Topherspin Meteorites

08/31/2026

☄️Meteorite Words: What’s Real, What’s Not & What Actually Matters 🪨

Think you know what a meteorite is supposed to look like? Let’s put some of the most commonly claimed “meteoritic features” under the microscope.

In this educational hangout, Topher and the Knowledge Bolide Crew examine the terminology used to describe meteorites and ask an important question: when you see a crack, depression, line, unusual crust or other feature on a rock, does it actually mean what you think it means?

We start with one of the most important external features of a meteorite: FUSION CRUST. Using real specimens, we compare primary, secondary and remnant fusion crust and discuss terms including translucent, iridescent and even the unofficial favorite, “bubbly frothy” fusion crust. We also explain why some descriptions — such as “transparent fusion crust” and “desiccated fusion crust” — can be misleading or scientifically inappropriate.

From there, we move into features created during atmospheric flight, including:

• Regmaglypts vs. ordinary depressions
• Fluted regmaglypts
• Contraction cracks
• Spalling
• Stippling
• Flow lines
• Radial flow lines
• Orientation and highly oriented meteorites
• Rollover lips
• And how the LOCATION of a feature on a meteorite can be just as important as the feature itself

One of the biggest themes throughout this video is CONTEXT.

A crack is not automatically a contraction crack. A depression is not automatically a regmaglypt. Something that looks like it “flowed” is not automatically a flow line. Before assigning a meteoritic feature to a rock, the feature should make sense for the physical process that supposedly created it.

And this is only the first 38 minutes.

The complete discussion continues much further into both EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL meteorite features, including hitchhikers, blowouts, vesicles, vugs, metal blebs, shock veins, raised shock veins, shock melt, impact features, terrestrial weathering, desert varnish, caliche and much more — followed by real specimen challenges where the crew puts these concepts into practice.

☄️ WANT TO WATCH THE COMPLETE VIDEO?

The full-length version is available on our Patreon.

If you enjoy the educational work we do and would like to help us continue producing videos like this, consider joining as a **Witnessed Fall Supporter for only $10 per month**. Your support directly helps us continue creating meteorite education, presentations, challenges, live hangouts and other content for the community.

Not in a position to become a paid supporter? That’s completely fine. You can also join our Patreon for ***** FREE ***** and watch the rest of this particular video.

https://www.patreon.com/topherspin

Our free Patreon members receive several posts throughout the month, including educational content, meteorite challenges, community posts and occasional full-length videos like this one.

So if the first 38 minutes wasn't enough and you absolutely have to see what happens next, come join us on Patreon — either as a Witnessed Fall Supporter or completely free — and continue learning with the Knowledge Bolide Crew.

https://youtu.be/F1HaIWFbOGU

Think you know what a meteorite is supposed to look like? Let’s put...

08/19/2026

Topher and Sue kick off a new weekly meteorite sales series featuring just seven hand-picked specimens at a time—quick, simple, and easy to shop. This week’s lineup ranges from just $12.00 to $539.00, with something for beginners and serious collectors alike.

All meteorites are first come, first served. U.S. shipping is a flat $6.00, and international buyers can contact us for a shipping quote. Watch for a few bonus surprises, including lottery tickets and the new Knowledge Bolide Crew stickers!

Price List and Ordering Instructions:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e17euSW_cVeCT_4a1XEC_zcdDftWouS2O4YzFQBI7Bc/edit?usp=sharing

https://youtu.be/9jndqpRqVuk

Topher and Sue kick off a new weekly meteorite sales series featuri...

08/15/2026

In this episode of the Knowledge Bolide Crew Weekly Online Hangout, we dive into the strange and fascinating world of Ungrouped meteorites — specimens that don’t fit comfortably into the established meteorite groups, or that resemble a known group while possessing one or more important differences. Along the way, Topher, Professor Pat, Antho, Dr. Chris, and the crew discuss how geochemistry, oxygen isotopes, mineral chemistry, chondrule characteristics, metal content, and other scientific measurements can reveal when a meteorite simply refuses to fit into the usual classification boxes.

The Show & Tell includes an incredible variety of unusual material, including Chwichiya 002 , an Ungrouped C3.00 Carbonaceous Chondrite; Qued Maya 003, an Ungrouped C3 Carbonaceous Chondrite; an extremely metal-rich Ungrouped Chondrite whose olivine, pyroxene and oxygen isotopes point toward different ordinary-chondrite groups; and two unusual Ungrouped Iron meteorites, Dronino and Gebel Kamil. The crew also discusses why some iron meteorites display little or no recognizable Widmanstätten pattern and explores the relationship between kamacite, taenite, nickel content and cooling history.

Then we move into some truly spectacular ungrouped achondrites. Dr. Chris shows Erg Chech 002, famous for preserving extremely ancient magmatic material from the early Solar System, followed by NWA 16128, an olivine-rich Ungrouped Achondrite containing striking metal inclusions and evidence of an extraordinary impact history. The discussion turns to one of the most exciting possibilities surrounding ungrouped achondrites: some may represent material from differentiated parent bodies — potential planetary building blocks that formed, evolved and were ultimately disrupted before becoming full-fledged planets.

Topher also shares Wan Zawatin 001, an anorthite-rich Ungrouped Achondrite with diogenitic affinities. Nearly 80% of the meteorite is plagioclase, making it dramatically different from typical diogenitic material despite some similarities in its pyroxene chemistry and oxygen isotopes. The specimen is especially striking because of its pale interior, delicate fusion crust and unusually high abundance of nearly pure anorthite.

Finally, we take a look at Hassi el Biod 002, an Ungrouped Pallasite containing roughly 60% metal, 38% olivine and 2% troilite. Its magnesium-rich olivine and oxygen-isotope composition separate it from the established pallasite groups, while the chemistry of its metal raises intriguing questions about a possible relationship with IIAB iron meteorites.

Ungrouped meteorites are exciting precisely because they leave us with unanswered questions. They may represent unusual impact mixtures, previously unrecognized parent bodies, missing links between established meteorite groups, or entirely new populations that could someday become recognized grouplets or groups as additional specimens are discovered and studied.

☄️ If you enjoy meteorite science, unusual specimens and the stories hidden inside rocks from space, this is one Show & Tell you won’t want to miss!

And don’t forget to join us on Patreon, where both FREE and paid members can participate in meteorite photo challenges, quizzes, educational posts, Rock ID discussions and other interactive content that we simply can’t do as easily here on YouTube.

In this episode of the Knowledge Bolide Crew Weekly Online Hangout,...

08/08/2026

Knowledge Bolide Crew Weekly Hangout Meteorite Show & Tell: Rare Finds, Fresh Falls & Lunar News ☄️

The Knowledge Bolide Crew gathered for a relaxed evening of meteorite show-and-tell, fascinating lunar news, and plenty of beautiful specimens!

Travis opened the show with a newly approved, metal-rich Winonaite from Mali. His thin 1.74-gram slice contains an incredible variety of metallic structures and a contrasting pocket of rocky material, making it a strong contender for the Topherspin Meteorites 2027 Witnessed Falls Meteorite Calendar.

Professor Pat then shared exciting news about a possible lunar meteorite discovered by experienced hunters in Chile’s Atacama Desert. If laboratory testing confirms its lunar origin, it could become the first recognized lunar meteorite recovered in the Western Hemisphere—and it may also represent an especially rare basaltic lunar type. The crew also discussed a predicted Falcon 9 upper-stage impact on the Moon and whether the collision could potentially launch fresh lunar material into space.

Professor Pat followed the lunar discussion with an extraordinary unclassified Type 3 chondrite packed tightly with visible chondrules, possible carbonaceous inclusions, and very little matrix. Dave gave us a microscopic tour of his historic Toluca iron meteorite, highlighting its Widmanstätten pattern, different metallic structures, possible Neumann lines, and the scratches that can sometimes be mistaken for natural features.

Antho finished the show with two fresh witnessed falls from Algeria. One was a beautifully shaped, partially oriented El Menia stone from the 2023 fall. The other was a large, extremely fresh and heavily brecciated meteorite from a 2026 fall, featuring thick fusion crust, unusual brown coloration, exposed metal, and a mysterious protruding inclusion that sparked plenty of speculation.

It was another fun and educational hangout filled with rare meteorites, developing scientific news, microscopic details, pronunciation lessons, and the kind of friendly meteorite discussion that makes the Knowledge Bolide Crew so special!

The Knowledge Bolide Crew gathered for a relaxed evening of meteori...

08/01/2026

MEMBERS ONLY: FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME! Is It From Space? ☄️ July Rock ID Meteorite or Meteorwrong?

This Members Only video is temporarily available to everyone—but only for a few days!

During a special European-timed Knowledge Bolide Hangout held on a Saturday, the Knowledge Bolide Crew pauses the festivities to examine a 307-gram suspected meteorite submitted through our Patreon White Glove Rock ID service. The specimen was found on farmland near Fennville, Michigan, and its owner reported possible fusion crust, metal flecks, contraction cracks, shock veins, and features resembling a Pallasite.

Topher, Sue, Professor Pat, Antho, and the rest of the crew examine the rock’s unusual magnetic response, sparkling crystal faces, rounded shape, surface coatings, porosity, layering, and freshly exposed interior. Although the specimen is fascinating and absolutely worth examining, the crew finds no visible metal, chondrules or genuine fusion crust found in meteorites, or the distinctive metal-and-olivine structure specifically expected in a Pallasite. Their final consensus: a very interesting terrestrial rock—but not a meteorite.

The discussion also includes valuable advice for aspiring meteorite hunters: do not look only for similarities. Compare your specimen with approved meteorites in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database and pay close attention to the differences. Sue demonstrates how researching classified specimens can help put the rarity of a suspected find into perspective, followed by a challenging round of U.S. Pallasite trivia.

Because this was recorded during a casual Knowledge Bolide Crew hangout, you will also get plenty of uncut Knowledge Bolide chaos, jokes, forgotten answers, unexpected tangents, and an adorable appearance from the One and Only..... LIL' BUTTERS!!!

🔒 This is normally a Members Only video. We are releasing it publicly for just a few days, after which it will only be available to paying members of our YouTube Channel and both FREE and paid members of our Patreon page.

Joining Patreon is completely free, and we share far more content there than we can post on YouTube - Meteorite education, community updates, photo challenges, behind-the-scenes material, and other exclusive content.

Join our Patreon page for free today so you do not miss this video when it returns to Members Only access—and explore everything else waiting for you there!

https://www.patreon.com/topherspin/membership

OWN YOUR UNIVERSE ☄️

https://youtu.be/yqOdlsk9dHs

☄️ This Members Only video is temporarily available to everyone—but...

07/25/2026

REMINDER!! REMINDER!! REMINDER!! REMINDER!! REMINDER!!

HAPPENING NOW..... LOG IN!!!!

Zoom Meeting ID Number: 822 1476 2737
Password: Topherspin

Knowledge Bolide Crew International Online Hangout! ☄️ Join us RIGHT NOW for a very special Knowledge Bolide Crew International Hangout!

Our crew stretches across the globe, with members in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Philippines, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, and beyond.

Because many of our International Crew members cannot normally attend our Wednesday night hangouts, a few times each year, we gather on a Saturday afternoon so we can reconnect with friends we do not get to see nearly often enough.

We are especially excited to spend time with crew members like Marco G, Dave N, Maxime D, Ron G, Christian C, and many more!
Please join us for a fun-filled hangout with friends from around the world—friends we may not see often, but think about all the time. And, of course, we will be discussing the incredible topic that brought us all together in the first place:

METEORITES! ☄️

Everyone is welcome to join us!

Zoom Meeting ID Number: 822 1476 2737
Password: Topherspin

*Log into your Zoom account and enter the meeting ID number and password. If you do not have a Zoom account, you can create one for free. If you do not want to create a free Zoom account, you need to at least register your email with Zoom.
https: //www.zoom.us/join

07/20/2026

JUST RE:LEASED TO YOUTUBE!

☄️ **FROM THE LAB #11: The Wadsworth Meteorite Classification with Daniel Sheikh!**

The “Classifier to the Stars” returns for an extraordinary episode of From the Lab! Meteorite scientist and valued Knowledge Bolide Crew member Daniel Sheikh joins our 268th consecutive hangout to reveal the remarkable story behind the classification of the Wadsworth meteorite—the spectacular Ohio fall that captured worldwide attention with its glossy black, unusually spiny fusion crust.

Daniel explains how Wadsworth was officially classified as a monomict eucrite, an HED achondrite believed to represent crustal material from asteroid 4 Vesta or a closely related Vestoid. Using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, mineral chemistry and oxygen-isotope data, scientists identified its brecciated structure and primary minerals, including pyroxene and plagioclase, along with tridymite, chromite and rare nickel-free iron metal.

This classification required an exceptional level of cooperation. Because most recovered stones were extremely small, fragile and highly prized, obtaining sufficient type-specimen material for long-term scientific research as initially difficult. Daniel brought classifiers from multiple institutions together to form the Ohio Meteorite Classification Team, while meteorite hunters, collectors and dealers generously contributed specimens, photographs, find information and coordinates. Daniel also coordinated data from more than 100 finds to create a detailed Wadsworth strewnfield map that can be explored using Google Earth.

We also learn why Wadsworth is so incredibly friable, how its distinctive fusion crust may have formed under a very specific combination of atmospheric-entry conditions, why scientists normally avoid including fusion crust in chemical and isotopic testing, and why this meteorite will likely inspire additional research for years to come.

The Knowledge Bolide Crew finishes with an outstanding round of questions covering meteorite preservation, classification timelines, destructive versus nondestructive testing, scientific ethics, specimen preparation and the challenges of coordinating such a large collaborative project. Most importantly, this episode demonstrates the powerful relationship between scientists, meteorite hunters, collectors and the institutions responsible for preserving these precious extraterrestrial materials for future generations.

A huge thank-you to Daniel, the entire Ohio Meteorite Classification Team and every finder who contributed information or material—including several members of our own Knowledge Bolide Crew! This classification would not have been possible without an extraordinary community effort.

☄️ **FROM THE LAB #11: The Wadsworth Meteorite Classification with ...

07/12/2026

In this special Independence Day edition of the Knowledge Bolide Hangout.....

The crew celebrates AMERICA’S 250th BIRTHDAY with an American Meteorite Show & Tell! From famous witnessed falls to rare U.S. finds, everyone brings something meaningful from their personal collections and shares the stories, science, and history behind each specimen.

Topher kicks things off with beautiful American Pallasites, including Admire from Kansas and Albin from Wyoming, while Travis shares Brandon, a rare L6/7 meteorite from Nebraska with a personal connection to his home state and birth month. The crew also discusses the newly published Chandler (b) meteorite from Arizona, Mifflin from Wisconsin, historic Weston (the first witnessed meteorite fall in the United States), the iconic Peekskill car-striker, Four Corners, Nothing, Monument Draw, and even a fresh little Wadsworth eucrite from Ohio.

The highlight near the end is Roberto Vargas’ incredible American meteorite collection. Roberto gives the crew a look inside his cabinet filled with historic U.S. witnessed falls, hammerstones, rare finds, and specimens with amazing provenance — including pieces connected to famous books, museum history, and meteorites he personally recovered.

From Weston and Murray to Park Forest, Peekskill, Warden, Mifflin, Wadsworth, Willamette, Beaver, Barnstable, and more, Roberto’s Show & Tell is a serious treat for anyone who loves the history of American meteorites. The episode wraps up with Roberto sharing a quick pitch for the IMCA and the crew reflecting on what makes American meteorites so special: the science, the stories, the collectors, the hunters, and the history attached to every piece.

In this special Independence Day edition of the Knowledge Bolide Ha...

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from Topherspin Meteorites! 🇺🇸☄️

We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and relaxing Independence Day filled with delicious food, great company, and maybe even a little time to look up at the sky.

From our meteorite family to yours, Happy 4th!
USA! USA! USA! USA!

07/04/2026

In this Knowledge Bolide Online Hangout, the crew comes together for a very special “Show and Story” episode featuring officially classified meteorites that our crew members were personally involved with—as main mass holders, specimen holders, co-classifiers, hunters, cutters, or classification partners.

Nate kicks things off with his brand-new lunar classification, NWA 18622, a beautiful lunar fragmental breccia that took about eight months to become official. Topher then shares several classifications connected to crew members, including Gourara 003, a gorgeous eucrite monomict with outstanding fusion crust, NWA 13579, the "Odd-Numbered Golden Pallasite" with stunning olivines, “The Beast,” an L5 ordinary chondrite shared with Martin Loller, and NWA 14573, a rare Mesosiderite shared with the Monk Man, Chris Monk of Rocks on the Ground.

Professor Pat gives us a look at his first 3.xx ordinary chondrite subtype and explains how cross-polarized light and magnetic susceptibility testing can reveal important details without damaging the meteorite. Marissa shares her first solo classification, NWA 17476, an H3 with beautiful chondrules and shock-darkened features, and also discusses her role in the recovery and classification effort for the newly approved Wadsworth eucrite fall in Ohio.

Dave shows NWA 17935, an L6 ordinary chondrite with striking shock veins, and talks about the crew’s hands-on involvement in the classification process. Mike, our on-staff geologist, shares NWA 13746, a CVoxB3 carbonaceous chondrite made even more meaningful because his daughters helped prepare it and are listed with him in the Meteoritical Bulletin. Chris closes out show-and-tell with NWA 16435, a beautifully crusted polymict eucrite with an unusually light-colored exterior.

The episode wraps with a quick discussion about a possible recent Canadian meteorite fall on a remote island—complete with radar signatures, difficult terrain, and plenty of bears.

This hangout is a reminder that meteorites are more than just rocks from space. Every classification has a story, a process, a team, and a memory behind it.

Thank you to Nate and Dave for supporting Topherspin Meteorites on YouTube.

Thank you to Martin for being a Witnessed Fall Supporter on Patreon.

Thank you to Chris, Professor Pat & Marissa for being Educational Supporters on Patreon.

Thanks to Mike for all of his support as our Knowledge Bolide Crew Meteorite 101 Instructor!

In this Knowledge Bolide Online Hangout, the crew comes together fo...