Meteorite: Meaning, Symbolic Properties, Care

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A meteorite is a fragment of an asteroid, of Mars or of the Moon that has fallen to Earth. Stony, iron or mixed: an extraordinary collector's object, to be bought with care.

Key points

Nature	rock or metal from space (an asteroid, sometimes Mars or the Moon)
Main families	stony (chondrites, achondrites), iron (iron-nickel), mixed (pallasites)
Age	4.5 billion years for most chondrites
Density	irons are the densest, around 8
Feature	Widmanstätten patterns on octahedrite irons
Allergy	irons contain nickel
Traditional chakra	crown, third eye

What is a meteorite?

A meteorite is a fragment of rock or metal from space that has passed through the atmosphere and reached the ground. The body still in space is called a meteoroid; the luminous trail is a meteor; what remains on the ground is the meteorite. Most come from the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter; a few come from the Moon or from Mars, ejected by large impacts.

A meteorite is a unique piece, often 4.5 billion years old: it dates from the formation of the solar system. When it is seen falling, it is called a fall; otherwise, it is a find. As it crosses the air, its surface melts and cools into a thin fusion crust, dark for the most part.

The main families

Family	What it is	Approximate share of falls
Chondrites	unprocessed stony rocks containing small spheres (chondrules); the most common	about 80 to 85%
Achondrites	rocks from the crust of a differentiated body; some come from Vesta, Mars or the Moon	about 8%
Irons	iron-nickel alloy, very dense	about 5%
Mixed (pallasites, mesosiderites)	olivine crystals in metal, or a mixture of metal and silicates	very few

The percentages are orders of magnitude (Wikipedia). Irons are over-represented among finds, because they are easier to spot and resist erosion better.

The Widmanstätten patterns

If you saw, polish and etch an octahedrite (an iron containing average proportions of nickel) with acid, a grid of crossing bands appears: the Widmanstätten patterns. They formed during an extremely slow cooling, on the order of a few degrees per million years, inside an asteroid, which no human workshop can reproduce. Irons that are very poor in nickel (hexahedrites) or very rich in it (ataxites) do not show these patterns, but they are also extraterrestrial.

Do not attempt this etching at home: it uses acids. Pieces sold as slices, rings or pendants are already prepared.

Some famous meteorites

Gibeon (Namibia): a fine octahedrite iron, found by Europeans in the 19th century (1836 or 1838 depending on the sources), scattered over an immense strewn field; its fragments are much sought after for their patterns.
Campo del Cielo (Argentina): a field of craters from which more than 100 tonnes of iron have been recovered.
Sikhote-Alin (Russia): an iron fall observed on 12 February 1947 in the Russian Far East.
Tamentit (Sahara): an iron found in 1864, now displayed at Vulcania.

An iron dagger from the tomb of Tutankhamun is also often cited: analyses showed an iron of meteoritic origin. The ancient Egyptians spoke of metal “from the sky”.

Traditional symbolism

Many cultures saw in stones fallen from the sky a message or a gift from the heavens, and sometimes revered sacred stones possibly of meteoritic origin. In the modern stone tradition, the meteorite evokes travel, humility before immensity, and a common origin: like it, we are made of the dust of the solar system.

These are modern interpretations, with no proven effect. Scientific wonder is already more than enough reason to take an interest.

How to use it

As a collector's object: a raw fragment, a polished and etched slice, or a piece with its original label.
As jewellery: rings and pendants cut from Gibeon or other irons. Caution: they contain nickel (around 8% in Gibeon), a common allergen; try them on before buying if you are sensitive to it.
As a gift for an astronomy enthusiast, accompanied by the origin sheet.
As a teaching tool: a small meteorite can be examined with a loupe and compared with an earthly stone.

Care

Metallic meteorites rust. Keep them in a dry place, do not clean them with water, wipe them with a dry cloth and avoid handling them with damp hands. Some collectors apply a thin layer of wax or mineral oil to irons; if you do so, test first on a corner. Stony meteorites also contain metal grains that oxidise: store them away from humidity, with a desiccant bag if needed.

Time spent on Earth alters a meteorite without it ceasing to be one. For a symbolic cleansing, gentle smoke is enough; see cleansing and recharging your stones.

Recognising a real meteorite and avoiding surprises

An iron meteorite is very heavy for its size and strongly attracts a magnet; but many earthly rocks (slag, hematite, magnetite) do too.
Common fakes include industrial slag, cast-iron splinters, bubbly black stones, and steel etched with acid to imitate patterns. “Meteorwrongs” is the name given to earthly rocks mistaken for meteorites.
Tektites, such as moldavite, are impact glass melted on Earth, not meteorites.
Ask for a certificate of authenticity, the origin (the meteorite's name) and, if possible, a classification by a laboratory or a learned society. Only a reliable expert can confirm.
The legal framework varies by country: meteorites that fell in Canada are protected against export, and Oman prohibits their collection. Find out where the piece comes from.

How to choose

To start out, a small stony meteorite (chondrite) or a fragment of Gibeon iron with its origin sheet is a good choice. Prices range from affordable pieces to very expensive collector's items. Pair it with moldavite, fulgurite or hematite for a collection of “stones from elsewhere”. See also choosing and caring for your stones.