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Glite Dictionary
ataxite

ataxite

1 9.9
A rare meteorite made mostly of iron and nickel with no visible internal layers
  • noun
  • Specialized
: ataxita
  • It's made of ataxite, a rare type of iron meteorite with a high nickel content.

Examples

  • The largest-ever known meteorite, the Hoba meteorite of Namibia, is an ataxite meteorite that may weigh more than 60 tons.

    Blog text (26)

  • The scientists identified the rock as an ataxite, a type of iron meteorite containing high levels of nickel.

  • They found that the statue is carved from a rare class of space rocks known as ataxite meteorites.

    Blog text (26)

  • Researchers discovered that the unusual metal in the artifact was actually an ataxite, known for its minimal internal structure.

  • In the collection, one specimen stood out as an ataxite, distinguished by its unique metallic composition.

Synonyms

siderite
vsataxite
  • Specialized
9.9

A space rock that reached Earth and is mostly iron and nickel

is a specific subtype with high nickel causing little or no internal structure

Surface Forms

ataxite singular
ataxites plural

Morphology

ataxite = a + tax + ite

Although formed from Greek combining elements (a- 'without' + tax- 'order' + -ite), this is a specialist mineralogical term built from non‑transparent combining forms and is unlikely to be guessed by a general learner (and may be confused with the unrelated English word 'tax').

Etymology

Ataxite comes from the Greek parts a- meaning 'not' and taxis meaning 'arrangement' or 'order', the same root you see in the English word tactic. So an ataxite is a meteorite 'without order' inside, with little or no visible internal structure, which explains the name.