GeoMiner Free earth-science tools

Built by a geologist

Meteorite Identification Guide: Is This Rock a Meteorite?

A suspected meteorite needs several independent observations, not a dramatic colour, unusual shape, magnet response, story, or photograph. Start by documenting all sides, scale, any existing broken surface, and broad find context before cleaning or testing. Strong meteor-wrong indicators include abundant bubbles or rounded vesicles, which support industrial slag or vesicular volcanic rock; a red-brown streak, which commonly supports hematite; a dark grey or black streak, which commonly supports magnetite or another terrestrial material; and clear, milky, or light quartz-like crystals. Meteorite-compatible screening clues can include unusual heft for size, a repeatable magnetic response, little or no streak, a thin fusion crust, shallow regmaglypt-like depressions, no bubbles, and fine grey metal flecks on an already exposed interior. Each clue has terrestrial and manufactured look-alikes. Magnetite, some hematite, iron-rich rocks, slag, and manufactured iron can attract a magnet. Desert varnish and weathering rinds can resemble crust. River rounding, corrosion, wind abrasion, and casting can create misleading shapes or pits. A relatively recent fall can have a thin black fusion crust, but that crust weathers with time. Different meteorite classes also have exceptions, so failure or success on one field test does not settle the question. GeoMiner's private browser checklist returns only one of four bounded outcomes: not enough evidence, strong meteor-wrong indicators, mixed evidence, or worth qualified review—not confirmed. Choices remain in the current tab. Analytics receive only a bounded action, indicator category, option, and broad outcome; never photos, exact location, coordinates, specimen name, weight, dimensions, notes, value, or free text. Do not wash away a possible crust, expose a new interior, cut, polish, grind, etch, acid-test, chip, or repeatedly contact a promising specimen with a strong magnet merely to complete an online checklist. Preserve labels, fragments, date, photos, context, and chain of custody. Ownership, access, collection, export, transport, sale, and reporting rules depend on jurisdiction and land status. GeoMiner provides educational screening, not authentication, classification, registration, scientific acceptance, legal advice, ownership advice, safety clearance, or appraisal. A candidate with several compatible clues still re

Sources, scope & corrections

USGS, NASA, the University of Alberta, and planetary-science and university resources support the field-screening clues, meteor-wrong comparisons, preservation limits, and need for qualified review.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-08-30
Review status
Government and university meteorite-screening sources checked
  • I think I found a meteorite. How can I tell for sure? — U.S. Geological Survey. Density, magnetism, irregular shape, fusion crust, bubbles, quartz, streak, common look-alikes, and the need for in-person examination.
  • Meteorites and Craters — NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Fusion crust, regmaglypts, density, magnetism, iron-nickel metal, vesicles, crystals, streak, and manufactured-metal look-alikes.
  • Meteorite Reporting System — University of Alberta. A Canadian expert-reporting workflow and screening questions for heft, magnetism, metal flecks, fusion crust, regmaglypts, and bubbles.
  • Tests for Suspected Meteorite Specimens — Lunar and Planetary Institute. Non-destructive candidate screening, terrestrial look-alikes, preservation of surface crust, and referral to a science museum or university.
  • Self-test checklist — Washington University in St. Louis. A caution that passing a self-test does not establish that a rock is a meteorite and that common meteor-wrongs remain possible.

Read GeoMiner's editorial methodology or report a content issue.

Common questions

How can I tell if a rock is a meteorite?
Use several independent observations: unusual density, magnetic response, an appropriate thin fusion crust, possible regmaglypts, lack of bubbles, little or no streak, and metal flecks on an already exposed interior. None confirms a meteorite by itself; in-person or laboratory work may be required.
Does a magnet sticking mean I found a meteorite?
No. Magnetite, some hematite, iron-rich terrestrial rocks, slag, manufactured metal, and many meteorites can all respond. Magnetism is a screening clue, not proof.
Do meteorites have holes or bubbles?
Abundant bubbles or rounded vesicles strongly support slag or volcanic rock. Genuine meteorites are generally solid without the frothy holes commonly seen in industrial slag and vesicular lava.
What streak does a meteorite leave?
A relatively fresh meteorite generally leaves little or no streak. Red-brown suggests hematite and dark grey or black commonly suggests magnetite or another terrestrial material. Do not damage a promising specimen merely to run a test.
Can GeoMiner confirm or value a meteorite?
No. GeoMiner provides educational triage, not authentication, classification, ownership advice, scientific acceptance, or appraisal. Preserve a promising specimen and follow a current qualified review process.

JavaScript is loading the interactive GeoMiner experience. The identification tools provide educational candidates, not laboratory confirmation.