How do you identify a potential meteorite?

I have had a local on to me asking about a potential meteorite their son found recently. I have seen the pictures (not great ones, after 2 attempts I'm still trying to get some!), and it does look like it could be one. I have asked them to let me see it, but I was wondering what would be the next step to getting it identified? Ian Saunders in Trinity College? Natural History Museum?

Seanie.

Hi Seanie.
Mike O Connell gave a talk to SAC about Meteorites in Jan.
He has a collection also.
Seems the right man to ask first to me.

Thanks for the quick reply Frank. I have a couple pieces of space rock myself (one of which was given by Mike himself), and until I get my hands on this specific piece of stone, it does look like a meteorite. I think a number of us can make a very educated guess on it based on seeing and feeling, but to make sure it's not something like smelted slag or the like, it would have to be properly analysed I reckon...


...where to for that?

Drop a note to David Asher at Armagh Observatory, he is bound to know who can do the mineralogy on the object. Don't have a direct e mai; but somebody on here should have one.

Seanie,

Armagh Observatory would be worth contacting for a definitive test. David Asher or Tolos would probably be the best people to contact there:
www.arm.ac.uk/staff/staff.html

Initial easy methods to help identify it are to check for a fusion crust and metal content. Fusion crust is a burnt layer on the outside from the object experiencing high temperatures during decent.

There are three types of meteorites:
Iron Meteorites
Stony Meteorites
Stony-Iron Meteorites

It would be worth checking if it is drawn to a rare earth magnet. Even if it is a stony meteorite, it will often have a certain metal content (a fridge magnet may not be powerful enough).

In a lab, they can cut a small slice off the corner of it and check it with a spectrometer. This can check for nickel content in the metal. If it is a stony meteorite, they can still do this test along with checking for chondrules and various minerals which may be present (such as olivine etc)

Hope this helps,

Michael

Thanks Mike, very detailed. Just what I'm looking for. Save me getting my hands on it, it does look like a stony meteorite. It has the smooth pitted surface and very dark in colour. From having a serious interest in rocks and minerology when I was a kid (yes, I collected among other things, rocks!), I think I can rule out slag and beach rock. I'll keep you all updated here.

Seanie.