Beaches and coastlines are not very favourable for finding meteorites. Any rocks found here are likely to have spent many years in the sea before being washed-up on the beach. The salt water would erode away the meteorite long before the tides could bring it to the land. Wet and boggy areas should also be avoided.Aug 4, 2004
Where is the best place to find a meteorite?
The best hunting grounds are large, barren expanses where a dark rock — meteorites tend to be blackish — is easy to spot. Deserts, such as Southern California's Mojave Desert, and icy regions, such as Antarctica, are ideal.
How do you know if you found a meteorite?
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. Unusual shape: iron-nickel meteorites are rarely rounded.
How rare is it to find a meteorite?
The chance of finding a meteorite is exceedingly small. Since 1900, about 1800 meteorites have been found in North America. That is about 15 per year. About two thirds of meteorites found in the United States have been found in arid regions of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas.
Where are many meteorites found?
The top meteorite hunting places include Antarctica, the desert in the northwest region of the African continent, and the American Southwest. Antarctica is particularly cool (pun intended) because it is a desert of snow and ice, and a dark, weird looking rock from space would be easy to spot.
Are meteorites hard to find?
In most parts of the world, meteorites are extraordinarily difficult to find because meteorites that fall there can be… Meteorite map: A map of meteorite recovery locations in the Transantarctic Mountains.
What to do if I found a meteorite?
I urge you to saw your rock in two or cut off an “end.” Use a tile saw or bring it to a local rock shop where they are likely to have a lapidary saw. Most (89%) stony meteorites are ordinary chondrites. Metal grains are easily visible on the sawn face of an ordinary chondrite. If you contact me, use email.
What does a meteorite look like when it hits the ground?
What Do Meteorites Look Like? Meteorites may resemble Earth rocks, but they usually have a burned exterior that can appear shiny. This “fusion crust” forms as the meteorite's outer surface melts while passing through the atmosphere.
Where can I authenticate a meteorite?
To see if you have a meteorite, please first use these websites to compare actual meteorites to what you've found: https://www.meteorites-for-sale.com/meteorite-identification.html. http://www.meteoritemarket.com/metid1.htm. https://geology.com/meteorites/meteorite-identification.shtml.
How much is my meteorite worth?
Meteorites are quite valuable, worth as much as $1,000 per gram, according to the LiveScience website. Kellyco Metal Detectors posted on eBay that it can sell for $300 per gram or more — meaning 1 pound could be worth $1 million.