Magnetic classification of meteorites. V - Iron meteorites

Sixteen iron meteorites are magnetically classified into three major classes; hexahedrite plus Ni-poor ataxite, octahedrite, and Ni-rich ataxite, on the basis of their thermomagnetic characteristics. Magnetic parameters for the classification scheme are ratio of saturation magnetization of kamacite to total saturation magnetization, and transition temperature from gamma-phase to alpha-phase of kamacite in the cooling process. The three major classes of iron meteorites are represented by their respective domains well separated from one another.