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How to Spot a Real Meteorite
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How to Spot a Real Meteorite

February 20268 min read

Real meteorites are heavier than they look. Most react to a magnet. They have a dark surface (called fusion crust) and sometimes small round prints on the surface (called regmaglypts).

For iron meteorites, the best test is to polish the inside and use a small amount of acid. A clean cross-line pattern (Widmanstätten pattern) will show up. No stone made on Earth can copy it.

For the safest answer, always send the stone to a real lab. A simple visual check is never 100% sure on its own.