Meteorites are very diverse and even novice collectors can distinguish samples from different known meteorites by their unique character. Often these meteorites have inclusions of large crystals of other minerals such as olivines or pyroxenes , etc or the iron has a unique crystal pattern that is characteristic. Due to the nature of iron, care should be used in the preserving of valuable iron-nickel samples. Color is steel gray or black. Luster is metallic.
Transparency is opaque.
Crystal Habits crystal form is extremely rare, when etched, meteoritic examples may show interesting and complicated intergrowths of cystals according to different nickel-iron concentrates. Terrestrial samples are massive and appear as small flakes and irregular masses. Meteoritic samples are usually rounded, pitted and irregular. Cleavage is absent but crystals will have distinct parallel partings. Fracture is hackly.