How to Find Meteorites in Texas

Find a strewn field in Texas. While this seems like an obvious step, as meteor hunter Geoffry Notkin explains: "The easiest way to find a meteorite is to go where they have been found before." Strewn fields are places where multiple meteorites have been found. In Texas, strewn fields have been located in Grimes County and McClellan County, among others. Meteorite hunters should begin their quest in a Texas strewn field.

Look for rocks that have a dark brown or black fusion crust on them. Due to the high-speed impact the meteorites have while entering the Earth's atmosphere, a crust that is dark brown or black will form on many meteorites. Look for rocks that bear this characteristic.

Test potential rocks with magnets to determine if the rock is actually a meteorite. Almost 95 percent of meteorites respond to magnetic force. This is because of the metal components in the vast majority of meteorites. While you are walking through a strewn field, test various rocks with your magnet. If the rock responds, you may have stumbled on a meteorite.

Be persistent. Meteorite hunting takes time, energy and a good deal of luck. Texas may have some strewn fields, but there is a reason these pieces of space rock are a hot commodity: They are difficult to find. The key is to look in strewn fields and to test out various rocks according to the guidelines above. Gather many potential rocks and take them to an astronomer for testing.