Hand lens
A small folding magnifying glass, usually making things look ten times bigger, that you hold close to your eye to inspect rocks.
A hand lens is a little magnifying glass that folds into its own case, so it fits in a pocket. Most rock lenses magnify ten times, written as 10x. Geologists carry one everywhere, and it is the first tool any meteorite hunter should own.
To use it, hold the lens right up near your eye, then bring the rock towards the lens until it looks sharp. Good daylight helps a lot. Through the lens you can see things that are too small to notice otherwise: the thin, dark skin called fusion crust that forms as a meteorite rushes through the air, tiny shiny flecks of metal, and small round grains called chondrules.
The Allende meteorite, which fell in Mexico in 1969, is a lovely rock to look at this way. On a broken face, a hand lens shows lots of round chondrules and odd white patches sitting in a dark grey background. A hand lens is a safe tool for children because you only look. Never use it to focus sunlight, as that can start fires or hurt your eyes, and never lick or scratch a rock to test it.
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Level: Beginner Ages 7 and up