What is a meteorite and how do you identify it?

A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites are classified into three main types: stony, iron, and stony-iron. The identification of a meteorite can be determined by examining its physical characteristics and composition, including its size, shape, texture, and mineralogy.

One way to identify a meteorite is through a visual inspection of its surface. Many meteorites have a dark and smooth exterior due to the heat generated by their passage through the Earth's atmosphere. They may also have characteristic features, such as regmaglypts, which are thumbprint-like depressions caused by the melting and ablation of material during atmospheric entry.

Another way to identify a meteorite is through chemical analysis. Meteorites have a unique chemical composition that differs from that of Earth rocks. For example, many meteorites have high concentrations of nickel and iron, which are not commonly found in Earth rocks.

Lastly, a meteorite can be identified through its magnetic properties. Iron meteorites, in particular, are strongly magnetic due to their high iron content.