Stony-iron meteorites are rare objects consisting of a mixture of metallic nickel-iron and silicate minerals, most notably olivine. They are highly sought after by collectors for the 'pallasite' variety, which displays beautiful, gemmy green olivine crystals set within a metallic iron matrix. These specimens are typically found as weathered fragments in desert or arid environments.
Is this stony-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 stony-iron meteorite with a known reference. Stony-Iron Meteorite sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Stony-Iron Meteorite leaves a metallic grey streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stony-Iron Meteorite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, metallic, yellow, green.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Stony-Iron Meteorite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Stony-Iron Meteorite leaves metallic grey, Iron Meteorite leaves metallic gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Stony-Iron Meteorite leaves metallic grey, Indochinite leaves none; luster reads metallic on Stony-Iron Meteorite and vitreous on Indochinite.
Often found alongside stony-iron meteorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stony-iron meteorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.5-6.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Metallic Grey
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Extraterrestrial
- Typical price
- $50-500 per gram depending on slice quality
Where rockhounds find stony-iron meteorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Brahin, Belarus
- Brenham, Kansas, USA
- Imilac, Atacama, Chile
- Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
Field-hunting tip
Look in extraterrestrial country — that is the host setting where stony-iron meteorite typically forms. If you start seeing olivine, kamacite, taenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find stony-iron meteorite on the map
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