meteorite

Iron Meteorite

Iron-Nickel Meteorite (Kamacite and Taenite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 4-5 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark brown, black, or metallic gray with possible rust-colored weathering; Luster: Metallic to sub-metallic on fresh surfaces, dull when weathered; Crystal Structure: Octahedrite or hexahedrite with Widmanstätten patterns when etched;…

Hardness: 4-5 on Mohs scale

Identified August 3, 2026More meteorite →

Explore Iron Meteorite in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in the cores of differentiated planetesimals in the early solar system over 4.5 billion years ago, eventually traveling through space and impacting Earth.

Uses & applications

Prized by scientific researchers for understanding planetary formation and highly sought after by meteorite collectors for display and study.

Geological facts

Iron meteorites represent the metallic cores of shattered asteroids. Because of their high iron-nickel content, they survive the fiery passage through Earth's atmosphere much better than stony meteorites.

Field identification & locations

Key identifiers include a dense, heavy feel for its size, a dark fusion crust, often irregular or regmaglypted (thumbprinted) surfaces, and a strong attraction to a magnet. Found worldwide in designated strewn fields.