The mineralogy of Canyon Diablo meteorites depends on whether they have been shocked by impact. While all of the specimens were shocked to some degree, some specimens found around the crater rim show very different mineralogy. The less altered mineralogy is typical of iron meteorites. Schreibersite crystals occur as skeletal blades. This is a very hard mineral that will ruin a saw blade unfortunate enough to be put to the task of cutting a Canyon Diablo.
Graphite occurs as large bodies within iron or in separate masses.
Cohenite , an iron carbide, is common. This mineral is even harder than Schreibersite. Haxonite , chromite and silicates are also found. The specimens that were subjected to greater shock show partial melting, recrystallization, neumann banding and other deformation. Perhaps the most well-known shock effect is the transformation of graphite to diamond and lonsdaleite .