How to ID / Identify a Meteorite - Stone

or

In 3 simple steps, you can identify if a stone is a meteorite or meteorwrong. All done in the field while hunting, only requires a magnet, a file, and the knowledge in this video.

Far too many people think they have meteorites but don't know for sure. Here is the video to find out. And don't be afraid of bad news, only 1 in a 500 have a meteorite.

[scuzzy]

I was using a 100 lbs strength neodymium magnet in the lake to find random stuff and I found a smooth, black, magnetic rock. 99% chance it wasn't a meteorite but I am glad I found this video, now I can perform extra tests for the future.

[cheripotter]

One of the most accurate videos on meteorites . Thanks for the knowledge.

[chrisjones]

I actually saw a meteorite land in some woody area at the back of my house late one night.super bright light it exploded just before it hit the ground.it had whizzed through the air fairly quick making a fizzing kind of sound.i actually felt honoured to of witness it, this is the first time I have relayed this story as I thought no one would beleive me in my family.

[AlphaChimpEnergy]

I metal detect and always study weird rocks and never bothered educating myself on a meteorites characteristics. Thanks for the lesson.

[americanvalorpatriot]

A number of years ago, I was walking along a river bank ( In Vermont, U.S.A ) and found a small ( three x one x two inch) chunk of weird metallic stone . It was very magnetic and was not sharp yet did look like it was a small fragment of a larger body of iron rich material . As I recall on one surface it looked like a smooth, metallic, thin veneer of shiny iron formed a "skin" on said surface . This smooth surface looked like it had been heated to very high temperatures .The rest of the specimen looked like it had a very light patina of deep rust on all the other surfaces . This small rock was also unusually heavy for its size. Honestly, I believe that this iron rich stone was a meteor fragment . Unfortunately I had a house fire and lost my rather extensive rock/mineral collection . I am slowly building up my collection but have yet to find a rock like the one mentioned . I am hopeful .

[ant-]

Friend of mine owns a large acerage, that has been in his family for 3 generations. Every year when the fields are plowed, he walks them looking for arrow heads, as their was a native summer camp there in the past. Finds a strange looking stone, and takes it home. Went to see him one afternoon, the stone is on the steps of his front porch. I was imediately drawn to it, knowing a little about meteorites. It was black, sculpted, covered with shallow dimples, and very heavy for it's size. Have to try some of your sugestions to verify, but I'm pretty sure it's a meteorite.

[josephrodelli]

This guy's voice can turn a thriller into a romantic bedtime story 🥱

[erijaqrab]

A very good video, please watch it several times to understand the details. I am a geologist, and I have learned a few important points.

[wavescrashinginside]

Fantastic clear concise instructions how to identify a meteorite in the field, thank you so much

[cherilynnfisher]

Thank you! I'll be looking for them. Where I live it should be fairly easy to find many candidates for testing.

[jonabaker]

You need to correct 3:52. Not all meteorites have iron in them.

[DS-knbs]

How do you test the nonmagnetic meteorites ? There are some very rare meteorites that have no metal at all.

[rictrexell]

My uncle was a rock hound and one time I found a rock and he said it was a leverite. He said I should 'leave her rite' where it laid.

[MikeBanks]

I knew a place where there were literally hundreds of them--but they were all small and were pretty much metallic fragments. Magnets pick them up, and erosion leaves them on the surface. They are almost 100% iron.

Some of them are a mixture of iron and contain phenolic compounds--we called them carbonaceous chondrites.

[HighNoon]

That’s so crazy.. I know I’ve left meteorites in the field thinking they were ordinary rocks. I know less than 1% really were but still, I’ve seen that exact thing more than once and disregarded it. Now I know what to do when I see something like it in the future. Thank you, hopefully one day one will be a good one and I’ll know it. 😊

[brianbrewster]

Thank you very much for this informative video. I may be going to Arizona soon and I now feel confident I'll be able to successfully identify a space rock from a terrestrial rock.

[ReneeNme]

This guy is a joke. #1: Not all meteorites will attract a magnet. #2: Some meteorites have sharp edges and holes/voids ( note at 6:09 in the video where he's sanding on the meteorite and you can plainly can see both sharp edges AND !!! holes/voids ). #3: I've never ground on any of the meteorites I've discovered. To do so devalues them if you're looking to sell.

[ScottWConvid]

Thanx for doing the video. My son found one on my roof. Just seeing where it was found was enough for me, but it passes every test except the "window." I really didn't want to grind it.

[kennethhaines]

Luckily my rock came threw my roof and ruined my hardwood floor but at lease we know it came from space (weighs about 2lbs) :)

[stanleybest]

Fourth test: it fell from the sky, glowing yellow. It took 20 minutes to cool down. It has a bubbly surface and sharp fractures from breaking off a bigger rock. Don't touch it hot. It can severely incinerate your fingers .