iron (Fe-Ni alloy)

Hardness: 4-5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Dark brown to silvery gray (often with a weathered exterior patina); Luster: Metallic when freshly cut, dull or earthy when weathered; Crystal Structure: Octahedrite or hexahedrite with Widmanstätten patterns visible on etched surfaces;…

Hardness: 4-5 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Metallic when freshly cut, dull or earthy when weathered

Identified August 7, 2026More meteorite →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in the early solar system, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, within the molten cores of differentiated asteroids that were later shattered by impacts.

Uses & applications

Prized by scientific researchers for understanding solar system formation, and highly valued by collectors and museums.

Geological facts

Iron meteorites represent only about 5% of all meteorite falls, yet they make up the majority of finds because they survive atmospheric entry and weathering much better than stony meteorites.

Field identification & locations

Key identifiers include high density (noticeably heavy for its size), magnetic attraction, a fusion crust or regmaglypts (thumbprint-like depressions), and the absence of quartz or silicate minerals.