118 collector's manual 



as to location. The United States National Museum will be glad 

 to advise and assist if possible in the recovery of such specimens. 



Stony meteorites are more difficult to recognize. They are 

 made up of heavy silicate minerals, and the presence of iron 

 inclusions adds greatly to their weight. Therefore a stony 

 meteorite is likely to be heavier proportionately than the other 

 minerals or rocks in its vicinity. It will also have a different 

 physical appearance from other rocks nearby. If a great number 

 of similar pieces are found scattered over wide areas, they are 

 probably not meteorites. 



Freshly fallen stony meteorites are covered with a thin black 

 crust of fused material, but the external surface of old ones is 

 usually a rusty brown in color. The general shape is rounded 

 without sharp comers, unless broken since their fall. The surface 

 usually will be pitted with the "thumb marks" mentioned above 

 under iron meteorites. 



If a freshly fallen one is carefully chipped, the paper-thin crust 

 is easily broken awa}* - , and the exposed interior will be light in 

 color. Ordinarily there are inclusions of bright metal masses 

 scattered throughout. If the meteorite is an old, weathered fall, 

 the interior may be brown, but the presence of metallic inclusions 

 usually is still discernible. 



Collect the entire specimen wherever possible and submit it 

 for study. If it is too large to handle easily remove a piece 

 about the size of a silver dollar and forward this directly to the 

 United States National Museum for identification. Be sure to 

 include the location of your find and your name and address 

 on the accompanjdng label. 



