Michigan meteor: How valuable are meteorites? (2024)

FAQs

Michigan meteor: How valuable are meteorites? ›

Common iron meteorite prices are generally in the range of US$0.50 to US$5.00 per gram. Stone meteorites are much scarcer and priced in the US$2.00 to US$20.00 per gram range for the more common material. It is not unusual for the truly scarce material to exceed US$1,000 per gram.

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. Rarer stones can fetch up to $1000 per gram if they're in good condition.

And if you buy a meteorite from someone who found it on their land, you legally own it too. Things get more complicated if you find the meteorite on public lands. You might be allowed to keep it if the land is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, but there are several stipulations.

Value is determined by many different factors including rarity of type, size, condition, aesthetic appeal, and so on. Meteorites have significant financial value to collectors and scientific value to researchers. Meteorite values can range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Stone meteorites are worth between $2.00 and $20 per gram but could exceed $1,000 per gram. That means a one pound iron meteorite could be worth more than $2,000 while a one pound stone meteorite could get you $9,000. So how do you know if it's a meteorite?

Meteorite NWA 12691 was found in the Sahara Desert and weighs just under 30 pounds, It is valued at more than $2.5 million. A piece of the moon that's bigger than the rocks Apollo astronauts brought back to Earth is up for sale at the famed Christie's auction house.

Meteorites found on public lands may be casually collected by recreationists and hobbyists. The limit on the amount that may be casually collected is meteorite specimens up to ten pounds that can be easily hand-carried and transported, per person per year. Collection is from the surface only.

We purchase individual meteorite specimens, entire collections, and also offer appraisal services. If you think you have found a meteorite, please start by reading our Guide to Meteorite Identification HERE. We also offer consignment services for important specimens, for a modest fee.

They possess an air of mystery and uniqueness, as they are of cosmic origin. This makes them more valuable per gramme, even more than gold. The majority of meteorites have particles smaller than dust, which may surprise you. They typically do not strike the earth and burn on the surface.

Try not to handle any freshly fallen meteorites with your bare hands! Oils and microbes from your skin will slowly degrade the surface of a meteorite, dulling the fusion crust, contaminating the meteorite, and promoting rust.

Who can verify my 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.

They are not poisonous and thus there is no danger in touching or even ingesting a piece of meteorite (the latter not, however, being recommended).

Although there are 64,000 meteorites in the world's collections, about two-thirds will never be available to the general public. And the resource is barely growing: each year, hunters recover only about eight to 10 fresh falls and a few hundred weathered non-Antarctic 'finds' (most of which weigh less than 200 grams).

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.

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.

You don't have to worry about choosing the best way to sell meteorites online when you can sell them everywhere. Run an Ecwid store on your own website, on popular social media platforms, or through marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.

The Meteorite Exchange, Inc, forwards leads about meteorite collections for sale to our good friend and meteorite expert Ruben Garcia (Mr. Meteorite). Please fill out the form below with as much helpful information about your meteorite collection as possible.

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.