49,000 years ago an asteroid plunged into what would later be North Central Arizona, creating Meteor Crater. Thousands of fragments of the asteroid were scattered by the explosion over the area. Named Canyon Diablo meteorites after the river gorge near the crater they are among the most historically significant meteorites available to collectors. Made of nickel-iron with inclusions of graphite and other minerals they are classified as Coarse Octahedrite Iron Meteorites. The smaller fragments show the effects of being torn apart by the tremendous crater-forming explosion. Thin sharp edges and twisted metal are typical features of the meteorites from Meteor Crater.