Meteorite Gemstone

Most meteorites disintegrate as the burn through the earth’s atmosphere. However, an “estimated 500 meteorites ranging in size from marbles to basketballs or larger do reach the surface each year” only 5 or 6 of these are typically recovered and made known to scientists. Of these, some are beautiful and worn in jewelry, in this article we’ll talk only about these.

There are three main kinds of meteorites Iron Meteorites, Stone Meteorites and Stony-Iron Meteorites. Almost all meteorites contain extra-terrestrial nickel and iron! Most of meteorite classification depends on how much iron a specimen contains. Meteorites usually get their names for the region they are found.

Commonly thought of as the most beautiful are the Pallasites. These are iron meteorites often with amber to pale-green peridot crystal inclusions. The last known Pallasite to fall was May, 16, 1981 along the Omolon River in the (at the time) USSR.

The Tektites are next, when a meteorite hits the earth it’s soil or sand is melted and it’s glassy droplets solidify into Tektites. Of this family of meteorite it is Moldavite, found strewn along Europe’s Moldau River, which is the most alluring. They are a striking green and it is said the surface was created by the wind as it forced it’s way through the earth’s atmosphere.

Classification and identification of meteorites is a highly complicated subject. The above is intended to simplify several of the most common and the most aesthetically dazzling of the meteorites. For further reading, recommend The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites by O. Richard Norton and The Handbook of Iron Meteorites by Vagn Buchwald.

Do you have an interesting specimen? You can send it in for identification at ZeeXchange.com