Richland (Fredericksburg) - Iron, IIAB

Richland, also known by the unofficial synonym Fredericksburg, is a rare IIAB Iron meteorite from Texas, USA. The original Richland mass was found in Navarro County in 1951, reportedly while cleaning out an old well, and weighed around 13.6 kg. A later 47 kg Iron meteorite reportedly found near Fredericksburg was shown by chemical analysis to be indistinguishable from Richland, and the Meteoritical Bulletin now treats Fredericksburg as an unofficial synonym for Richland.

 

Richland is classified as an Iron, IIAB, and is structurally a Hexahedrite. Unlike many Octahedrite Iron meteorites, Hexahedrites do not show broad Widmanstätten patterns, as they are dominated by kamacite. Cut and etched specimens may instead show Neumann lines or fine structural features, along with accessory minerals such as schreibersite. Its low-nickel IIAB chemistry and Hexahedrite structure give Richland a distinct appearance compared with patterned Irons such as Gibeon or Muonionalusta.

 

Studying Richland provides insight into the IIAB Iron group, metallic crystallisation, and the complexity of historic meteorite provenance. Its Texas origin, rare Hexahedrite structure, and Fredericksburg synonym history make it especially interesting for collectors of American Iron meteorites and unusual structural classes. Each specimen represents ancient asteroid core material preserved in metallic form for over 4.5 billion years.

0 products

No products. Use fewer filters or clear all

Iron Meteorite Collections

Iron Meteorite Classifications

Popular Collections