[en] Local electronic states of ⁵⁷Fe and their thermal stability in cubic boron nitride (c-BN) samples prepared by catalytic synthesis and noncatalytic synthesis have been studied by transmission Moessbauer spectroscopy. In samples obtained by direct phase transformations (noncatalytic synthesis) iron forms mainly magnetically ordered phases of ε-Fe₃N and amorphous a-(Fe-B) which decompose at elevated temperature to metallic iron precipitates. In samples prepared by catalytic synthesis the dominating, stable fraction of iron is paramagnetic Fe³⁺ in low symmetry surrounding. These results may give some hints for the degradation in the mechanical properties of c-BN cutting edges