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If you see a stone that looks like it doesn’t belong in this world, it could be a meteorite. Although meteorites are relatively rare on Earth, they are not unheard of. However, you need to make sure what you see is actually rock or iron from space, not ordinary matter that belongs to the earth. By examining the common signs of meteorites, you can determine whether the stone is of extraterrestrial origin.
Steps
Look for external identifiers
- This rusting process begins as small red and orange spots on the meteorite’s surface, and gradually expands. You may still be able to see the black scale even though part of it has begun to rust.
- Meteorites can be black with slight variations (eg, steel-blue luster). However, if your stone is completely black or brown, it is not a meteorite.
- Despite their asymmetrical shape, most meteorites have rounded or sharp edges. [3] X Research Sources
- If your stone is relatively normal or round like a ball, it could still be a meteorite. However, most meteorites are asymmetrical in shape.
- The molten crust will usually be smooth and featureless, but may also be wavy and have “drops” as the molten rock accumulates and solidifies.
- If your rock doesn’t have a molten shell, it’s almost certainly not a meteorite.
- The molten shell looks like a black eggshell covering the stone. [5] X Research Sources
- Desert rocks sometimes develop a glossy black outer layer that looks similar to meteorite crust. If your stone is found in the desert, assess whether its black surface was formed in an arid environment.
- The wavy lines may be quite small or not visible to the naked eye, as they may be broken or not completely straight. Use a magnifying glass and look closely when looking for wavy lines on the surface of the stone. [7] X Research Sources
- Iron meteorites are easy to melt into an asymmetrical shape and have noticeable deep grooves, while stone meteorites have smooth recesses that look like a rock surface. [9] X Research Source
- These indentations are theoretically and in English known as “regmaglypt”, but most meteorologists would call them “fingerprints”.
- If your stone has holes in the surface or looks “foamy” as if it was melted, it’s definitely not a meteorite. [11] X Research Source
- Slag generated from industrial operations is often confused with meteorites, but slag has a porous surface. Other rocks that are often confused are lava rocks and black limestone.
- If you can’t distinguish between voids and regmaglypt, you can check out the comparison pictures of these two features online to see the difference. [12] X Research Source
Check the physical properties of the stone
- You can calculate the density of that stone by dividing the weight by the volume. If the density is more than 3 units, it is most likely a meteorite. [14] X Research Source
- Since many rocks of earth origin are also magnetic, a magnet test certainly cannot prove your stone is a meteorite. However, if you can’t pass the magnet test, it’s almost certainly not a meteorite.
- Iron meteorites are more magnetic than many stone meteorites and are sometimes strong enough to affect the compass when placed close. [16] X Research Source
- For unglazed porcelain tiles, you can use the base of the kitchen or bathroom tile, the bottom of the ceramic coffee cup, or the inside of the water tank lid on the toilet. [18] X Research Sources
- Hematite and magnetite are often confused with meteorites. Hematite leaves a red streak, while magnetite leaves a dark gray streak, indicating that they are not meteorites. [19] X Research Source
- Remember that many rocks of earth origin also leave no streaks; so while this test can rule out hematite and magnetite, it certainly won’t prove your stone is a meteorite.
- You need a diamond file to wear the surface of the meteorite. The grinding process takes a lot of time and effort. If you can’t sharpen it yourself, take the stone to a lab for testing. [21] X Research Source
- If the interior of the stone is merely a rock, it is almost certainly not a meteorite.
- Although chondrules are usually located inside meteorites, wear and tear from long-term environmental exposure can expose them to the surface of meteorites.
- In most cases, you need to smash the meteorite to find the chondrule. [23] X Research Sources
Advice
- Meteorites may have air bubbles. All meteorites that come from the moon fall into this category. Stone and iron meteorites have no “inside” air bubbles. Some stony meteorites have air bubbles on the outside.
- Since meteorites usually have a higher nickel content than rocks of earth origin, you can use nickel to check if your stone is a meteorite. This test can be performed in a meteorite laboratory, and is more accurate than all the aforementioned methods.
- There are now many documents and websites written about meteorites. You can equip yourself with knowledge.
- The probability of finding a meteorite is actually very small. If you want to find meteorites, the desert is the place with the most potential.
Warning
- Do not attempt to sell a stone you think is a meteorite unless it has been confirmed by an expert. eBay doesn’t let you sell something that “could be a meteorite.”
This article is co-authored by a team of editors and trained researchers who confirm the accuracy and completeness of the article.
The wikiHow Content Management team carefully monitors the work of editors to ensure that every article is up to a high standard of quality.
There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 35,228 times.
If you see a stone that looks like it doesn’t belong in this world, it could be a meteorite. Although meteorites are relatively rare on Earth, they are not unheard of. However, you need to make sure what you see is actually rock or iron from space, not ordinary matter that belongs to the earth. By examining the common signs of meteorites, you can determine whether the stone is of extraterrestrial origin.
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