Meteorite is a rock or metal fragment from space used as a gemstone or decorative material. The scientific meteorite definition is a piece of space debris that entered our planet’s atmosphere and landed on Earth’s surface.
While most gemstones come from Mother Earth, others travel from the great beyond. If you’re wondering what stone is from space, meteorite is just one option, although it often contains other gems.
But wait, is meteorite a gem? Technically, no. Meteorites are classified as rocks or metals. However, jewelers use meteorite stones in jewelry and ornamental pieces.
Read on as we hitch our wagon to a star and endeavor to the great beyond to explore meteorite properties, uses, jewelry, and more!
What Is a Meteorite Stone?
Meteorites are dark brown or black and usually smooth-surfaced stones, but are sometimes dimpled.
Meteorite isn’t a birthstone, but some meteorites contain an August birthstone: peridot! Peridot forms naturally on Earth, but a few meteorites have carried peridot crystals, nicknamed “space peridot” or “extraterrestrial peridot.”
Astrologically, meteorite’s galactic origins make it a zodiac stone for every sign!
Identifying your zodiac sign is simple enough, but what about meteorite identification? Let’s go over the qualities to look for.
Meteorite Characteristics & Identification
Despite roughly 6,100 meteorites coming to Earth annually, approximately only about ten are found every year. So how do I know if I found a meteorite?
Start with a few questions:
Is it heavier than it looks? Meteorites are unusually heavy for their size.
Does it attract a magnet? The high iron content makes meteorites magnetic, though you may need to hang the magnet by a string for “stony” meteorites (which we’ll discuss next).
Does it have a flaky, eggshell-like crust? You may need to file down a corner to see, but meteorites will have metal flakes and a lighter-colored interior.
Is it glassy or opaque? If it’s glassy, it’s not a meteorite.
On the Mohs mineral hardness scale, meteorite ranks between 4-6, similar to fluorite. What kind of stone is meteorite, though? Over 90 percent of meteorites are rocks.
So, what is a meteorite made of? Meteorites are diverse but always fall under one of three categories.
Types of Meteorite Stones
Can you guess how many meteorites have been found on Earth? The answer: over 60,000! So, what are the three types of meteorites? We’ll break them down from most to least common.
Stony Meteorites
(Image credit:By Gabisfunny - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3351601)
Stony meteorites are mostly silica or silica minerals, but they also contain nickel and iron. According to NASA, around 94 percent of meteorites are stony.
There are two subcategories under stony: chondrites and achondrites. The main difference is that chondrites contain chondrules (tiny rock spheres).
Iron Meteorites
Around five percent of meteorites are iron meteorites. These are almost entirely metal, mostly iron with nickel and traces of heavy metals like lead or chromium.
Stony-Iron Meteorites
Lastly, about one percent of meteorites are stony-iron. Their composition is almost 50/50 of metal and silica.
Stony-iron has two subtypes: mesosiderites and pallasites. Both are rare, with only about 45 known pallasites and 50 known mesosiderites.
Mesosiderites are brecciated, made up of rock fragments and magnesium-rich silicate gems. Their iron-nickel content can range from 17-90 percent, and the metallic sections or flakes create a gorgeous contrast against their dark background.
Pallasites have shiny nickel-iron holding yellow-green olivine inside.
Can a meteorite have crystals? When the olivine is transparent and well-colored, you’re looking at the semi-precious gemstone peridot!
Peridot crystals aren’t the only gemstones from space, though!
Types of Meteorite Crystals
You may have wondered: Do meteorites have gems? Sometimes, yes!
It’s pretty rare to find gem-quality meteorite crystals, mainly because the heat and crash landing often destroys any gemstones inside. If there are still facetable gems inside, it’s one-in-a-million!
Besides the green meteorite crystal peridot, opals from Mars have also come to Earth via meteorites! Plus, some researchers think carbonado diamonds probably formed from explosions in space, then came to Earth on asteroids or meteorites, scattering across early Mesozoic Pangaea.
Some gemstones form through meteorite impacts. Tektite is a unique black meteorite crystal formed when meteorite minerals and Earth minerals melt together at the impact site.
The dark green gemstone moldavite is another variety of tektite. Another gemstone brought to Earth via meteorite around 50,000 years ago is moissanite!
Meteorites can carry some beautiful gems, but they also make gorgeous jewelry stones themselves! Check out the rest of meteorite’s properties below.
Meteorite Specifications & Characteristics
Color: Gray, brown, black, or a combination of these; Interior is lighter-colored and may show a chrome-like shine
Crystal structure: Octahedrite (part of Widmanstätten pattern) or hexahedrite - both only in iron meteorites
Luster: Dull, metallic, or submetallic
Transparency: Opaque
Density: 8.00
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Steely (only iron meteorites)
Streak: Brown, brownish-orange, or none
Luminescence: Sometimes phosphorescence in orange, green, or yellow-white; Sometimes fluorescence in yellow, red, or blue
Phew, that was a lot of science. On the more spiritual side, what does a meteorite represent?
Meteorite Gemstone Meaning
Let’s look at the meaning behind the meteorite crystal’s name.
The word “meteorite” comes from the Greek meteōros, meaning “high in the air” or meteoron, meaning “phenomenon in the sky.” Pretty straightforward, right?
Many ancient societies believed meteorites were sacred, often claiming they came from the heavens and held supernatural power.
Before we knew how magnets work, it was considered supernatural. Therefore, meteorites’ magnetic properties only strengthened their heavenly associations.
Even though moldavite doesn’t travel on meteorites, it’s often considered the most powerful meteorite stone. It historically served as a lucky amulet, even rumored to grace the Holy Grail.
Forming on Earth roughly 50 million years ago, ancient and modern crystal healers believe moldavite was sent to mankind to transform their spirits.
On that note, what does meteorite help with?
Meteorite Healing Properties
All gemstones can function as healing stones by nature of their coloring and internal energies.
Younger meteorites are usually black, granting them the healing properties of other black gemstones: grounding, fertility, and protection.
Older meteorites usually become reddish-brown. Brown meteorite stone benefits encompass the stability, strength, and comfort of other brown gemstones.
What about meteorite crystal properties for physical, emotional, and chakra healing?
Physical Healing
On the physical side, crystal healers use iron meteorites for purifying blood, increasing vitality, and bringing better physical balance. Ancient cultures believed these stones could improve fertility, too!
Emotional Healing
Meteorite stones are said to support spontaneity and spiritual awareness. Some say these stones manifest fortunate encounters, bringing lifelong friends or partners.
Chakra Healing
Chakra healing means opening your chakras, seven energy centers along your spine tied to emotional and physical symptoms. Gems can function as chakra stones, aligning your energies or clearing a blocked chakra.
Meteorite is a chakra stone for multiple chakras, but it’s most effective for the third-eye chakra. Migraines, inattention, and aimlessness are all symptoms of a blocked third eye. After using meteorite, your now-opened third-eye chakra will bring you feelings of spiritual connection and intuition.
Wearing a meteorite is one method of chakra healing! Of course, you’ll need to buy it first, so let’s go over what to look for when shopping.
Meteorite Gemstone Properties
Unlike other gems, meteorite’s rare occurrence and origins are its main selling points. But, some typical gemstone properties factors can affect its value, namely cut, clarity, and color.
Cut: Meteorites are durable enough to handle both faceted cuts and unfaceted cuts. Common unfaceted cuts for meteorites include cabochons, beads, or slices.
Color: Meteorite’s inclusions can give it different colors and sometimes patterns. You already know about chondrules, but inclusions of calcium and aluminum can create a light-and-dark contrast against the dark iron.
With that in mind, what stellar accessories is meteorite used in?
Meteorite Jewelry
Most real meteorite jewelry contains iron meteorites fashioned into stones or metal settings.
The meteorite’s size usually dictates the jewelry type. For instance, a smaller piece is perfect for a meteorite gemstone ring, while larger pieces make show-stopping pendants.
Some iron meteorites have natural patterns, which jewelers may enhance by giving the stone an acid bath. You may see meteorite watch faces or bands, often created with cross-section slices of this naturally patterned meteorite.
The rarer stony-iron meteorites may also be cut into slices, displaying a colorful matrix of green and yellow silicate gemstones encompassed in iron. These slices create a truly head-turning meteorite necklace!
Meteorite History
Meteorites have led to valuable insights into the universe’s history, including Earth!
Scientific analysis shows most meteorites likely formed early in our solar system’s history, but meteorite ages range from 200 million to 4.56 billion years old.
As far back as 3,500 BC, ancient societies incorporated meteorites into accessories, tools, and talismans. Some examples are a meteorite bead from an Egyptian burial site and a meteorite dagger found in King Tut’s tomb.
Surprisingly, scientists didn’t believe meteorites came from space until 1803!
Most “rational thinkers” of the 1700s chalked up sightings to tall tales until Jean-Baptise Biot, a French physicist, published his report on the l’Aigle meteorite fall. Combining eyewitness accounts with scientific proof that the rocks weren’t from Earth, Biot established the study of meteorites.
The most recent meteorite sighting was on October 3, 2021, when one crashed through a Vancouver woman’s ceiling onto her bed, narrowly missing her head!
Before it lands on Earth — or in a Canadian bedroom — how does a meteorite form?
Meteorite Origins & Sources
Every variety forms slightly differently, but the majority (stony meteorites) are believed to come from the asteroid belt as pieces of asteroids fall out of their original orbit and into Earth’s.
Iron meteorites form pieces of destroyed planets, dwarf planets, large moons, or asteroids. When one of these planetary bodies is destroyed, its core breaks off into iron meteoroids. The meteoroids that landed on Earth are then classified as meteorites. Meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite all describe the same object at different stages in its travel through space.
Stony-iron meteorites are created from either a) excess debris (stuck together) from when our solar system formed or b) crust fragments from moons, planets, or asteroids.
When they finally make it to us, where are meteorites found on Earth?
Mining Locations
Meteorites fall indiscriminately worldwide, but deserts are the most common environment for finding them. In fact, more meteorites have been found on one continent than all other continents combined: Antarctica!
Antarctica is considered a desert (since it has little rainfall), and expeditions have recovered almost 42,000 meteorites there!
Other prominent, known locations for fallen meteorites are:
Argentina
Chile
China
Mexico
Namibia
Russia
USA
Finding a meteorite is one-in-a-million, so how much is a meteorite worth?
Meteorite Price & Value
With a combination of scarcity and unique origins, meteorite value can be high, but it isn’t always. Average meteorites can range anywhere from $0.50-$1,000 per gram — it depends on the quality, location, and availability of the particular meteorite.
Remember, meteorites are dense; a meteorite the size of a golf ball will typically weigh about 4x more. Therefore, a low price-per-gram can quickly add up when you take size and weight into account.
Here’s an average meteorite price list at wholesale costs:
Iron meteorite: Around $2 per carat ($10 per gram)
Kenyan pallasite slice: $10-$25 per carat ($50-$125 per gram)
Australian pallasite slice: $20-$30 per carat ($100-$150 per gram)
Meteorite Care and Maintenance
Considering the unknowns of space, is it safe to wear meteorite?
Yes, meteorite is safe to wear. In fact, humans pose a more significant threat to meteorites’ safety! From contamination to easy scratching, meteorites are pretty fragile. Jewelers must follow strict procedures to prevent damage.
If a meteorite for sale is properly prepared, it may be pricier. However, you’re paying for the stone to last much longer.
Some procedures for preparing a meteorite include storing it in a moisture-free display case, handling it with clean cotton gloves, and regularly cleaning it with the proper method.
To clean a stony meteorite, use a toothbrush to wipe away dirt or dust, thoroughly wipe the stone down with a clean rag soaked in pure alcohol (at least 95%), and let it air dry.
Here’s how to clean an iron or stony-iron meteorite, particularly rust spots:
Soak a Q-tip in calcium, lime, and rust remover (CLR).
Gently press the soaked Q-tip onto each rust spot, carefully wiping away the rust at each spot.
Rinse the stone with pure alcohol (at least 95%) by either placing it in a container and pouring the alcohol over it, wiping it with an alcohol-soaked cloth, or using alcohol-soaked Q-tips. You may need to use a toothbrush to make sure all the CLR is gone.
Let the stone air-dry.
Leave the stone submerged in Automatic Transmission Fluid overnight.
With clean cotton gloves on, take the stone out and use a clean rag or paper towel to remove excess oil.
To make your meteorite last, avoid contact with acids and household chemicals and store it in dry air at a constant temperature.
Ready to find the perfect meteorite crystal for sale?
On the Hunt for a Galactic Gem?
Space has captured our sense of adventure for decades. Similarly, meteorites have captivated both scientists and crystal lovers, encouraging exploration of the unknown. A meteorite crystal in hand will encourage you to push boundaries and follow your curiosity.
As novelist Jack London said: “I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.”
Buy meteorite gemstones today!
FAQs
What is the spiritual meaning of meteorite? ›
Many cultures consider Meteorite to be a sacred stone capable of supernatural powers. This very rare crystal represents emotional support and balance, spiritual growth, and physical healing.
What powers does a meteorite have? ›Meteorite emanates a strong vibrational sensation that stimulates the Third Eye and Crown Chakra to create a powerful force for inner vision and spiritual awakening.
What are the benefits of meteorite stone? ›People have valued meteorite jewelry not only for its beauty but also because they believed these stones had healing properties. Iron meteorites were also commonly associated with balance and strength, and the nickel in these meteorites was believed to purify the wearer's blood.
What is the meaning of meteorite stone? ›Meteorite is a rock or metal fragment from space used as a gemstone or decorative material. The scientific meteorite definition is a piece of space debris that entered our planet's atmosphere and landed on Earth's surface. While most gemstones come from Mother Earth, others travel from the great beyond.
Why do meteorites benefit us? ›The beneficial effects of meteorite impacts also extend to the present-day economy. It has been estimated that about one-quarter of all impacts on Earth have resulted in economic benefits, from building materials and hydroelectric reservoirs to economic ore and hydrocarbon deposits.
How do I activate my meteorite? ›A meteorite event can only be triggered once the player has defeated the Eater of Worlds or the Brain of Cthulhu for the first time / has broken a Shadow Orb or Crimson Heart for the first time (see the exact conditions below).
Does a meteor give you superpowers? ›While some cultures have made meteorites a focus of worship (A few are still housed in temples in Japan and Asia), there is no evidence that they give their possessors any superhuman powers.
Is meteorite lucky? ›Pointing to a meteor or talking of a meteor was considered bad luck by some in America. Among those who believed meteors signaled ill-omen, saying certain words could avert the bad luck--for example, 'amen,' 'God guide it,' or 'go away, go away, all by yourself. '
What precious stone is from a meteorite? ›August's birthstone, peridot, is found in many countries around the world and within meteorites from space. Extraterrestrial peridot is rare, and most peridot used in fine jewelry is naturally from Earth. The Esquel meteorite that crashed into Earth is the most notable source of the unearthly variety gemstones.
Does meteorite have energy? ›Even at this velocity, the kinetic energy for a meteoroid of a given mass is about 15 times that produced by an equal mass of chemical explosives such as TNT. As the meteoroid is slowed down by friction with atmospheric gas molecules, this kinetic energy is converted into heat.
What are 3 facts about meteorites? ›
The oldest particles in a meteorite, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites, have been dated at 4.56 billion years old. Meteorites that originate from asteroids are all ~4.5 billion years old. Meteorites that originate from the Moon range in age from 4.5 to 2.9 billion years old.
Why are meteorites special? ›Why Do We Care About Meteorites? Meteorites that fall to Earth represent some of the original, diverse materials that formed planets billions of years ago. By studying meteorites we can learn about early conditions and processes in the solar system's history.
What is the purpose of meteorite? ›Meteorites may have brought to Earth the components necessary for life – organic compounds such as carboxylic acids, complex amino acids, aliphatic amines, acetic acid and formic acid can be transported great distances inside space rocks.
Do meteorites value? ›Meteorites are quite valuable, worth as much as $1,000 per gram, according to the LiveScience website. Kellyco Metal Detectors posted on eBay that it can sell for $300 per gram or more — meaning 1 pound could be worth $1 million. "Meteorites are rarer than gold, platinum, diamonds or emeralds.
How does meteorite impact origin of life? ›Meteorites could have been responsible for delivering the basis of life's genetic code. Analyses of three meteorites suggest that nucleobases, the crucial components of DNA, could have formed in space and then fallen to Earth to provide the raw material for the origin of life itself.
How do meteorites affect humans? ›Asteroid impacts produce an array of impact effects that can harm human populations. A list of seven such impact effects is recognized and described in Hills and Goda [1993] and Collins et al. [2005]. They are wind blast, overpressure shock, thermal radiation, cratering, seismic shaking, ejecta deposition, and tsunami.
What happens if you touch a meteorite? ›Try not to handle any freshly fallen meteorites with your bare hands! Oils and microbes from your skin will slowly degrade the surface of a meteorite, dulling the fusion crust, contaminating the meteorite, and promoting rust.
Do magnets stick to meteorites? ›Magnetic: Since most meteorites contain metallic iron, a magnet will often stick to them. For “stony” meteorites, a magnet might not stick, but if you hang the magnet by a string, it will be attracted. Unusual shape: iron-nickel meteorites are rarely rounded.
Are you allowed to keep a meteorite? ›Meteorites may be collected without a permit or collection fee. Casual collection is for personal use only, and therefore, cannot be bartered or sold for commercial purposes. Meteorites may be collected for scientific and educational purposes under a permit issued under the authority of the Antiquities Act.
How powerful is a meteor? ›However, asteroids with a diameter of 20 m (66 ft), and which strike Earth approximately twice every century, produce more powerful airbursts. The 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor was estimated to be about 20 m in diameter with an airburst of around 500 kilotons, an explosion 30 times the Hiroshima bomb impact.
What was the most powerful meteor? ›
The most powerful meteor air burst in the modern era was the 1908 Tunguska event. During this event a stony meteoroid about 50–60 m (160–200 ft) in size exploded at an altitude of 5–10 km (16,000–33,000 ft) over a sparsely populated forest in Siberia.
Does meteorite glow? ›Meteor showers are one of nature's most brilliant spectacles, each one bringing a unique experience for stargazers, including meteors glowing in a rainbow of colors.
Do meteorites have diamonds in them? ›Scientists have found tiny diamonds in meteorites, or rocks from space, before. But now, Australian scientists said this week (September 12, 2022) they've confirmed the existence of a rare form of space diamond in four meteorites picked up in North Africa. These diamonds are lonsdaleite.
What is the rarest type of meteorite? ›The rarest kind of meteorite are the stony-iron meteorites, containing about equal parts of stone and iron.
What is the rarest type of meteorite called? ›The Winchcombe meteorite, aptly named after the Gloucestershire town where it landed, is an extremely rare type called a carbonaceous chondrite. It is a stony meteorite, rich in water and organic matter, which has retained its chemistry from the formation of the solar system.
Are stone meteorites magnetic? ›Magnetism: A majority of meteorites are magnetic. If your specimen isn't magnetic, it probably isn't a meteorite. Streak Test: Scratch your specimen on a ceramic tile.
What energy is transferred from meteorites? ›Although most meteors are very small, they travel at great speed and have a large amount of kinetic energy. As they enter the Earth's atmosphere, they transfer kinetic energy to heat by friction. As they heat up, some of the energy is changed to light energy, forming the appearance of a shooting star.
How do you find the energy of a meteor? ›You can determine the kinetic energy the "meteor" will have at the time of impact by using the equation KE = (1/2)mv^2 where KE stands for kinetic energy in Joules, m is the mass of the "meteor" in kilograms, and v is the velocity of the "meteor" in meters per second.
Are all meteorites worth money? ›Value is determined by many different factors including rarity of type, size, condition, aesthetic appeal, and so on. Meteorites have significant financial value to collectors and scientific value to researchers. Meteorite values can range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What is the truth about meteorites? ›Meteoroids become meteors when they crash into Earth's atmosphere and the gases surrounding them briefly light up as “shooting stars.” While most meteors burn up and disintegrate in the atmosphere, many of these space rocks reach Earth's surface in the form of meteorites.
How much is a meteorite stone worth per gram? ›
Common iron meteorite prices are generally in the range of US$0.50 to US$5.00 per gram. Stone meteorites are much scarcer and priced in the US$2.00 to US$20.00 per gram range for the more common material. It is not unusual for the truly scarce material to exceed US$1,000 per gram.
What is the rare element found in meteorites? ›Researchers have found evidence that curium – a rare unstable heavy element – was present during the early formation of our solar system.
How much is a meteorite stone? ›A prime specimen will easily fetch $50/gram while rare examples of lunar and Martian meteorites may sell for $1,000/gram or more — almost forty times the current price of gold!
Are meteorites rarer than gold? ›Meteorites are small rocks from space that impact the Earth. They are exceedingly rare — the collective weight of every meteorite known to exist is less than the world's annual output of gold.
What are the rare meteorite rock types? ›Stony-iron
They are the rarest of the three major families and are often considered the most beautiful. Stony-iron meteorites are classified into two subgroups: pallasites and mesosiderites. Pallasites contain olivine crystals suspended in iron-nickel metal (Fig. 6).
How Much Is a 1-Pound Meteorite Worth? The exact worth of a meteorite varies depending on the specific type of meteorite in question. An 82-pound iron meteorite originating from an asteroid recently sold for $44,100 — about $540 per pound.
Do meteorites contain silver? ›In contrast to primitive chondrites and equilibrated chondrites, iron meteorites are very dense and nonporous specimens, and are thus much heavier than most comparably-sized rocks found in the Earth's crust. Iron meteorites also have metallic silver-colored interiors.
What effect do meteorites have on the universe? ›Bigger impacts leave craters, and the largest impacts cause global changes to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Meteorites give astronomers and geologists important clues about the composition, age and history of the early solar system.
What is the significance of meteorites? ›Why Do We Care About Meteorites? Meteorites that fall to Earth represent some of the original, diverse materials that formed planets billions of years ago. By studying meteorites we can learn about early conditions and processes in the solar system's history.
Are meteorites good luck? ›Pointing to a meteor or talking of a meteor was considered bad luck by some in America. Among those who believed meteors signaled ill-omen, saying certain words could avert the bad luck--for example, 'amen,' 'God guide it,' or 'go away, go away, all by yourself. '
Why should you not touch meteorite? ›
Try not to handle any freshly fallen meteorites with your bare hands! Oils and microbes from your skin will slowly degrade the surface of a meteorite, dulling the fusion crust, contaminating the meteorite, and promoting rust.
What are 3 interesting facts about meteorites? ›The oldest particles in a meteorite, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites, have been dated at 4.56 billion years old. Meteorites that originate from asteroids are all ~4.5 billion years old. Meteorites that originate from the Moon range in age from 4.5 to 2.9 billion years old.
Are meteorites precious? ›Meteorites are precious rock samples preserving material from the birth of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. Some are actual pieces of the original matter from which the planets were assembled.
Do meteorites have crystals? ›The crystal patterns in iron meteorites range from very coarse to extremely fine. The thickness of the crystals in the pattern depends mainly on the amount of nickel they contain, and how slowly the metal cooled.
Do meteorites have life? ›WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A NASA scientist reports detecting tiny fossilized bacteria on three meteorites, and maintains these microscopic life forms are not native to Earth.
Do meteorites carry radiation? ›Meteorites do contain radioactive elements, but not significantly more than any ordinary terrestrial rock.
What do meteorites smell like? ›The smell of some fragments resembles asphalt or solvents, evidence for 4.6 billion years old carbon-compounds preserved inside the rock. Four to five percents of all space debris are represented by iron meteorites, consisting of an almost pure iron-nickel alloy.
Can I touch a meteorite? ›They are not poisonous and thus there is no danger in touching or even ingesting a piece of meteorite (the latter not, however, being recommended).