One day you are walking on the road. You’ve seen the new iPhone prices, you’re depressed. Then a stone lands on your foot and when you bend down and look, you realize that this is something unusual. How can you be sure that the stone is really a meteorite or an ordinary stone, even though the possibility that you can become rich by selling it to NASA flashes in your mind like a strong lightbulb?
Meteorites often fall on our earth. Don’t worry, these meteorites, called meteors, are largely destroyed by the atmosphere. However, it is still possible to encounter these stones in small pieces in different parts of the world. So, how do you know if an unusual stone you see is a meteorite from space? Here is a detailed meteorite understanding guide for you.
Features that indicate that a stone is a meteorite:
- A thinned fusion shell in the atmosphere
- A shapeless shape unlike anything
- Ferrous-like metals
- Weight more than meets the eye
- Magnetic structure
- Small stones called chondrules
A thinned fusion shell in the atmosphere:
The outer shell of a meteorite passing through the atmosphere becomes thinner by melting. Therefore, regardless of the color of the stone, it is covered with a black shell. This structure, called a fusion shell, is similar to an egg shell. Although black at first, it turns rusty brown after a few years on Earth. Similar microbial activity-induced crusts can be seen on stones in desert regions.
An amorphous shape unlike anything:
Even though the stones in our world have small roughness, they are generally round in shape and have a smooth structure. However, as meteorites pass through the atmosphere, they are subjected to such a great force that they take on an amorphous shape. Experts liken this shape to the shape after taking a play dough in your hand and squeezing it. Rest assured, you’ll understand when you see it.
Ferrous metals:
Almost all meteorites circulating in space contain a metal that is a mixture of iron and nickel. It is rare to encounter a metal-free meteorite. The meteorite, which contains metal, has a dense structure without holes. However, it is not visible or palpable. It is understood whether a stone has metal as a result of a chemical analysis or acid etching in the laboratory environment.
More weight than meets the eye:
One of the indispensable features of meteorites is that they are dense. This density makes the meteorite heavier than it appears. Metal meteorites are 3.5 times heavier than rocks on Earth, and other meteorites are 1.5 times heavier. In other words, if you think that when you see a stone, it is 5-10 kilograms at the most, but when you lift it, it feels much heavier, the probability of this stone being a meteorite is quite high.
Magnetic structure:
We said that most meteorites are filled with iron – nickel metal. The easiest way to understand this is to touch the stone with a magnet. Because meteorites in metal structure stick as soon as they touch a magnet. Metal detectors can also act as a warning in this regard. However, some meteorites also contain non-magnetic metals such as aluminum. Still, the magnet experiment yields a simple but effective result.
Small stones called chondrules:
There are no voids in meteorites, as in stones on Earth. But there may be small stones that look like emptiness. Stones with a diameter of 1 millimeter, called chondrules, can form the structure of a meteorite. To see if a stone has chondrules, it is necessary to break or cut it to see inside.
Features that show that a stone is not a meteorite:
- Round, smooth shape
- Bubbles and holes
- Crystal structure
- Temperature or radioactivity
- Color trace
Round, smooth shape:
Even the smallest stone in our world takes a round and beautiful shape over time due to external factors such as wind and water. Even if it is rough, it is generally round. However, as we have explained, a meteorite is never in such a beautiful shape.
Bubbles and holes:
A common misconception about meteorites is that they will have a perforated structure as they pass through the atmosphere. However, there is not a single such example. On the contrary, stones with bubbles and holes are igneous stones coming from the center of our Earth. Many have even come to the surface as a result of volcanic eruptions.
Crystal structure:
It must be a habit from science fiction movies, we expect meteorites to be in a bright crystal structure. But quartz, such a crystalline beauty, is found on our Earth. Quartz, a clear, milky-white crystal, does not produce space objects. However, there are some exceptions to this situation. They need to be tested to be sure.
Temperature or radioactivity:
You might think that a meteorite that comes to our world at thousands of kilometers from outer space and passes through the atmosphere is extremely hot and can even cause fires. However, most meteorites cool down as soon as they hit the surface. Likewise, most meteorites are not radioactive, as they consist of elements similar to terrestrial rocks.
Color trace:
The stones found in our world contain iron minerals called magnetite and hematite. For this reason, when you apply it to the unglazed side of the tiles, they leave a black or brown mark. But a meteorite wouldn’t leave such a mark if it didn’t stay on Earth long. It is simple, but it is the easiest way to find out if a stone is a meteorite.
Before you call NASA, we talked about how to tell if a rock is a meteorite, and we talked about some small tests you can run so you can think twice about it. Do not lose hope, it is possible to encounter meteorites in many different parts of our world.
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