Meteorites have traditionally been divided into three broad categories: stony meteorites that are rocks, mainly composed of silicate minerals; iron meteorites that are largely composed of ferronickel; and stony-iron meteorites that contain large amounts of both metallic and rocky material.
To tell if a rock is a meteorite, start by examining its physical features and characteristics. Many meteorites are magnetic due to their iron-nickel content, but there are non-magnetic meteorites as well, making pictures of these invaluable for identification.
Meteorite, any fairly small natural object from interplanetary space—i.e., a meteoroid—that survives its passage through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the surface. In modern usage the term is broadly applied to similar objects that land on the surface of other comparatively large bodies.
Stone meteorite with fusion crust: This 307.1-gram stone meteorite fell as part of a shower on in Mauretania. It is an ordinary chondrite (H5) and an excellent example of a complete fusion crusted stone. This specimen was picked up immediately after the fall.
More than 60,000 meteorites have been found on Earth. Scientists have divided these meteorites into three main types: stony, iron, and stony-iron. Each of these types has many sub-groups. Stony Meteorites. —material made of silicon and oxygen. They also contain some metal— and iron.
The first clear meteorite evidence came in 1959, when scientists were able to photograph an incoming meteorite with enough accuracy to calculate its orbit and determine where it originated. Since then, many other meteorites have been traced back to the asteroid belt as well.
Learn more about meteorite locations, and where meteorites are found, here! How do we know whether a meteorite is a new, distinct meteorite or part of an older find? Detailed microscopic, chemical and mineralogical analyses are required to uniquely identify and classify a meteorite.