# Meteorite

A meteorite is a piece of rock from space that has fallen to Earth. They can be very old and help us learn about our solar system!

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Fallen Star, Shooting Star

![Meteorite](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424700/objects/5424.jpg)

## Appearance

The Meteorite is often dark grey to black with an irregular, angular shape, sometimes covered by a dull, bumpy fusion crust. Its surface may show shallow 'thumbprints' or regmaglypts, and freshly broken surfaces can reveal shiny metallic flecks against a stony matrix.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- A rare type called pallasites has beautiful glowing green crystals inside!
- Many meteorites are older than planet Earth itself!
- Millions of tiny meteorites fall to Earth every single day!
- Some meteorites contain amino acids, key building blocks for life!

## Special abilities

- **Magnetic Attraction:** Meteorite has iron-nickel content that makes it strongly attracted to magnets.
- **Ancient Navigator:** Meteorite's unique isotopic ratios act like a cosmic fingerprint, revealing its journey through the solar system.
- **Heat Shield:** Meteorite has a dark fusion crust formed during atmospheric entry that protected its interior from extreme heat.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** dark grey, black, brown, reddish-brown, silver
- **Hardness:** 5.5
- **Luster:** dull to metallic
- **Specific Gravity:** 4.5

## Traits

- [Geode](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/geode): A geode is a hollow, spherical rock formation lined with inward-growing crystals or concentric banding, often found in volcanic or sedimentary rocks.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)
- [Minerals & Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals-and-rocks)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Handle gently and avoid sharp edges. Ask an adult before picking anything up.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meteorite?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Meteorite be?

dark grey, black, brown, reddish-brown, silver

### How hard is Meteorite?

5.5

### What kind of luster does Meteorite have?

dull to metallic

### What is Meteorite's specific gravity?

4.5

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Meteorite: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meteorite)