meteorite
Meteorite
Chondrite / Iron-Nickel Meteorite fragment
Hardness: 5-8 on Mohs scale depending on composition (metal-silicate mix); Color: Dark brown, black, or rusty with a fusion crust; Luster: Metallic to dull; Crystal structure: Widmanstätten pattern visible in iron-rich sections; Specific Gravity: High, typically 3.5 to 8.0 due to metal content.
- Color
- Dark brown, black, or rusty with a fusion crust
- Luster
- Metallic to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-8 on Mohs scale depending on composition (metal-silicate mix); Color: Dark brown, black, or rusty with a fusion crust; Luster: Metallic to dull; Crystal structure: Widmanstätten pattern visible in iron-rich sections; Specific Gravity: High, typically 3.5 to 8.0 due to metal content.
Formation & geological history
Formed in the early solar system approximately 4.5 billion years ago, originating from asteroid belts or comets, surviving atmospheric entry to land on Earth.
Uses & applications
Scientific research, planetary geology studies, and high-value private collecting.
Geological facts
Meteorites represent the oldest material accessible on Earth, offering clues about the formation and composition of the solar system.
Field identification & locations
Often magnetic, heavy for its size, features a smooth or pitted dark fusion crust, and typically found in arid regions or deserts where weathering is minimal.
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Impactite (Shatter Cone texture)
metamorphic
Iron Meteorite
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Pallasite Meteorite
Pallasite (Stony-iron meteorite; Fe-Ni alloy with (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 olivine)
Mineral/Extraterrestrial Rock
Slag (Anthropogenic Glass/Iron byproduct)
Ferro-silicate Slag
Anthropogenic (Man-made)
Chondrite Meteorite
Stony Meteorite (Chondrite)
meteorite