A COMPLETE DRONINO METEORITE — AN EXOTIC SAMPLE FROM INTERPLANETARY SPACE

While 89% of iron meteorites are members of established chemical groups, the other 11% are chemically unrelated. Dronino is one of these exotic, ungrouped irons, which is to imply it originated from an otherwise unknown parent asteroid. Dronino meteorites fell approximately 20 kilometers from an ancient town founded in 1152. As nothing was ever written about what would have been the memorable event of a fireball accompanied by sonic booms and smoke trails, it can be inferred Dronino‘s arrival occurred when the area was unpopulated. Given the extent of terrestrial sculpting seen, a descent to Earth more than a millennium ago can be confidently fixed. The first Dronino meteorite was discovered by a mushroom hunter in Russia in 2000. This specimen evidences the long, deep crenellated furrows of a quintessential Dronino meteorite.