Iron meteorite

An iron meteorite is made mainly of iron-nickel metal and commonly reveals interlocking crystals when cut and etched. Most are fragments of metallic cores formed inside differentiated asteroids.

Kamacite: A low-nickel iron-nickel alloy that forms a major mineral phase in many iron meteorites. Its broad bands interlock with taenite to form the Widmanstätten pattern.
Differentiated asteroid: An asteroid whose interior separated into layers of different composition, commonly including a metallic core. Many iron meteorites are interpreted as fragments of such cores.
Hoba meteorite: A massive iron meteorite in Namibia, recognized as the largest known intact meteorite on Earth. Its enormous mass illustrates how much metallic material an iron meteorite can preserve.
Stony meteorite: A meteorite composed mainly of silicate minerals, sometimes containing small amounts of metal. Its silicate-dominated composition contrasts with the metal-rich structure of iron meteorites.
Meteoritic iron: Iron recovered from meteorites and used in objects before or alongside the development of smelting. Iron meteorites supplied workable metal to societies without terrestrial iron production.
Taenite: A nickel-rich iron-nickel alloy found in meteorites and some terrestrial rocks. Its nickel-rich bands alternate with kamacite in etched iron meteorites.
Planetary differentiation: The separation of a body's materials into layers, such as a metallic core and a rocky mantle. Iron-nickel metal sank during differentiation, concentrating in asteroid interiors.
Gibeon meteorite: A large field of iron-meteorite fragments found in Namibia and associated with prehistoric use of meteoritic iron. Its fragments display the striking crystalline structure characteristic of many irons.
Stony-iron meteorite: A meteorite containing substantial proportions of both metallic iron-nickel and silicate minerals. It combines metal and rock rather than consisting chiefly of iron-nickel alloy.
Tutankhamun's iron dagger: An iron dagger from the tomb of Tutankhamun, whose metal has a composition consistent with meteoritic iron. Its nickel-rich blade is a celebrated example of ancient use of meteoritic metal.

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