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Irons
Iron meteorites are classified according to both structure and chemistry. Structure is determined by nickel content alone, while chemistry depends not only on nickel content but also on gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge) contents. The structural classification usually serves as the primary framework. Chemistry is then used for further subdivisions. There are three main structural groups for irons: hexahedrites, octahedrites, and ataxites. Other groups exist, but they comprise unusual and rare specimens and will not be described further here. Iron
meteorites represent samples from the very core of their parent bodies. The parent bodies were presumably broken up in violent collisions between asteroids, exposing their cores to further fragmentation by impacts.
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