Why You Should – and Shouldn’t – Become a Meteorite Hunter

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Written By Barry Lenson

Did you watch the show Meteorite Men on the Science Channel? It was on the air from 2010-2012 and it was fun and educational. It followed the adventures of Steve Arnold and Geoffrey Notkin, two adventurers, as they went hunting for meteorites in Canada, Chile, Poland, Sweden, as well as in Utah and other U.S. States.

And did Steve and Geoffrey find meteorites? Boy, did they ever. They found lots of small ones you could put in your pockets. But also, in October 2009, Steve found the largest oriented pallasite (one form of metallc meteorite) ever discovered. It has been displayed in many locations across the United States, including at the Houston Space Center.

During the years when the show was on the air, and for a few years afterward, it spiked a lot of interest in meteorite-hunting.  Now that the show is no longer on the air, interest in meteorite-hunting seems to have fallen somewhat. But does that mean that there is no longer a good reason to take your metal detector and scour the landscape looking for meteorites that have fallen to the ground? Not necessarily. But before you buy or dust off a good metal detector and start looking however, here are some realities you should know about hunting for these mysterious objects that have fallen from the sky.

First Consideration – Meteorites are often buried several feet, or more, below the surface of the ground. This happens for two reasons. First, they are heavy and small. Like cannonballs, they penetrate the ground with a lot of force. Second, they are moving at high rates of speed when they hit the ground. So unless you have a high-end metal detector that is capable of finding metal objects that are well below the surface, you are probably not going to find anything. And if you do find the location of a meteorite, digging it up will be a difficult process that could require heavy equipment.  (If you have ever tried to dig up a heavy object, you know how surprisingly challenging it can be.)

Second Consideration – Meteorites are made of iron, also called “ferrous metal.” So if you are expecting to find one that contains gold, silver, platinum or Kryptonite (only kidding), you are probably going to be disappointed.

Third Consideration – Meteorites, unless they are immense and therefore rare, are not worth all that much money. Smaller ones about the size of baseballs or golf balls can sell to collectors for as little as $20.00. So yes, it is fun to hunt for them,  but you are probably not going to strike it rich. The possible exceptions are extremely big meteorites like that pallasite that Steve found. If you happen to find one of those, you stand a pretty good chance of selling or donating it to a museum. But again, don’t count on getting wealthy.

Fourth Consideration – Meteorites generate other forms of collectibles. If an ultra-hot meteorite lands in sandy soil, it can produce beautiful glassy gems that can be sold as collectibles for a few dollars. Even though they did not fall from outer space, they are meteorite-related collectibles.  And note that when meteorites crash into cars or buildings, they can start fires and do a lot of damage. No collectibles come from those events.

Fifth Consideration – Meteorite metal can be used to make a variety of jewelry. You can sell meteorites to craftspeople or jewelry companies who will use the iron to manufacture cufflinks, wedding rings, and other small items of jewelry. And a variety of watchmakers – from Rolex to Cartier, as well as less luxurious brands – are currently selling wristwatches with faces that are made of meteorites. So surprisingly, you could find a way to sell your meteorites to jewelers, even though meteorites are not precious metals.

If You Don’t Know What a Piece of Scrap Is . . . Call Us!

If you have any kind of metal scrap, call our precious metal refiners at 800-426-2344. No matter what kind of scrap you have, we can test it for you and tell you what it is made of. If it is made of iron or other base metal we cannot recycle it for you. But we can offer you expert guidance on how to get the most value from any precious metal scrap you have. Don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Barry Lenson
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