{"product_id":"staunton-iron-meteorite-specimen-rare-official-iiie-iron-meteorite-virginia-meteorite-found-1869","title":"Staunton Iron Meteorite Specimen Rare Official IIIE Iron Meteorite Virginia Meteorite Found 1869","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn authentic specimen of the historic Staunton meteorite, a rare IIIE iron meteorite discovered in 1869 in the United States. Staunton is one of the scarce officially classified IIIE iron meteorites known to science, placing it within an exceptionally limited and highly collectible group of iron meteorites formed deep within the metallic cores of ancient differentiated asteroids.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith a total known recovered mass of only 43.5 kilograms, Staunton material remains highly desirable among advanced meteorite collectors due to its rarity, historic American provenance, and classification significance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eOfficial Classification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eName:\u003c\/strong\u003e Staunton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e United States\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear Found:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1869\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClassification:\u003c\/strong\u003e Iron Meteorite (IIIE)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTotal Known Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 43.5 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical References:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buchwald (1975), NHM Catalogue, MetBase\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIIIE iron meteorites are among the less commonly encountered iron meteorite groups, with only a small number officially recognized worldwide. These meteorites originated within the metallic interior of ancient asteroids that were shattered by catastrophic collisions early in solar system history billions of years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDepending on preparation, Staunton specimens may display:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIron-nickel metallic structure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEtched Widmanstätten patterns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRegmaglypts and atmospheric sculpting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural oxidation textures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePolished or cut iron surfaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eHistoric American iron meteorites such as Staunton are highly sought after for:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdvanced meteorite collections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistoric American meteorite locality collections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIron meteorite collections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanetary science and educational displays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuseum-quality extraterrestrial artifacts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInvestment-grade meteorite specimens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe meteorite is referenced in the classic scientific work: \u003cem\u003eBuchwald, Vagn F. (1975) Handbook of Iron Meteorites\u003c\/em\u003e — one of the foundational publications in meteoritics and iron meteorite research.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA remarkable extraterrestrial artifact originating from the exposed metallic core of an ancient destroyed asteroid.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 × 0.3 × 0.3 mm | \u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.75g\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Please review all photos carefully for overall condition, oxidation, cut surfaces, etched structure, and preparation characteristics, as they are considered part of the description. Iron meteorites are natural extraterrestrial objects and commonly display oxidation, fractures, weathering, and structural variation from terrestrial exposure and preservation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Prospector's Vault","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42419965427794,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/8805\/6146\/files\/IMG_3714.jpg?v=1779587345","url":"https:\/\/prospectorsvault.com\/products\/staunton-iron-meteorite-specimen-rare-official-iiie-iron-meteorite-virginia-meteorite-found-1869","provider":"Prospector's Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}