Iron Meteorites

Iron meteorites are usually the first meteorite purchase in a new meteorite collection. Our iron meteorite catalog contains Canyon Diablo Meteorite, Odessa Meteorite, Henbury Meteorite, Muonionalusta Meteorite, Sikhote-Alin Meteorite Individuals, and Sikhote-Alin Meteorite Shrapnel.

Iron meteorites as the name implies are made of solid metal. There maybe inclusions of minerals and silicate in the meteorite, but the vast majority of the mass will be nickel-iron metal. Three main families of iron meteorites have been created by scientists based on their metallic composition. Iron meteorites with very little nickel called Hexahedrites will have no distinctive pattern when etched because only a single type of nickel iron mineral could form. Likewise meteorites with a very high nickel content the Ataxites were only able to product a different single nickel iron mineral. Between these extremes are a large group of iron meteorites called the Octahedrites which consist of a crystalline structure formed by a mixture of both the above mentioned nickel iron minerals; Taenite and Kamacite. The size of the crystals varies within the Octahedrite family and has led to the creation of sub classifications such as fine, medium, coarse, and coarsest. When etched with acid a polished slice of Octahedrite meteorite will show these classification grades by displaying a pattern called its Widmanstatten figure.

Iron Meteorites For Sale