 | MeteoriteTesting.org Meteorite Testing,Verification, Authentication and Appraisal. Updated and current -November 24, 2023 | |
Laboratory Services | Sending a Sample for Testing | |
. Bruderheim, stonemeteorite, L6 chondrite. Fell 1960, Alberta, Canada |  . Barred chondrule, Saratovmeteorite, thin section study. | |
| You may have found a meteorite but please do not emailphotographs. While some well-known meteorites can be verified through hi-resimages, most cannot. Verification and Certification can only be done accuratelythrough lab examination. | ||
 Canyon Diablo, IAB, ironmeteorite, Winslow, Arizona | How to send a sample for testing. Note: The FAQ page has themost current information and is an important part of sending a sample. Pleaseread. Goto FAQ PageYou do not need to submit the entire sample unless it is very small. All thatis needed is a small, marble-sized sample or 10 to 20 grams for testing. Breakor chip off a piece from any area of your sample (BE CERTAIN TO USE EYE, FACE,and HAND PROTECTION IF CUTTING OR CHIPPING A SAMPLE FROM A ROCK). Do not worryabout affecting the value (if real). It is routine to take an"authentication" or" testing slice" from suspectedmeteorites to examine the interior. | |
Please do not send any samples larger than golf ballsize. If you need to send a larger sample, email us for the additional returnpostage costs. | ||
 Gibeon, IVA, iron meteorite,South Africa | Testing charge The testing charge is$30.00 per sample. You can send up to 8 samples in one package. Please email usif you need to send more than eight samples. It is important to includeyour name and email address for us to contact you if we have anyquestions. The sample(s) and resultswill be mailed back within approximately 7 to 10 business days (usually sooner)by First Class, USPS mail with tracking. Actual delivery to your residence isdependent upon the USPS. We will email you if additional testing time isneeded. Send the sample(s), withpayment (check, Money Order) made payable to New England Meteoritical Servicesto: New England Meteoritical Services | |
 Guenie, stone meteorite, H5chondrite, Burkina Faso. Fell 1960. | A small box or padded envelope works well for sendingsamples. Do not send in a regular envelope, it is likely to be damaged in thePostal System and your sample may be lost. Please do not ask to"drop your samples off", we do not have any over-the-counter servicesto accommodate hand-delivery and cannot accept UPS, FedEx, or DHL deliveries.You must send the samples through the USPS. Questions? e-mail us : lab@meteorlab.com | |
 Vaca Muerta, Stoney-iron,mesosiderite. Atacama Desert, Chile | Sending samples from outside of the USA. Please email for thecurrent status of International testing. e-mail: lab@meteorlab.com | |
Note: Testing is usuallynot done on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays. Note:We do not email testing results. We send this information back with yoursample or samples. Note:We reserve the right to refuse to test samples not appropriate fortesting. Note:We do not test samples purchased or sold on eBay. | ||
 Sikhote-Alin, ironmeteorite, IIAB, Russia. Fell 1947 | Member, MeteoriticalSociety | |
This site and all images are Copyright Protected,2015,2016,2017,, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, New England MeteoriticalServices | ||
FAQs
Where can I go to authenticate a meteorite? ›
Perhaps your local natural history museum has days in which the staff identify samples brought in from the public. Perhaps you have a rock shop nearby that sells meteorites. See if they can put you in contact with their supplier, and this person may be an expert in meteorites.
How do you verify a meteorite? ›Density: Meteorites are usually quite heavy for their size, since they contain metallic iron and dense minerals. Magnetic: Since most meteorites contain metallic iron, a magnet will often stick to them. For “stony” meteorites, a magnet might not stick, but if you hang the magnet by a string, it will be attracted.
How do you get a meteorite appraised? ›You may try contacting the Geological Survey of your state, a local college or university or college or a local natural history museum. In addition, there are a few commercial firms that will charge a fee for examining and identifying suspected meteorites.
What would qualify as a confirmed meteorite? ›Explanation: A confirmed meteorite would qualify as A. A meteoroid that has fallen and struck Earth's surface. When a meteoroid survives its journey through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the surface, it is then called a meteorite.
Can I sell a meteorite I found? ›Are you looking to sell your meteorites or tektites? SkyFall will buy your entire collection, a part of your collection or even an individual specimen. If there was a confirmed meteorite fall in your area, town or village, then jump to Section 3.
How do you know how much a meteorite is worth? ›The nature of the meteorite will play a big part in its value. Some unclassified meteorites will sell for around 50 cents per gram. More beautiful stones such as pallasites contain crystals and can look extremely dazzling when they're polished. Those can range all the way up to $40 dollars a gram.
How do scientists test meteorites? ›Meteoriticists often turn to electron microscopes to provide even more detail. Raman spectroscopy is another common technique scientists use to study meteorites.
How can you tell how old a meteorite is? ›Rocks, including meteorites, can be dated by looking at the ratios of certain radioactive isotopes (a method analogous to 'radiocarbon dating'). Most meteorites turn out to be about 4.56 billion years old, because they come from asteroids that date from the creation of the Solar System.
Can I keep a meteorite I found? ›Meteorites may be collected without a permit or collection fee. Casual collection is for personal use only, and therefore, cannot be bartered or sold for commercial purposes. Meteorites may be collected for scientific and educational purposes under a permit issued under the authority of the Antiquities Act.
What is the most valuable type of meteorite? ›The f*ckang Meteorite
It is made of nickel-iron laced with olivine crystals which contributes to its beauty. The f*ckang Meteorite is believed to be 4.5 billion years old, which means that it is either older or the same age as Earth. It was discovered in 2000 and is one of the most expensive meteorites found on Earth.
Does homeowners insurance cover meteorite? ›
Falling objects—including satellites, asteroids, meteors and space debris—are covered under standard homeowners and business insurance policies.
How much is a 12 pound meteorite worth? ›A 12-pound (5.5 kilogram) chunk of the moon that fell to the Earth as a lunar meteorite has been sold at auction for more than $600,000.
How do I authenticate a meteorite? ›Nickel Test: Run a chemical test for nickel. If the proportion of nickel is inside the range for meteorites, you may have a meteorite. Weight Test: Meteorites are much more dense than normal earth rocks. Fusion Crust Test: Fusion crust is a thin, dark rind formed on a meteorite as it streaks through our atmosphere.
Why is it illegal to own a meteorite? ›meteorites found on public lands are subject to the 1906 Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 432) a meteorite does not qualify as a “valuable mineral” as defined under the 1872 Mining Law, and thus it is not subject to mineral claim rights that could otherwise be filed by the discoverer.
What is an unclassified meteorite? ›Unclassified meteorites are meteorites that have not been analyzed by a meteoriticist, approved by the Nomenclature Committee (NomComm), published in the Meteoritical Bulletin (MetBull), or some combination thereof.
How do I get a meteorite classified? ›Some labs are still quite accepting of almost any meteorite if you understand it takes time to get results back. You have to pay for the classification at some places now, so these “cost of work” labs will also accept most any meteorite. Some labs do cost several hundred dollars to do a full classification.
Who analyzes meteorites? ›If it is a meteorite, then a meteorite petrologist is required to classify it and obtain an official name.
Who looks for meteorites? ›A person engaged in the search for meteorites is known as a meteorite hunter. Meteorite hunters may be amateurs who search on the weekends and after work, or professionals who recover meteorites for a living. Both frequently use tools such as metal detectors or magnets to discover the meteorites.