Iron meteorite, ungrouped ataxite. Ryazan, near Kasimov, found 2000. Full slice, polished to mirror finish on both sides. Weighing 233 grams and measuring 140 mm x 111 mm x 2 mm. Unlike most other iron and stony-iron meteorites, Dronino will not etch to form a geometric Widmansta¨tten Pattern. But, it does reveal a beautiful mirror-like finish, along with small amoeba-shaped inclusions, as seen here. No other known meteorite exhibits features quite like this.
The Dronino strewnfield is situated close to the Russian town of Kasimov, founded in 1152. In this decidedly rural setting, the archaic pastime of wild mushroom hunting is still practiced. And so it was that the Dronino iron meteorite was accidentally found in the year 2000 by Oleg Gus’Kov, a man in search of earthbound fungi. Extensive work at the site by professional meteorite hunters followed and it was the site of a third season episode (“Dronino”) of TV’s award-winning series Meteorite Men. Due to the number of masses found, and their size and disposition, it has been suggested by expert hunters that Dronino is a buried impact site (soil crater), though no definitive evidence is currently on record. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Aerolite Meteorites.
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