How Much Is A Meteorite Worth? (SpaceBalls Value Guide) (2024)

August 20, 2023
22 Comments

Meteorites (like many gems and minerals) aren’t valued based on one quality or another. Similar to everything else, numerous factors determine the particular value of any one meteorite specimen.

One of the most important factors is how much the specimen weighs. A man in Michigan found a 22-pound meteorite, resulting in a payout of $100,000 bucks. However, being so heavy and a rare specimen held value within the scientific community.

How Much Money Do You Get If You Find A Meteorite?

Before rushing off with a recent meteorite find, it’s best to verify it and offer it to the scientific community because meteorites have been used in scientific studies, and they’re worth more than samples that haven’t been.

Some unclassified meteorites can sell for about 50 cents per gram. More beautiful space rocks, like Pallasites, contain crystals and look incredibly dazzling when polished and can be valued as high as 40 dollars per gram or more. While rarer stones can bring in up to $1000 per gram in good condition.

How much worth a meteorite has also depends on who’s buying it and where you sell it. At auctions, meteorites can range into the hundreds and up through the thousands. Although, many specimens sell for just around a few thousand. The size, quality, documented information (siting, location, material), and what type of meteorite it is will add or subtract from the specimen’s value.

If you’re ever curious, items struck by meteorites can also sell for high prices. A piece of corrugated sheet metal from an empty dog house sold for 44 thousand dollars.

How Much Is A 4-Pound Meteorite Worth?

The exact worth of a meteorite will vary based on its specific type. An 82-pound iron meteorite with asteroid origins sold for a little over 41,000 dollars, which equals out to around $540 per pound! A unique 4-pound Pallasite meteorite brandishing crystals of Peridot and Olivine sold for over $60,000, making it over $15,000 per pound of space rock!

You can get between $8,000 and $36,000 for a four-pound meteorite. The quality and type of meteorite you have will cause adjustments in the final payout.

Why Is It Illegal To Own A Meteorite?

It’s NOT!

It is entirely legal to own meteorites; at least, that’s true in the United States. Different countries have different rules in place regarding the matter.

While it’s legal to own, buy, and sell meteorites, there are some conditions or stipulations regarding meteorite ownership. For instance, standard land ownership rules apply for meteorites, regardless of the type. The landowner where a specimen falls becomes its legal owner. However, if a meteorite lands on federal property or public grounds, three different situations can occur depending on the use of the space rock.

Casual Collection can take place; then, individuals are free to collect specimens that can be carried by hand, up to ten pounds a year per person. These specimens are not allowed to be sold. They’re for personal use only.
It can be used for scientific use. In this case, scientific and educational institutions are welcome to solicit the sample under the Antiques Act. Permits are required and can be obtained from the local Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The rocks are to be used for research purposes only.
The commercial collection allows individuals and companies interested in selling rocks or using them for commercial purposes to apply for a permit to collect material with the BLM. A fee is required.

Non Magnetic Meteorite Value

The Achondrites are among the rarest types of meteorites, and they are non-magnetic. They don’t attract magnets for the same reason many Earth rocks don’t; no iron-nickel metals are present. In fact, Achondrites are so rare only 2.5% of the space rocks found in the US can be identified as this variety.

Achondrite meteorites will naturally have a higher per-gram price compared to ordinary Chondrites and most iron meteorites.

Samples of small, hard-to-get meteorites sell for much higher prices than large meteorites. This is true, even if it’s of the same type of meteorite.

Meteorite Price Per kg

The price of a meteorite per kg is also based on the type of meteorite you have. Stone varieties are worth anywhere from $2 to $20 per gram but can exceed $1,000 per gram. This means one pound of iron meteorite can be worth over $2,000.

Knowing how to identify a meteorite, or any stone for that matter, can make the selling process move along more quickly. It can also save you from getting hustled by someone looking to take advantage. Learn to identify rocks and gems like a pro to save the headache and hassle.

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Jerred Morris

Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler

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22 Responses

I found a Very heavy rock about the size of an adult fist. I believe it is possibly a meteorite. It is nothing like I have ever seen before and I am 78 years old. Can anyone help me out? Thank you..Robert Henry
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1. Robert – I emailed you directly
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Ive found what I believe to be a meteorite. Its the size of a mans fist and is non magnetic. It’s extremely heavy. It has a fusion crust I believe. I tested it with a nickel test kit snd shows 0 traces of nickel. It shows a shiny metal spot on It where im thinkin it hit the ground. Thats where i tested it. I dont get it. Need help. I can take pics and let you see to whoever can shed some light as to wtf i have here. Thx.
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1. Kyle – Happy to help out. I’ll email you directly so that you can send some photos.
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I have found a pallasite meteorite with a little black crust and
flow lines weighs 453 grams opposite side mostly olivine.
Send your email and I will send photos. This I found with dino
fossils on my land from the laurent Ice sheet from Canada.
I have other ROCKS that I will ask you to look at. NO iron or nickel.
I tested the nickel with a kit.
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1. David – I sent you an email and I’m happy to help out.
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I live in Benson,Az. While walking in a wash I literally stunned my toe on a rock and fell. I looked over and what I tripped on was half buried but looked odd. We had hard rains these past couple years so the top soil has been washed away. The I dug up the rock and it was way heavier then I figured it should have been. It was a cool looking rock I’ve never seen anything like it. After I looked it over I took it home and used it to crush other rocks on. I figured it was probably slag because there was an iron refinery here also to precious metal refineries back in the day. But my gut said it was something else. So after a crap ton of research on how to identify rocks and other things I tested it. It’s highly magnetic it attacks weak magnets like there strong earth magnets, it has thumbprints perceptible at the right angles, it has I believe chondritis and after I filed a section of it it’s like shiny steel. It looks like it had a fusion crust once upon a Time there’s bits of it left but it’s been eroded away I believe but I would like to help on this I can’t find anywhere to identify this thing or anyone to do it for me can you help? I can send pics.
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1. I emailed you directly
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Hi there , I have different type of meteorite can someone help me out
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1. I’ll email you directly and do my best to help out
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I found a small 75g round one. Too heavy for a rock, smaller than ping pong ball. Only slightly magnetic on one side. Can you help to identify?
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1. Happy to help. I emailed you directly.
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Jerred,
I have a possible non magnetic meteorite that fell out of the sky and landed in the front yard of a house in Arizona. From pictures I’ve seen on eBay it looks like a lunar meteorite. It is very heavy weighing 7,246 grams (15.56 pounds). It is about 8 to 9 inches across and 6 to 7 inches high. It appears to have areas of Fusion Crust on it as it seems to have melted stone on the surface in parts and also some possible Regmaglypts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
James O’Connell
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1. James – I’ll email you directly and do my best to help out.
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Hi Jerred, I found a rock metal detecting in Zacatecas, Mexico. Its magnetic, about 4kgs., has “thumbprints”, looks like the interior is metallic. I also found little dark blue “crystals” on the rock. Theres visible direction of “flow” in the metal solidified in its crust. Could you take a look at some pictures? I would like your opinion.
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1. Happy to help. I’ll email you
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I need some assistance in identifying a possible meteoroid that we have found. If someone could help it would be greatly appreciated !
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1. I emailed you directly
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Hi Jerred, I found, what I believe to be a meteorite with a metal detector in our woods. I first thought it was a big piece of raw iron ore, but there are no more samples in the area. I haven’t weighed or measured it, but it’s at least the size of 2 human fists and really heavy. The outer rock has black residue with an iron core. The iron has evidently been melted into solid iron. A magnet sticks to it really strong and has a rusty surface. I have photos and I can get weights for you. Can you help with this? Thank you.
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1. Rob – Happy to help out. Check your email.
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Hi Jerrod – we have an 18lb rock we believe to be Carbonaceous Condrite. It is magnetic. Can you help us get it certified? Thank you for any help.
Vikki M
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1. If you want to verify or certify a stone/mineral/gem then you would send it to GIA. That would be your best way forward.
  Reply

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Jerred Morris

Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler

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