Iron meteorites are dense, metallic extraterrestrial objects composed primarily of iron-nickel alloys. Collectors look for unique surface features like regmaglypts (thumbprint-like depressions) and the internal Widmanstätten pattern revealed when a slice is etched with acid.
Is this iron meteorite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch iron meteorite with a known reference. Iron Meteorite sits at Mohs 4-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Iron Meteorite leaves a metallic gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Iron Meteorite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: metallic gray, brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive, irregular, often showing regmaglypts or fusion crusts.
Often confused with
Iron Meteorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Iron Meteorite leaves metallic gray, Magnetite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Iron Meteorite leaves metallic gray, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Iron Meteorite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside iron meteorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with iron meteorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 7.0-8.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Metallic Gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Irregular, Often Showing Regmaglypts or Fusion Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Extraterrestrial Origin
- Typical price
- $50-500 for small fragments, $1000+ for large specimens or etched slices
Where rockhounds find iron meteorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Campo del Cielo, Argentina
- Muonionalusta, Sweden
- Gibeon, Namibia
- Sikhote-Alin, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in extraterrestrial origin country, the host setting where iron meteorite typically forms. If you start seeing olivine, troilite, kamacite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, irregular, often showing regmaglypts or fusion crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find iron meteorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
