Dronino is an Ungrouped Ataxite Iron meteorite from the Ryazan district of Russia, first found near the village of Dronino in July 2000. The original mass was discovered by Oleg Gus’kov while returning from mushroom collecting, with later searches recovering hundreds of additional fragments from the surrounding area. Officially classified as Iron, Ataxite (ungrouped), Dronino represents nickel-rich metallic material from an early asteroid parent body that does not fit neatly into the established Iron meteorite groups.

Dronino specimens are especially recognised for their distinctive natural surfaces. Many pieces show deeply weathered, sculpted, or furrowed exteriors formed by long interaction with soil and groundwater after landing. As an Ataxite, Dronino generally lacks the visible Widmanstätten patterns seen in many Octahedrite Iron meteorites, making its dense metallic character and unusual surface morphology particularly important. Some prepared pieces also reveal abundant sulfide inclusions within the metal.

Studying Dronino provides insight into the diversity of Iron meteorite chemistry, the formation of nickel-rich metal in early planetary bodies, and the effects of long terrestrial weathering on meteorite material. For collectors, Dronino offers a distinctive Russian Iron meteorite with strong visual character, uncommon classification, and recognised provenance. Each specimen represents ancient asteroid metal, altered over time into one of the more recognisable forms among modern Iron meteorite finds.