Henbury - Iron, IIIAB

Henbury is a classic Australian Iron meteorite from the Northern Territory, directly associated with the Henbury crater field near Henbury Station. The crater field was formed when a fragmented Iron meteorite struck the desert surface thousands of years ago, creating one of Australia’s best-known impact sites. Henbury is officially classified as an Iron, IIIAB meteorite, representing ancient iron-nickel core material from an early differentiated asteroid. The Northern Territory Government describes the crater field as around 4,700 years old, with multiple craters preserved in the Central Australian desert.

Henbury specimens are typically dense iron-nickel fragments with natural sculpting, weathered surfaces, regmaglypts, and oxidation from long terrestrial exposure. Cut and etched pieces can reveal Widmanstätten patterns, while natural individuals are often valued for their rugged exterior form and strong display character. The crater field contains more than a dozen craters, and several tonnes of iron-nickel fragments have been recovered from the site.

Studying Henbury provides valuable insight into Iron meteorite fragmentation, small crater formation, and the preservation of impact sites in arid environments. Its direct association with a protected crater field gives it strong scientific, historical, and collector appeal. For collectors, Henbury offers a recognised Australian Iron meteorite with classic IIIAB classification, distinctive natural forms, and a direct connection to one of the country’s most important meteorite impact sites.