Meteorwrong: iron object

3D Model

The provenance of some objects is difficult to establish, such as this iron object. Its irregular shape, mass and high-iron composition could prompt one to think it is a meteorite. After a piece was cut off, it exposed a full-metal interior. However, the object lacks the tell-tale signs for a fresh fall such as regmaglypts and has been oxidised by exposure to the soil environment. A simple nickel test did not show nickel is present, which is a chemical property for the nickel-iron alloy of such meteorites. Etching the cut surface would not provide a Widmanstätten pattern. It was thus assessed to be an man-made iron object, possibly a residue of a medieval iron foundry.