Meteorites can be classified into three general categories - Irons, Stones, and Stony-Irons. The stones are further subdivided into the very numerous primitive chondrites and the igneous achondrites, based principally on the presence or absence of chondrules. Roughly spherical in shape, chondrules are formed by partial or complete melting prior to their incorporation in the meteorite.

Most meteorites, will contain some amount of iron and will be weakly to strongly magnetic. If the meteorite is relatively fresh it may still have a thin outer fusion crust from its passage through the Earth's atmosphere.

Stones are the most abundant type of meteorite to fall. They often resemble some types of terrestrial rocks but are generally more dense. If a stone is freshly broken, scattered metallic iron grains may be visible throughout the interior. Spheres of silicate materials (chondrules) will also be seen in the majority of stones. Several examples of stony meteorites are shown in the following images.
Bruderheim, Alberta L6	Innisfree, Alberta LL5	Millbillillie, Australia Eucrite
Allende, Mexico CV3	Belly River, Alberta H6	Ferintosh, Alberta L6

Iron meteorites are composed mostly of Iron and Nickel. They are heavy for their size and often have irregular shapes. Magnets will be strongly attracted to Iron meteorites. Notice the 'thumprint' depressions in the Mayerthorpe image below that are characteristic of many fresh iron meteorites.
Mayerthorpe, Alberta IA Coarse Octahedrite	Meteor Crater, Arizona IA Coarse Octahedrite	Boxhole, Australia IIIA Medium Octahedrite

Stony-Iron meteorites are relatively rare and consist of two main types - Pallasites and Mesosiderites. Pallasites are made up of greenish-yellow olivine crystals within an iron-nickel matrix. Mesosiderites, on the other hand, are composed of chunks and veins of metal, basaltic achondrite, and glassy material.
Brenham Pallasite	Lamont Mesosiderite	Imilac Pallasite

Meteorites do not contain bubble-like cavities like the piece of slag shown below. They are not spherical and smooth like a cannon ball. Irons and stony-irons tend to have shallow depressions on their surfaces. The surfaces of stony meteorites do not have protuberances.
Chert	Clay-Ironstone	Pyritized Conglomerate
Fused Iron Filings	Slag	Slag