Index of Iron Meteorites for Sale

IRON METEORITES were once surmised to come from the cores of asteroids, but recent studies suggest that while some may be from asteroid cores, others may be formed in concentrations of iron on asteroid surfaces. This is an evolving area of knowledge. Isotope studies suggest that certain classifications of irons may be associated with certain clans of stony meteorites. You can see one proposed scheme here. The crystal patters associated with iron meteorites is similarly being reconsidered. Patterns may be from cooling or post-cooling processes.

There are two systems of classification of iron meteorites; structural classification and chemical classification. See our TYPE TABLE for more information.

The STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION system relies on the nature and sizes of the crystals of iron nickel metal. There are three basic structural classes;

• hexahedrites (<5% nickel, almost pure kamacite. Etched faces show Neumann lines)
• octahedrites (intermediate nickel with plates of kamacite and taenite interwoven to form a Widmanstatten pattern on etched faces) The octahedrite group is further divided by crystal size into subgroups: finest (Off), fine (Of), medium (Om), coarse (Og), and coarsest (Ogg).
• ataxites (usually >13% nickel, almost pure taenite) these show no structure because of chemical or physical reasons.

The structural classification system was devised by a museum curator and is popular with collectors.

Scientists are more likely to use the CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION system. Chemical classification relies on the ratios of trace elements in iron meteorites. To see a list of the chemical types, look at our type table. For more about the details of this system, see Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites, Rocks from Space or Meteorites and Their Parent Planets.

Click on the picture to see photos, prices, weights, and instructions on how to order meteorites. We have a separate photo catalog for each locality. If something is list as "temporarily out of stock" that probably means we have more of it that we need to prepare for sale. Check the list on the front page for the most recent availability.

Hexahedrites (links to photo catalogs)

Uwet, Nigeria Structural Class: Hexahedrite Chemical Class: IIAB

Price: temporarily out of stock, I will cut more eventually

Octahedrites (links to photo catalogs)
(arranged by structural class first, then chemical class)

	Gibeon, Namibia Structural Class: Fine Octahedrite, Of Chemical Class: IVA Etched specimens	Price: ±$4+/g when we can keep them in stock.
	Udei Station, Nigeria Type: Silicated iron Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite, Om Chemical Class: IAB Witnessed fall Spring 1927	Price: from ±$6 per gram for etched slices.
	Cape York, Greenland Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Price: (temporarily unavailable)
	Henbury, Australia Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Price: About $4.00 per gram
	Mundrabilla, Australia Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om)--Anomalous Iron Chemical Class: IIICD	Price: About $20 and up
	Canyon Diablo, Arizona, USA Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	Price: Mostly about $1.50/g
	Odessa, Texas, USA Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	These come and go.
	Campo del Cielo, Argentina Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	Price: ±75¢/g These are harder to get now.
	Seymchan, Russia Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite, Og Chemical Class: IIE Both Iron and Pallasite sections Best deal for etched irons	Price: ~$4 per gram
	Sikhote-Alin, Russia Structural Class: Coarsest Octahedrite, Ogg Chemical Class: IIAB Witnessed fall,1947--specimens are almost as fresh as they day they hit Crusted (melted surface) specimens (click here) Shrapnel-like specimens (click here)	Price: ~$3-4/g for individuals ~ $1.30/g for fragments. (Great first meteorite or gift!)
	Taza (NWA 859) Structural Class: Plessitic Octahedrite Chemical Class: ungrouped Oriented individuals	Price: about $5/g
	Also Available: Carver, IIAB Lone Island Lake IAB Maslyanino, Silicated Iron Mont Dieu Whitecourt IIIAB Tambo Quemado IIIAB

Ataxites (links to photo catalogs)

	Chinga, Russia Structural Class: Ataxite, anomalous, Ni-rich Chemical Class: IVB	Price: ~$2/g. More on the way.
	Tishomingo, Oklahoma, USA Structural Class: Ataxite, Ni-rich Chemical Class: ungrouped 32.5% Ni.	Price: $10/g to $17/g
	Gebel Kamil, Egypt Structural Class: Ataxite, anomalous, Ni-rich Ungrouped Etched slices show schleren	Price: $085-$1.25/g.

About Meteorite Names

Meteorites take the name of the place where they fell or were found. For example, the Canyon Diablo meteorite was found near Canyon Diablo, Arizona, the Allende meteorite was found near the town of Allende in Mexico, the Sikhote-Alin meteorite fell in the Sikhote-Alin mountains of Russia, and so on.

Iron is something most unusual . . .

Iron meteorites are made of native iron metal mixed with a small amount of nickel. Outside of meteorites and man-made iron, native iron is exceedingly rare. Early peoples found meteorite iron to be useful for knives and tools.

Iron Meteorites Are Very Rare

Iron meteorites are extremely rare. Of all of the meteorites that fall on the earth, scientists estimate that only about five percent are Iron Meteorites. The Handbook of Iron Meteorites lists only about 275 iron meteorite finds for the United States--one of the most intensely searched countries in the world. Because they are so different from other Earth-rocks, a higher percentage are found.

To see our meteorite classification table and learn about the types of meteorites, click here.

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