There are a number of characteristics of meteorites, which on careful examination, allow them to be distinguished from typical rock types which occur on Earth. These properties are discussed individually below. It is usually a combination of several or all of these properties, which allow an identification of the sample meteorite. Characteristics needed to confirm meteorite origin. You can see the metal shining on a broken surface.
Stony meteorites contain small flecks of free metal.
The density of iron metal is about 8 grams per cubic centimetre so that most meteorites containing metal have densities greater than 3.3 grams per cubic centimetre. Few terrestrial rocks have densities higher than this value, with the exception of iron ores, which are typically iron oxides such as magnetite or hematite. A magnet will stick to the meteorite if it contains much metal. Some meteorites, such as stony meteorites, only contain small amounts of metal, but will attract a magnet hanging from a string. The most common meteorites to fall on Earth are called chondrites.