Hi, how are you? Are you curious about meteorites, like me? I'm Lisa Satin and I invite you to join me on a journey through the stars. If you are looking for meteorite wisdom and real space stones, you have come to the right place.
Isn't it frustrating to see so many meteorites online, and not know which one is authentic? It strikes my nerves that phony fakes are being sold a dime-a-dozen on auction marketplaces. And yet, buyers give them 5-star reviews because they are unaware that they received an imitation meteorite.
Thankfully, there are ways you can weed out those meteorite fakes! And, it's my mission to help you.
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How much is a meteorite worth?
You've probably seen those cheap meteorites in stores and online that entice unsuspecting buyers. I have seen stores trick customers into buying Moldavite that has been manufactured from glass, plastic, or resin in a sterile factory. I have seen vendors offer Certificates of Authenticity to buyers who are unaware that most of those papers are printed from their office with no authority or meaning.
Be careful when you shop for meteorites because you will find thousands online that may be labeled as 'Space Rocks' but are nothing more than everyday pebbles from a garden.
Here at Satin Crystals, Sheila, Ann, and I personally handpick every meteorite that lands in our boutique. That is how I know our meteorites are the real deal.
That comes down to the original question: what's a meteorite worth? The price of a Meteorite depends on its size, weight, quality, and how rare it is. You can find something fabulous that fits your budget, be it $50 or $500,000.
How can you tell if a meteorite is real?
The only guaranteed way to test a Meteorite is by sending it to a laboratory. This is the only method to get a guaranteed answer and the only way that is recommended by Satin Crystals. That means you have to purchase the meteorite, send it to a certified laboratory at your own expense, and wait for the report.
Do I need a Certificate of Authenticity?
If a typical seller gives you a "Certificate of Authenticity" (COA), it is most likely meaningless. They probably went to their computer, typed up a document stating their product is real and sent it to you without doing any kind of scientific testing. Unless a vendor is an actual meteorologist or scientist, the COA you got is worth nothing more than the paper it was printed on. You can safely assume it is a marketing tactic to gain your business.
That being said, some meteorites have been lab-verified that come with actual paperwork. This is less common, and most likely it's a higher-end meteorite. A true, lab-verified COA should contain the name of the testing institution and the specimen number. This is very different than what 99% of the sellers are trying to trick you with when they say "COA."
5 do-it-yourself meteorite tests
Most of us don't want to endure the time, hassle, and hefty expenses associated with getting a specimen lab-verified.
Although none of the following methods are completely recommended by Satin Crystals due to inaccuracies, they can sometimes help you in the process of elimination.
Here are 5 tests to help you determine real meteorites (they do not apply to Impactites, aside from method #5):
1. Meteorite Nickel Test: Most meteorites contain nickel. There are meteorite nickel testing kits available online that you can buy and use.
If the stone has nickel, it is on track to being a real meteorite. If it does not have nickel, it probably is not a meteorite.
However, there are plenty of stones that have nickel and are NOT meteorites and some meteorites do not have nickel, so this test is not absolute.
2. Magnet Test: Most meteorites are magnetic because of the extraterrestrial iron content. If you place a strong magnet on the stone and you feel a magnetic reaction, it could be a meteorite.
However, some meteorites are not magnetic. Additionally, there are non-meteoric minerals that are magnetic, so this test is not absolute.
3. Tile Streak Test: Most Meteorites do not leave a streak when scratched hard against a streak plate, like the dull unglazed backside of a tile.
If your stone leaves a red streak, it could be Hematite. If it leaves a black streak, it could be Magnetite.
However, some meteorites that are heavily weathered and have collected additional earth minerals may leave a streak, so this test is not absolute.
4. Weight Test: Another unique property of most meteorites is that they are heavier than earth stones. You may be surprised by its weightiness when you pick up the specimen. That is due to the high iron-nickel content in most meteorites.
However, earth minerals like Galena and Pyrite are also heavy, so this test is not absolute.
5. Visual Test: A meteorite can never be identified by photo or look alone. However, many meteorites have visual clues that can help you stay on track.
Your piece may have one or several of these features: thumbprint patterns (Regmaglypts), etched patterns (Widmanstatten), grain-like sphere patterns (Chondrules), metallic flakes (Iron and Nickel), yellow ochre red or orange coating (Rust or Patina), and possible aerodynamic shapes.
The visual test is certainly very important, but ultimately not 100% conclusive.
How to determine real versus fake Moldavite
As mentioned earlier, Impactite stones like Moldavite cannot undergo tests #1-4 but should undergo a visual inspection.
Here are some tips on how to tell if your Moldavite is real and not a synthetic piece of green plastic:
1. Real Moldavite is always green: There is a wide range of green hues associated with Moldavite. It can be light green, forest green, dark green, midnight green, yellow-green, brown-green, etc. However, if you encounter Moldavite in any other color, it is either a synthetic fake or a completely different mineral.
2. Real Moldavite has unpredictable textures: Moldavite can be smooth, cratered, wavy, lumpy, or a combination of textures. However, these textures shouldn't be uniform all around the specimen. If it's too "perfectly textured", it needs to be in a museum or has a high chance of being phony.
3. Real Moldavite is asymmetrical: Moldavite can be semi-circular, semi-spherical, semi-cylindrical, wand-like, club-like, or randomly shaped. If you spot a specimen that is just a tad too "perfectly symmetrical", be wary of its authenticity unless you are admiring it in a museum. Under a strong microscope, you should also be able to see the air bubbles and the uneven, wavy streaming lines within the stone.
4. Real Moldavite has monetary value: This isn't quite a visual inspection of the Moldavite itself, but insight into the price tag you are looking at. Moldavite is the only meteorite considered to be a gemstone. If the price is too good to be true, guess what?! It's probably too cheap to be real.
5. Real Moldavite has worm-like inclusions: When seen under a strong microscope, you should be able to see wavy inclusions. These are lechatelierite inclusions, which are the result of sand particles that melted during the stone's formation.
Visual testing of real versus fake Moldavite
Let's take a look at real samples of Moldavite from the online marketplace.
The real samples are Satin Crystals Moldavite, while the fakes are very popular manufactured Moldavite from other vendors.
For those who do not mind synthetic material, fake Moldavite is an excellent and affordable choice. For those who want real Moldavite from the Czech Republic, don't be duped. Just because the fakes claim to be real Moldavite of the Czech Republic, it does not mean that they are.
Moldavite is considered a gemstone, and the price will reflect it.
Example # 1:Real Moldavite Visual Analysis:
- Color: Green (Correct)
- Texture: Wavy (Correct)
- Shape: Random (Correct)
- Price: Gemstone (Correct)
Fake "Moldavite" Blue Glass Visual Analysis:
- Color: Blue (Incorrect)
- Texture: Slight Ridges (Correct)
- Shape: Almost Symmetrically Oval (Highly Suspicious)
- Price: Bargain Bin (Highly Suspicious)
Result: The Satin Crystals Moldavite looks (and is) genuine, based on the visual test. The Fake Blue Glass is 100% conclusively fake simply due to its color. Moldavite is never blue. Yet, because a visual test should never be conclusive (maybe the color filters on your monitor are off?), we will rate the Fake Blue Moldavite as 99.99% chance of being Blue Glass.
Example #2:
Real Moldavite Visual Analysis:
- Color: Green (Correct)
- Texture: Wavy, Shards (Correct)
- Shape: Random (Correct)
- Price: Gemstone (Correct)
Fake "Moldavite" Green Glass Visual Analysis:
- Color: Green (Correct)
- Texture: Plastic-like, even waves (Incorrect)
- Shape: Random (Correct)
- Price: Bargain Bin (Highly Suspicious)
Result: The Satin Crystals Moldavite looks (and is) genuine, based on the visual test. The Fake Green Glass rates at about 50% suspicious based on this visual test.
If you are 50% suspicious of the authenticity, it's better to move on or find out more before purchasing.
As someone who specializes in handling Moldavite, I rate it 99.99% chance of being fake at very first glance. Unfortunately, it is a popular product due to its price and is well-rated by customers due to lack of knowledge.
Want to know if your Libyan Desert Glass is real or fake? Check out the Libyan Desert Glass Meanings article.
Hints for finding real meteorites
Since so many of these tests and methods are not 100% conclusive, here are a few more things you can do to come closer to the real thing:
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Gain Information: A wealth of information included with a listing or a sale indicates that the vendor is more likely to know what they are selling you. If there is little information included with your order, the meteorite is more likely to be fake.
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Contact the Seller: Reach out to the seller via email or live chat to ask important questions like stone origin, age, and how/where it was obtained.
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Know your Seller: Look into the history of the seller, including years in business, credentials, and reviews. Unfortunately, several low-end fakes are highly rated due to people believing they have purchased real meteorites at great discounts.
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Check the Shipping Country: Where is your meteorite shipping from? Although an abundance of real gemstones, meteorites, and Black Tektites do come from China, they are also notorious for pumping out fakes.
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Read and Research: Study and watch videos about your desired meteorite. This familiarizes you with the look of certain meteorites, the background, and also the true market values based on availability.
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Comparison Shop: If something seems to be priced too low or too high, check out other listings to help you determine the actual value.
Where do meteorites come from?
Most Meteorites that land on Earth are from our asteroid belt. The landing sites are all over the world and the meteor showers and meteorite events happened throughout history, including just a few minutes ago.
When you shop at Satin Crystals, we give you information on where the meteorite comes from and when it landed on Earth, whenever this information is available.
How can I tell if I found a meteorite?
The only true way to know if a rock is a meteorite is to have it tested in a reputable laboratory. You will need to send a sample size to the lab and get the results. Beware that some laboratories don't return your sample so always call ahead to see the policy.
When your meteorite is tested to be true, it will be named and classified. You will receive paperwork and it will be recorded in the Meteorite Bulletin Database.
That being said, tons and tons of stones are out there being sold with Certificate of Authenticity (COA) papers. These are meaningless pieces of paper printed up by various companies who sell meteorites to reassure their buyers. It is a gimmick and does not mean that what they sold you is authentic. Only a laboratory can give a real COA.
What is that mineral in my meteorite?
When Meteorites journey through space, they can accumulate any types of minerals in the path. Also, when they impact onto Earth, more Earth minerals can fly into the Meteorite while it is hot. Then when it cools down again- you find a number of elements have become trapped inside.
A very dark/black part of the Meteorite may be part of the fusion crust. It is the area of the Meteorite that gets burnt on impact. You might find white and brown dirt-like material in your Moldavite or other pieces. Find out what it is in the Moldavite Meanings article.
Where can I buy real meteorites online?
I recommend you browse through the Satin Crystals Meteorite Collection to see our various offerings. There may be something that catches your attention - a treasure from the stars that must be yours.
Many times people are automatically drawn to certain specimens, which makes it easy to choose. However, some of our customers want specific meteorites to add to a collection. For example, you may want to purchase a meteorite for a specific metaphysical healing property or benefit. In this case, carefully study each listing to see which one is right for you.
I'm ready to shop real meteorites!
You can find authentic and unique meteorites from the Satin Crystals Real Meteorite Collection.
If you are looking for an original gifting idea, nothing is more out-of-this-world than these real space stones. Choose from meteorite raw rocks, pendants, rings, and necklaces. Whether you are looking for a present for your mother, father, siblings, relatives, friends, or boss, meteorites make a truly unique gift.
Are you ready? Find your perfect piece:
Meteorites Onward and Beyond
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