Iron Fallen From the Heavens: The History of Meteoric Iron

<p>Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, but on Earth it mostly occurs oxidized in minerals, requiring extensive extraction and refining to produce usable metal. However, some meteorites contain pure iron that fell ready-made from space.</p> <p>Meteorites are fragments of asteroids or comets that plunge through the atmosphere, heating up from friction until they melt and fracture into smaller pieces. Those containing lots of iron and nickel are called iron meteorites. They crystallize into sturdy cubic structures of alloys like kamacite and taenite, resistant to corrosion. Their surfaces appear deeply grooved and pitted from passage through the air.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/thought-thinkers/iron-fallen-from-the-heavens-the-history-of-meteoric-iron-ce7afd87d289"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>