Where is Iron Meteorite found?

Iron Meteorite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.

Where to find Iron Meteorite

Collecting tips

1. Magnetism Test. Iron meteorites are strongly magnetic due to their high iron content. A strong magnet will readily adhere to them.
2. Density Test. They are significantly denser than most terrestrial rocks. If a rock feels unusually heavy for its size, it's a good indicator.
3. Fusion Crust. Freshly fallen meteorites often have a dark, thin, glassy or dull fusion crust formed by melting during atmospheric entry. Older meteorites may have lost this crust due to weathering.
4. Regmaglypts. Many iron meteorites exhibit 'thumbprint' like depressions on their surface, called regmaglypts, caused by ablation during atmospheric passage.
5. Nickel Content. A definitive test involves chemical analysis for nickel. Terrestrial iron is rarely found in its native metallic state and almost never contains significant nickel (typically >5% for iron meteorites).
6. Streak Test (Caution). While not always definitive, a fresh surface of an iron meteorite will produce a metallic gray streak on unglazed porcelain, unlike the reddish-brown streak of hematite or black streak of magnetite. However, this test can damage the specimen.
7. Avoid Terrestrial Look-alikes. Be aware of 'meteorwrongs' such as slag (often vesicular, less dense, variable magnetism), hematite (red streak, less dense, non-magnetic), and magnetite (black streak, magnetic, but typically less dense and different texture).

Quick Check

Color:

Dark grey to black (exterior), silvery-metallic (fresh interior)

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

Metallic gray (on fresh surface, if tested)

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