Stony meteorites are mostly silica or silica minerals, but they also contain nickel and iron. (Image credit: By Gabisfunny - Own work, Public Domain, )
Types of Meteorite StonesĬan you guess how many meteorites have been found on Earth? The answer: over 60,000! So, what are the three types of meteorites? We’ll break them down from most to least common. So, what is a meteorite made of? Meteorites are diverse but always fall under one of three categories. What kind of stone is meteorite, though? Over 90 percent of meteorites are rocks. On the Mohs mineral hardness scale, meteorite ranks between 4-6, similar to fluorite. Is it glassy or opaque? If it’s glassy, it’s not a meteorite. Is it heavier than it looks? Meteorites are unusually heavy for their size.ĭoes it attract a magnet? The high iron content makes meteorites magnetic, though you may need to hang the magnet by a string for “stony” meteorites (which we’ll discuss next).ĭoes it have a flaky, eggshell-like crust? You may need to file down a corner to see, but meteorites will have metal flakes and a lighter-colored interior. Meteorite Characteristics & Identificationĭespite roughly 6,100 meteorites coming to Earth annually, approximately only about ten are found every year. Identifying your zodiac sign is simple enough, but what about meteorite identification? Let’s go over the qualities to look for. Meteorite isn’t a birthstone, but some meteorites contain an August birthstone: peridot! Peridot forms naturally on Earth, but a few meteorites have carried peridot crystals, nicknamed “space peridot” or “extraterrestrial peridot.”Īstrologically, meteorite’s galactic origins make it a zodiac stone for every sign! Meteorites are dark brown or black and usually smooth-surfaced stones, but are sometimes dimpled.
Read on as we hitch our wagon to a star and endeavor to the great beyond to explore meteorite properties, uses, jewelry, and more! However, jewelers use meteorite stones in jewelry and ornamental pieces. Meteorites are classified as rocks or metals. If you’re wondering what stone is from space, meteorite is just one option, although it often contains other gems.īut wait, is meteorite a gem? Technically, no. While most gemstones come from Mother Earth, others travel from the great beyond. The scientific meteorite definition is a piece of space debris that entered our planet’s atmosphere and landed on Earth’s surface. Meteorite is a rock or metal fragment from space used as a gemstone or decorative material.
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