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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
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Is the stone black or rusty brown? If the rock was a recently dropped meteor, it would have a glossy black color as it burned through the atmosphere. However, after a while on earth, the iron in the meteorite will turn to rust and make the stone brown. [1] X Research Source
- 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.
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Does the stone have an asymmetrical shape? Contrary to what you might think, most meteorites are not round. Instead, they are often disproportionate in size and shape. Although some meteorites are cone-shaped, most are not aerodynamically shaped when they land. [2] X Research Source
- 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.
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Does your stone have a molten crust? As the meteorite passes through the atmosphere, its surface will melt and the air pressure will force the molten material back, forming a molten and featureless shell. If the surface of your stone looks like it has melted and solidified, it could be a meteorite. [4] X Research Sources
- 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.
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Check for wavy lines on the surface. Wavy lines in the molten crust form when the crust is melted and pushed back. If your stone has a wavy surface and looks like crust, it is most likely a meteorite. [6] X Research Sources
- 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
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Look for recesses or depressions in the surface of the stone. Although the surface of a meteorite is usually featureless, it can also have depressions and deep grooves that look like thumbprints. Look for these features to determine if it’s a meteorite and what type of meteorite it is. [8] 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”.
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Check if the stone is porous and contains many voids. Although dents and grooves in the surface are indicative of meteorites, none of the meteorites has holes in the interior. Meteorites are solid rocks; If your stone is porous or foamy, it is not a meteorite. [10] X Research Source
- 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
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Calculate the density of the stone if it is heavier than normal. Meteorites are solid rocks that often contain a lot of metal. If your stone looks like a meteorite, compare it with other stones to make sure it’s relatively heavy, then calculate the density to see if it’s a meteorite. [13] X Research Source
- 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
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Use a magnet to see if the stone is magnetic. Almost all meteorites are more or less magnetic. That’s because meteorites have high levels of iron and nickel, which are magnetic metals. If the magnet does not attract the stone, it is almost certainly not a meteorite. [15] 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
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Rub the stone over unglazed porcelain to see if it leaves a streak. This test is a fairly accurate way to rule out earth-derived matter. Rub the stone on the unglazed side of the porcelain tile; If it leaves a trail without a light gray color, it is not a meteorite. [17] 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.
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Grind the surface of the stone and look for shiny metal flakes. Most meteorites contain shiny metal underneath the molten crust. Use a diamond file to sharpen one corner of the stone and examine the inside for metal. [20] X Research Source
- 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.
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Examine the inside of the stone for small silicate particles. Most meteorites that fall to Earth are meteorites that have small round masses inside, called chondrules. They look like small rock particles and come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. [22] X Research Source
- 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.”
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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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