In southeastern Russia, an iron meteorite fell on the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in 1947. Large iron meteorite falls have been witnessed, and fragments have been recovered, but never before in recorded history has a fall of this magnitude occurred. An estimated 23 tonnes of fragments survived the fiery passage through the atmosphere and reached the Earth.
Thumbprinted Sikhote-Alin sample
The 10th anniversary stamp. It reproduces a painting by P. J. Medvedev.
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Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron meteorites originate from cores of planetesimals, with the exception of the IIE iron meteorite group
Tamentit Iron Meteorite, found in 1864 in the Sahara, weighing about 500 kg (1,100 lb). On display at Vulcania park in France.
Widmanstätten pattern as seen on an etched and polished slice of the Seymchan meteorite. Scale unknown.
The Hoba meteorite, the biggest known iron meteorite. It lies in Namibia and weighs about 60 tons.
The Willamette Meteorite on display at the American Museum of Natural History. It weighs about 14,500 kilograms (32,000 pounds). This is the largest meteorite ever found in the United States.
