Index of Iron Meteorites for Sale

IRON METEORITES originate in the cores of tiny planets--asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Seismic studies indicate that the Earth has an iron nickel core that is probably very similar to iron meteorite specimens.

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 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.

Hexahedrites (links to photo catalogs)

Uwet, Nigeria Structural Class: Hexahedrite Chemical Class: IIAB

Price: ±$20/gm

Boguslavka, Russia Structural Class: Hexahedrite Chemical Class: IIAB Witnessed fall 1916

One Museum quality specimen

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: ±$25 and up
	Udei Station, Nigeria Type: Silicated iron Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite, Om Chemical Class: IAB Witnessed fall Spring 1927	Price: from ±$5 per gram for etched slices.
	Cape York, Greenland Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Price: About $10/g
	Bur-Abor, Kenya Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Temporarily unavailable.
	Henbury, Australia Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Price: About $2.50-$4.00 per gram
	Boxhole, Australia Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om) Chemical Class: IIIAB	Temporarily unavailable
	Mundrabilla, Australia Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om)--Anomalous Iron Chemical Class: IIICD	Price: About $20 and up
	Toluca, Mexico Structural Class: Medium Octahedrite (Om)--Anomalous Iron Chemical Class: IIICD	Temporarily unavailable
	Canyon Diablo, Arizona, USA Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	Price: Mostly about $1/g
	Odessa, Texas, USA Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	Temporarily unavailable
	Campo del Cielo, Argentina Structural Class: Coarse Octahedrite Og Chemical Class: IAB	Price: ±$0.30/g to $0.15/g
	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: ~$1 to $3/g for individuals $0.35 to $1.00/g for fragments.
	Taza (NWA 859) Structural Class: Plessitic Octahedrite Chemical Class: ungrouped Oriented individuals	Price: about $4/g
	Also Available: Miles IIE Silicated Muonionalusta IVA Lone Island Lake IAB Pinawa IAB Tambo Quemado IIAB

Ataxites (links to photo catalogs)

	Chinga, Russia Structural Class: Ataxite, anomalous, Ni-rich Chemical Class: IVB	Price: $2/g for polished or etched specimens.
	Tishomingo, Oklahoma, USA Structural Class: Ataxite, Ni-rich Chemical Class: ungrouped 32.5% Ni.	Price: $10/g to $17/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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