ATAXITE IRON METEORITES

are among the rarest meteorites known.  As a percentage of meteorite falls, all iron meteorites comprise only 5.7%, and most of these belong to the octahedrite class. Of the approximately 50 known iron meteorite falls, none are ataxites.  And yet, the largest meteorite find, the gargantuan 60 tonne Hoba meteorite of Namibia, is an ataxite.

         THE DRONINO ATAXITE IRON METEORITE FROM RUSSIA, 

the first of which was found in 1990, is by its own merits even more intriguing because it is classified as "ungrouped" and has the very un-ataxite characteristic of having all kinds of interesting features to look at on a cut and polished surface.  Sulfide inclusions account for about 10% of the volume of the meteorite, and sulfide nodules surrounded by iron hydroxides are common.  The first specimen found was a 40kg monster, and in 2003 many more pieces were found, the largest being a whopping 250kg.  Most of the specimens have been found buried at depths of 20cm to 2m. 

LOOK AT THIS GREAT RING!

It consists of a trapezoidal slice of Dronino meteorite mounted on a silver ring, size 7 3/4 (inside diameter 19mm) from Mexico.    The Dronino slice has two small, but prominent elongated inclusions.  There are some small dark spots on the inside of the ring. 

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