Dronino is an unusual 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. Classified as Iron, Ataxite (ungrouped), Dronino represents nickel-rich metal from an early asteroid parent body, but does not fit neatly into established Iron meteorite groups.

Specimens of Dronino are especially recognised for their distinctive exterior texture. Many pieces show deeply weathered, sculpted, or furrowed surfaces formed by long interaction with soil and groundwater after landing. Unlike Octahedrite Iron meteorites, Ataxites generally lack visible Widmanstätten patterns due to their high nickel content, so Dronino is often valued more for its natural form, dense metallic character, and unusual surface morphology.

For collectors, Dronino offers a distinctive Russian Iron meteorite with strong visual character and an uncommon classification. Its combination of Ungrouped Ataxite chemistry, recognised provenance, and naturally sculpted surfaces makes it especially appealing for display pieces and specialised Iron meteorite collections. Each specimen represents ancient asteroid metal, altered by long terrestrial exposure into one of the more recognisable forms among modern Iron meteorite finds.