Is This A Meteorite?
Field Testing Guide
Aerolite Meteorites, Inc.
www.aerolite.org
Thank you for choosing our Is This A Meteorite? Field Test Guide
This guide has been produced by Aerolite Meteorites Inc in order to help you
learn whether or not you have a meteorite. Reading this guide, examining the
included photographs, and carrying out the simple tests that we outline will help
you determine whether you have a meteorite or a terrestrial (Earth) rock.
© 2016 by Aerolite Meteorites Inc.
This is an original work. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or reprinting of any material, in any form, without written permission.
The publisher strictly enforces intellectual property rights.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a Meteorite? .............................................................................................................1
Basic Facts About Meteorites ............................................................................................4
The Main Types of Meteorites ...........................................................................................5
Characteristics of Meteorites .............................................................................................6
Features Not Seen in Meteorites ....................................................................................12
Meteoritelab: Tests You Can Do ......................................................................................14
Meteorites From Old Collections ...................................................................................16
Results and What To Do Next ..........................................................................................17
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS A METEORITE?
A meteorite is a piece of iron, stone, or stony-iron composite that has fallen to Earth from
outer space. Most meteorites originated within the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter,
and were once part of an asteroid. A few meteorites come to us from the moon and Mars,
and some scientists have theorized that a few others may possibly be fragments of comets.
Meteorites are valuable both to science and the collecting community. We believe that a
modest portion of new meteorite finds should always be made available to academia for
study.
There are a three steps we need to take prior to determining the value of a meteorite and
offering it for sale, or donating all or part of it to a museum:
1) Verification
2) Identification
3) Classification and Naming
WHAT IS A METEORITE?
1
Verification tells us whether or not your find is a meteorite.
Identification tells us what kind of meteorite it is and usually gives us a fairly good idea of its
monetary value. Identification of meteorites, and knowing how to differentiate them from
terrestrial rocks requires a great deal of experience and specialized knowledge. Aerolite
Meteorites provides both verification and identification services.
After identification comes classification and naming — a complex process that can only be
carried out by a very small number of accredited academic specialists. We work closely with
the foremost museums and laboratories in the world and, if we determine that your find is a
genuine meteorite, we will be happy to use our network of professional contacts to expedite
the classification process and assist with official naming. Please note that an additional fee is
usually required (by the laboratory) for classification to take place, as highly specialized and
expensive lab equipment is needed.
New meteorites are typically named according to the location of the nearest town or
geographical feature, not the name of the person who found them. The Nomenclature
Committee — a group of scientists who approve official new meteorite names — is often
willing to consider suggestions for names, based on the original find location.
Classification makes a meteorite official, both to the academic community and to collectors,
and that process adds significant financial value to a specimen, as well as contributing
important information to an official database that maintains the sum knowledge of all
known and recognized meteorites. If you are the finder of a new meteorite, you will also be
offered the option to have your name recorded as such in The Meteoritical Bulletin, which is
the database (and publication) that contains the names and details of all
officially-recognized meteorites worldwide.
Some finders choose to donate part or all of their finds to museums or university collections;
others prefer to sell them for profit. With over twenty years of experience in meteorite
research and recovery we can help you place your find with a respected museum or
academic institution, purchase it from you, or help you sell it to a collector, depending on
your wishes but, in order to do so, we must ask you to go through the verification and
identification steps first, so we can determine what type of meteorite you may have and then
estimate its financial value.
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Aerolite Meteorites is an internationally known and respected meteorite company and we
will keep the details of your find confidential, if you prefer. Aerolite President, Geoff Notkin,
hosts the award-winning television adventure series Meteorite Men and, written two books
and hundreds of published articles on meteorites and related subjects. He is a TEDx speaker,
sits on the Board of Governors of The National Space Society and lectures worldwide on the
subjects of meteorite science, recovery, and identification.
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BASIC FACTS ABOUT METEORITES
Most meteorites contain extraterrestrial iron — ranging from 20% to more than 90%. Even
those that look similar to terrestrial rocks (stony meteorites) usually are made up of about
one fifth iron. Much like a common nail or ball bearing, these iron-rich meteorites will easily
stick to a high quality magnet. When testing a suspected meteorite, do not use a cheap
magnet! The rare earth (neodymium) magnets that we use in the lab, in the field, and on our
Meteorite Men television show are extremely powerful and are an indispensable tool for
meteorite hunting and testing. Top quality neodymium magnets, identical to the ones we
use ourselves, are not readily available in retail stores. You can purchase one from us for a
nominal fee.
A small percentage of meteorites, known as achondrites, do not show strong attraction to a
magnet, as they contain little or no iron. They are rare and we usually discount any rocks that
do not stick to a magnet. Those meteorites often look similar to volcanic rocks from Earth, are
not metallic in appearance, and may require physical inspection by one of our specialists. If
you feel you have one of these rare meteorite types, please read the rest of our guide, as it
contains much useful information, and follow the instructions for laboratory submission.
Although there are a large number of sub classes, meteorites are divided into three main
groups: irons, stones and stony-irons. Almost all meteorites contain extraterrestrial nickel
and iron, and those that contain no iron at all are extremely rare.
Most meteorites seem very heavy for their size when compared to ordinary Earth rocks. The
thing most people say when they hold a meteorite for the first time is, “Wow! It’s so heavy!”
The unusual weight is due to high iron content. Even stone meteorites will feel heavier in the
hand than most Earth rocks, so if you hold a meteorite in one hand, and an Earth rock of
similar size in your other hand, the meteorite typically feels noticeably heavier. Although
simple, this is a useful test that we use in the field all the time.
As a rule, meteorites are not radioactive. Before reaching Earth, they likely traveled in space
for millions of years before crashing here. They were bathed in cosmic rays, but are not
dangerous or radioactive. In fact, most meteorites show even less radioactivity than most
Earth rocks. One exception is a rare class of lunar meteorites that is rich in thorium. Testing
your suspected meteorite with a Geiger counter is, therefore, not a helpful step towards
identification.
BASIC FACTS ABOUT METEORITES
4
THE MAIN TYPES OF METEORITES
Iron meteorites likely originated in the molten cores of long-vanished asteroids. They are
among the densest materials on earth and will stick very strongly to a powerful magnet. Iron
meteorites feel heavier than most earth rocks — if you have ever lifted up a cannon ball or an
iron dumbbell, you will get the idea.
The largest group of meteorites is the stones. The majority of stone meteorites are believed
to have once formed part of the outer crust of a planet or asteroid. Many stone meteorites —
particularly those that have been on the surface of our planet for an extended period of time
— frequently look much like terrestrial rocks, and it can take a skilled eye to identify them.
Stony-irons are the rarest of the three groups and include mesosiderites and pallasites.
Specimens from both sub groups are made up of roughly 50% silicates and 50% nickle-iron.
In the case of pallasites, the silicate material is the gemstone peridot, making them
particularly valuable and also highly desirable to collectors.
[Left to right] Examples of stone, iron, and stony-iron
(pallasite) meteorites
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CHARACTERISTICS OF METEORITES
1) ATTRACTION TO A MAGNET
As described above, most meteorites contain iron and will easily stick to a quality rare earth
(neodymium) magnet. A meteorite that fell years ago and has been sitting on the Earth’s
surface for a long time, may appear rusty due to its high iron content.
CHARACTERISTICS OF METEORITES
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2) COLOR
Most meteorites appear very dark in color. A meteorite that has fallen recently will have
fusion crust (see below) on its surface which will appear black, or even blue-black. Meteorites
that fell a long time ago will have experienced rain and weathering. Iron rusts in a moist
atmosphere and, as you have already learned, most meteorites contain iron. So, expect older
meteorites to have a rusty appearance: reddish-brown or reddish-black.
3) WEIGHT
Meteorites are dense, they often feel heavier than ordinary Earth rocks of a similar size.
4) FUSION CRUST
When potential meteorites (we call them “meteoroids” before they land) travel through the
air around our planet, their surfaces are superheated by atmospheric pressure. A meteoroid
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can experience temperatures in excess of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit during flight! These high
temperatures cause the surface to burn and a thin black rind — sometimes shiny, sometimes
matte black — called fusion crust is formed. Recently-fallen meteorites will clearly show this
fusion crust on the outside. A freshly-fallen stone meteorite will appear extremely black,
much like a charcoal briquette. Over time, fusion crust may oxidize (rust) or weather away
completely, but even stone meteorites that have been on the Earth for a long time usually
retain some fusion crust and usually appear darker than ordinary rocks. Recognizing fusion
crust is one of the definitive methods for meteorite identification in the field and in the lab.
Sometimes, small remnant patches of fusion crust can only be positively identified with a
magnifying lens or microscope.
5) REGMAGLYPTS
When their surfaces melt during flight, meteorites, especially irons, sometimes acquire
“regmaglypts” — small surface indentations informally known as thumbprints. Regmaglypts
are shallow, oval pits that look much like the thumbprints a sculptor might make when
Multiple overlapping regmaglypts on the surface
of an iron meteorite
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working in wet clay. Stone meteorites sometimes display regmaglypts too, but they are
typically not as well defined as in irons. Regmaglypts are only seen on the exterior surfaces of
meteorites, so if a specimen has broken up in flight or upon impact, none may be visible.
Regmaglypts are always an indicator of meteorites, but not all meteorites show regmaglypts.
Meteorites, particularly irons, may also show angular features such as points and ridges —
especially if they have exploded in the air, or upon impact. Complete meteorites that are
covered in regmaglypts are usually described as individuals, while angular, shard-like
fragments are called shrapnel.
6) FLOW LINES
As a meteoroid hurtles through our atmosphere, its surface may melt in tiny rivulets known
as flow lines. They look similar to the impressions made by water moving across sand. The
Flow lines can be seen on the right-hand face of
this iron meteorite
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patterns formed by flow lines can be tiny, often thinner than a strand of human hair, and they
are one of the most unique and intriguing surface characteristics of meteorites. A magnifying
lens may be needed to see these delicate features.
7) CHONDRULES AND METAL FLAKES
The group of stone meteorites known as chondrites are the most abundant meteorite type,
and account for most new finds. Chondrites are composed largely of chondrules, which are
tiny, grain-like spheroids, often of widely differing colors. Chondrules are believed to have
formed in the solar nebula disk before the planets in our solar system and are not present in
earth rocks. Chondrites are usually rich in metal flakes of iron-nickel. Shiny blobs of this
When cut and polished, most stone meteorites (chondrites) reveal tiny
nickel-iron flecks and colorful, spherical chondrules
extraterrestrial alloy are sometimes visible on their surfaces, although you may need a hand
lens to see them. A simple identification test involves removing a small corner of a suspected
stone meteorite with a file or bench grinder and examining the exposed face with a loupe. If
10
the interior displays metal flakes and small, round, colorful inclusions, it may well be a
meteorite. A small “window” in a suspected meteorite, and inspection with a loupe or
magnifying lens, will make it easy to identify chondrules if they are present. We recommend,
however, that you do not cut up your suspected meteorite, or otherwise damage its
appearance. A meteorite with a beautiful or interesting shape will be worth less to collectors
if its end has been hacked off. Ask a meteorite professional or accredited lab to do your
cutting and testing. Please note that chondrules are not present in iron or stony-iron
meteorites.
Examining a suspected meteorite in the laboratory
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FEATURES NOT SEEN IN METEORITES
1) VESICLES
The things mostly frequently mistaken for meteorites are the Earth rock hematite (an iron
oxide), the Earth rock magnetite (an iron ore), rusty man-made items such as shrapnel from
bombs, iron slag from old smelters, and volcanic rocks. Hematite is reddish in color,
Vesicles in a piece of iron slag,
caused by escaping gas
sometimes appears melted, and usually does not stick to a magnet. Magnetite is particularly
tricky, because it will stick to a magnet and feels very heavy for its size. Magnetite is, however,
grey in color and doesn’t show the black (fresh meteorite) or rusty-red hue (old meteorite)
that we expect to see in space rocks.
FEATURES NOT SEEN IN METEORITES
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Volcanic, or igneous, rocks were once molten. As they cooled, gas escaped, forming small
pin-prick holes known as vesicles. We do not find vesicles in meteorites (except, rarely, on
their interior), so if your rock has holes on its surface, like a sponge, it is not a meteorite.
Hematite is an Earth rock frequently
mistaken for a meteorite
2) QUARTZ
We rarely see crystals inside meteorites, and certainly not quartz crystals. Some meteorites,
such as Canyon Diablo from Arizona, contain tiny diamonds but those gems are rare, nearly
invisible to the naked eye, and can only be seen after cutting a specimen. Pallasites contain
the gemstone peridot, which is dark green in color, but pallasites are extremely rare and
account for only about 1% of all known meteorites. Some meteorites do contain gold, but
only as a trace element — meaning in minute quantities — so it cannot be seen by casual
examination. Quartz is one of the most common minerals found on Earth, but it is not seen
in meteorites. If your rock contains quartz, or looks just like other Earth rocks, it probably is
not a meteorite.
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METEORITELAB: TESTS YOU CAN DO
VISUAL INSPECTION
If you’ve read the previous pages you now know much more about meteorites than the
average person. Thank you for reading this far. Now, please consider the following:
Does your rock exhibit some or all of the characteristics we have discussed? Does it feel
heavier than it should? Does it have regmaglypts, or a rusty surface, or fusion crust? Compare
your rock to the photographs of real meteorites, and “meteorwrongs.”
THE MAGNET TEST
Remember, a meteorite will stick easily to a good magnet. If your rock does not adhere to a
powerful magnet it is very unlikely that you have found a meteorite.
METEORITELAB: TESTS YOU CAN DO
14
Please note! There are many Earth rocks (natural and man-made) that also stick to magnets,
so if your specimen adheres to a magnet it is not automatically a meteorite, but it is a step in
the right direction.
THE STREAK TEST
If you think you have an iron meteorite, here’s an easy test you can perform at home:
Take your rock sample and scrape it against the coarse (unglazed) face of a white bathroom
tile, just like you were drawing on a blackboard with a piece of chalk.
A) If your rock leaves a reddish or rust-colored streak on the tile it is likely hematite.
B) If it leaves a dark gray streak it is likely magnetite.
Please note: The streak test only works for iron meteorites (not stones). An iron meteorite will
typically leave no streak, or possibly a very faint grayish mark.
THE NICKEL TEST
Iron meteorites and stony-iron meteorites both contain nickel. Most stone meteorites have a
tiny amount of nickel, but the nickel test is usually used for identifying irons and stony-irons,
while looking for chondrules or nickel-iron flecks by eye (see above) are most frequently used
when examining possible stone meteorites.
Naturally occurring Earth rocks do not contain a measurable amount of nickel, so if your
specimen tests positive for this element in the right amounts, it is likely a meteorite. We do
not use or recommend store-bought nickel testing kits. In our experience they have not been
effective in testing for the small amounts of nickel found in meteorites. A professional
analysis from an assay lab is an accurate way to determine nickel content and any assay lab
can perform this analysis for a modest fee. Iron meteorites contain, on average, about 7%
nickel but the content can be higher or lower. If your find contains at least 3% nickel it may be
an iron meteorite.
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METEORITES FROM OLD COLLECTIONS
We are often contacted by people who did not find a new meteorite, but rather, found an old
one! Meteorites sometimes turn up at estate sales and even in garage sales. A collector may
pass away and leave his or her specimens to a friend or relative. Sometimes an enthusiast will
buy a mineral collection and later discover that it contains one or more valuable meteorites.
All officially recognized meteorites have been given a name, and some well-known examples
include Canyon Diablo, Campo del Cielo, Allende, Odessa, Henbury, and Sikhote-Alin. If a
meteorite has been classified, it already has a name, and will likely be accompanied by a
specimen identification card, receipt, or other paperwork. Historic meteorites from old
museum collections sometimes have small numbers painted on them. If you have one or
more meteorites with this kind of documentation, please contact us and let us know. We are
very experienced in this area and will gladly help you identify and value old collection pieces.
METEORITES FROM OLD COLLECTIONS
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RESULTS AND WHAT TO DO NEXT
Now that you have read our Is This A Meteorite? Field Test Guide, you know much more about
meteorites that most people in the world. Congratulations!
After reading our guide, visually inspecting your find, and performing some of the tests, you
should now have a pretty good idea whether or not it is a meteorite. Meteorites are valuable
to scientists and collectors and we can help you with the next steps.
CONTACTING US AND WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you have read this guide and still feel you have a meteorite we invite you to arrange to
send us a specimen for verification. We have spent years developing an efficient method for
examining suspected meteorites. If you follow our procedures you will help us to help you
inspect your suspected meteorite as quickly as possible.
HOW TO SEND US A SAMPLE FOR IDENTIFICATION
The Aerolite Meteorites Identification Department will evaluate your suspected meteorite(s)
for a $75 fee. This helps compensate our staff geologist and meteorite experts as they
examine possible space rocks. Your $75 fee covers the inspection of three separate
specimens, provided they are sent at the same time and in the same package. Additional
specimens may be included for $20.00 each. Please do not send more than ten specimens
without prior arrangement.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS SERVICE
http://www.aerolite.org/id-payment.htm
You will receive one of three replies after we receive your sample(s):
(1) YOUR FIND IS NOT A METEORITE
If we do not believe you have a meteorite we will reply in writing to inform you of our
findings. If you have included full return postage, we will ship your specimen back to you. If
you do not include full return postage, the piece will be disposed of.
RESULTS AND WHAT TO DO NEXT
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(2) YOUR FIND IS A METEORITE
We will contact you to discuss further options and see what you would like to do with your
find. Some options include selling it, displaying at a museum, donating to a museum,
submitting it for official naming and classification. At this stage we are often able to provide
an estimation of its monetary value.
(3) FURTHER ANALYSIS REQUIRED
Very occasionally — perhaps once or twice a year — we receive a piece that is very unusual
and cannot be positively identified without more involved testing. If this is the case, we may
recommend the piece be sent for further testing with XRF equipment by a specialist, or
analysis at an assay lab, for an additional (modest) fee. We can either return the piece and
advise you where to send it, or send it to facility for additional testing, on your behalf. If we
consider this test to be necessary, we will discuss with you before taking any further steps.
SPECIMEN MAILING CHECKLIST
When mailing specimens to us, please go through the checklist before you leave for the post
office:
• Do not send tiny fragments or dust. We require a piece at least the size of a walnut to carry
out an accurate evaluation. It is up to you, the finder, to determine if it is necessary to cut off
a piece for analysis. In some cases, cutting a piece off may diminish the value of the
specimen. If the sample is not overly large, we recommend sending the whole piece. Please
do not send anything that is too large to fit in a USPS mailing box.
• Include a check or money order made out to “Aerolite Meteorites” for $75 or use the
PayPal / credit card live link included on page 17 of this PDF document. Samples that are
sent without an inspection fee will not be examined or evaluated.
• Include a note with your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
Include return postage if you want your sample(s) returned to you
• For example: if it costs you $9.95 to ship the sample to us, you must include $9.95, in
addition to the inspection fee. If full shipping costs are not included, the material will not be
returned to you. You may include stamps, cash, check or a pre-paid mailing label.
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SPECIMEN MAILING GUIDELINES
Please pack your sample(s) securely and send to the address below. USPS Priority Mail Flat
Rate boxes are a good option for shipping heavy items. We advise against mailing rocks in
regular letter envelopes as they often arrive damaged. We strongly recommend adding USPS
Delivery Confirmation which allows you to track your package.
Do not ship specimens to us by Registered Mail or Certified Mail except by prior
arrangement. These packages need personal signatures and require our staff to wait in line
at the post office. If you send Registered or Certified Mail packages they will be returned to
you unopened.
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Ship to:
Aerolite Meteorites Inc
Attn: Identification Division
P.O. Box 85459
Tucson, AZ 85754-5459
USA
FOLLOWING OUR PROCEDURES
We have spent years developing an efficient method for examining suspected meteorites. If
you do not follow our simple procedures, we will not be able evaluate your specimen. Our
fees are nonrefundable. By sending us a specimen for evaluation, you agree to these terms.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EVALUATE A SPECIMEN?
Depending on how many samples we have in the lab for identification at any given time, it
may take up to thirty days for us to inspect your pieces. Please be patient. All specimens are
carefully examined in the order in which they are received. Please be aware that shipping
within the United States typically takes three days in each direction, in addition to the time
required for inspection.
CONTACTING THE ID DEPARTMENT
Identification services are conducted by our laboratory facility that is separate from our
business office. Please do not call our business office with meteorite identification-related
questions, as our sales staff will not be able to assist you. You may check on the status of
your submission via email at: [email protected]
By mailing us a specimen you agree to the terms on the following page.
Thank you for your interest in our services.
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BY SENDING US MATERIAL(S) YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING
You agree that you are voluntarily sending in your sample to the Aerolite Meteorites
Identification Division. You have been provided with enough information to determine
this is the next best step in identifying your rock sample.
Acknowledgment, Release, and Indemnification by Sender
In consideration of the permission for sending material(s) for evaluation, I, as the sender,
hereby EXPRESSLY AND VOLUNTARILY ACKNOWLEDGE, AGREE, PROMISE AND COVENANT
on behalf of myself, my heirs, assignees, personal representative and estate with Aerolite Meteorites, Inc.,
an Arizona corporation, the Lab, and each of their vendors, officers, directors, employees, agents and
volunteers (collectively “Aerolite”), as follows:
1.
I VOLUNTARILY RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO BRING
ANY CLAIMS AGAINST Aerolite from any and all liability, claims, demands, or actions
or rights of action, which are related to, arise out of, or are in any way connected with
participation in the Identification of my specimen. Including, but not limited to,
any negligence or fault of Aerolite.
2.
I understand this Agreement and that the RELEASE OF LIABILITY will prevent me, my heirs,
assigns, personal representative and my estate from bringing any action at law, suit in equity,
claim of any kind, or other jurisdictional proceeding related to my participation in the
Aerolite Meteorites identification services.
GF 16.9.29