Magura

The Magura meteorite is classified as a coarse octahedrite, which is a specific structural type of iron meteorite. This classification is based on the distinctive Widmanstätten patterns—interlocking crystals of iron-nickel minerals—that are revealed when a cross-section of the meteorite is cut, polished, and etched with acid.

The Magura meteorite was found in the Orava region of what is now Slovakia, in Central Europe. It is recognized as one of the largest iron meteorites discovered in this region, and multiple masses have been recovered from the area over the years.

The Magura meteorite was known to local communities in the Orava region for several centuries before it received formal scientific study. Its long history of local awareness makes it one of the more historically documented meteorites in European records, with pieces distributed to museum collections worldwide.

Specimens of the Magura meteorite are held in major meteorite collections and natural history museums around the world. Because multiple masses were recovered from the Orava region over centuries, pieces can be found in institutions across Europe and beyond, where they are studied for their iron-nickel composition and crystalline structure.