What should I do if I think I have found a meteorite?
Note exactly where you found it, photograph it, keep it clean and dry in a bag or foil, and don't wash, cut, heat or test it with chemicals. Then send clear photos to a museum or university geology department for an opinion.
First, enjoy the moment, then slow down. The most useful things you can record are easily lost. Write down where you found it, ideally with a GPS position from your phone, along with the date and what the ground was like. If the stone is still lying where you spotted it, photograph it in place before you pick it up. If you saw or heard about a bright fireball shortly beforehand, note that too, because a fresh fall is especially valuable to science.
Next, protect the stone. Pick it up with clean gloves or wrap it in clean aluminium foil, then put it in a clean plastic bag or box. Don't wash or scrub it: water speeds up rusting, and brushing can strip away the thin black fusion crust that formed as it fell. Don't rub it with a magnet either, because a strong magnet can overwrite the faint natural magnetism that scientists measure. And never cut, heat or put acid on a suspected meteorite. That damages the specimen and can be dangerous, especially for children.
Then ask an expert. Natural history museums, university geology departments and national geological surveys can often give an opinion from photographs. Send sharp pictures from several sides, with a ruler for scale, plus the weight, the size and a note of whether it attracts a magnet. Be prepared for disappointment: most suspected meteorites turn out to be Earth rocks, slag or bits of iron.
Finally, think about ownership. If you found it on someone else's land, it may belong to the landowner, and in some countries meteorites belong to the state or must be reported. Rules vary a great deal, so check what applies where you live before you sell, give away or export anything.