Ask me any Meteorite Question

[Galactic Stone]

Hi Folks,

There is a lot of misinformation on the web and TV about meteorites. There are also a lot of fake meteorites and imposters being sold in places like eBay. If anyone here is considering an eBay meteorite auction and you are not sure about it, ask me. I am a dealer and collector for many years and I can give some good buying advice - whether or not you buy from me is not an issue. I just want to dispel any bad information out there about meteorites. I am also a long-time member of the Meteoritical Society - the official academic and scientific body that approves new meteorite finds.

So, if anyone has questions about meteorites, fire away.

I will post one eye candy photo of a pallasite meteorite - celestial stained glass.

Best regards,

MikeG (Galactic Stone, www.galactic-stone.com)

 

[skyztheLynnit]

I don't really have any questions.. but thank you for sharing. Quite interesting

 

[Plumes.91]

Is there any way you could make me money by involving your knowledge of meteorites?

 

[Galactic Stone]

One of the best (and worst) things about meteorites is that they are an unregulated industry. Anyone can be a meteorite dealer, but not everyone should - it requires a lot of knowledge and good connections to ensure that any specimens one purchases for resale are indeed what they are supposed to be. I won't buy any meteorites from unknown or new sellers. I only deal with long-established wholesalers and finders who have spotless records of authenticity in the meteorite world.

Selling meteorites started out slow and it took several years of building up a good reputation to gain trust in the meteorite community - which is a small, passionate, and self-policing group - any hint of fraud will result in that dealer being permanently blacklisted by the rest of the meteorite world. The gutters are filled with washed-out meteorite scammers who tried to make a quick buck selling misrepresented specimens.

Some specimens are more valuable than others that may look very similar. So, it's almost impossible to determine if a given meteorite is what the seller claims it to be. For example, the recent meteorite fall event in Chelyabinsk Russia that created a worldwide media sensation. The meteorite itself is a common stony type that looks identical to many other meteorites that are less valuable. The scammers crawled out the woodworks and were selling misrepresented specimens as Chelyabinsk meteorites. In the first two weeks after the fall (Feb 2013), almost 75% of the Chelyabinsk meteorites on eBay were fakes - and people bought a ton of them and wasted their money on worthless river rock and slag.

One has to be careful when purchasing rare or valuable meteorites. On the other hand, some meteorites are very common and can be quite affordable for low-budget collectors - like Campo del Cielo iron meteorites. They have a distinctive look and I can identify one from a mile away if I can see it.

Generally speaking, look for a dealer who is a member of the Meteoritical Society or the IMCA - the first is a scientific/academic body involved in the study and publication of genuine meteorites. The second is a trade group of dealers who police their ranks for unethical practices. Both of those are generally a safe bet. The IMCA vets potential members, and the membership dues for the Meteoritical Society are $100/year and that scares off the scammers. I am not a member of the IMCA by choice - too much high-schoolish drama and cliques - it's all about popularity and politics. But despite their shortcomings, I trust several members as sources. One just has to do the homework to find out who is legit and who is not. I've done that over the years and now I have just a handful of trusted sources for all of my material. I won't risk buying from someone I don't know, especially on eBay which is a minefield of fraud.

Plumes91 - you can make money by flipping meteorites. buy low and sell high. I now make better money than I did working in retail management. But, like I said, many collectors won't risk buying from new sellers, so you have to spend some time getting to know people in the meteorite community and showing them you are legit. Having a known and trusted member of the community recommend or endorse you is a good way to build that trust.

Best regards,

MikeG

PS - one more eye candy photo. This is a 17-pound Campo del Cielo iron meteorite.

 

[AttyPops]

How radioactive are they if you go looking for them? Can you detect them that way? Is it dangerous to recover them?

There's a show I think....may have to watch it sometime.

 

[Galactic Stone]

How radioactive are they if you go looking for them? Can you detect them that way? Is it dangerous to recover them?

Meteorites are not radioactive or harmful. That is one major misconception going around. Meteorites do possess rare elements that are not seen very often on Earth (such as Iridium), but they are not radioactive - or, at least not in any detectable amount. I own a Geiger counter (I also collect radioactive minerals like uraninite) and I have checked everything in the house. Oddly, our smoke detector is more radioactive than my trinitite samples and most of my radioactive minerals. (smoke detectors contain a radioactive isotope of Americium.)

Recovering meteorites can be a dangerous endeavor, but that is mostly due to environmental conditions. Most meteorites that are found are discovered in deserts where the climate helps to preserve them. Deserts are hot, dangerous places, and people have been known to have a heat stroke while hunting for meteorites. Like any outdoor activity that requires many hours of walking, one needs to stay hydrated. Hunting meteorites is basically like hiking, except you are carrying more gear (metal detector, magnets, field microscope, rock pick, etc - some of the same stuff field geologists carry).

For the record, I have never personally found a meteorite in the field - I have health issues and travelling is almost impossible for me. But, I maintain close relationships with professional meteorite hunters, and they supply me with my meteorites.

Best regards,

MikeG

 

[Plumes.91]

So buying meteorites on ebay is generally a bad idea? Or is there a dealer or two on there that has a good reputation? I could get interested in investing in this if I can learn enough about it easily enough. But, like you said, if there is virtually no way to know the real from the fake (unless, perhaps, you can get it sent away to be graded, which would cost $$ and erase profits I'm guessing) then maybe I should leave it to those that are truly enamored by these space rocks.

 

[Galactic Stone]

Hi Plumes91,

We have a saying in the meteorite world - "if you want to make a million dollars selling meteorites, then start out with two million dollars." LOL.

Meteorites can be solid investment - they generally retain their value better than gold, stocks, or bonds. But, the pool of buyers for a commodity like meteorites is much smaller than gold or precious metals, so liquidating one's investment can take longer with meteorites.

I never intended to be a dealer. I just got bitten by the bug and became obsessed with them. Many of us are like that, and we end up being dealers to support our habits! LOL. Kinda sounds like a drug-addiction now that I think about it. Of course, like my wife says, there are worse things than meteorites that a grown man can spend his money on.

There are many reputable dealers on eBay. However, there are also many scammers. It can be difficult for a newbie to tell which is which. I still buy a few meteorites on eBay from time to time, but I am very selective about who I buy from.

If you see a "meteorite" for sale on eBay, and you are unsure about it (or the dealer), ask me. I will be happy to give a straight, unbiased answer, regardless of who the dealer is. I'm not afraid to "say it like it is" and that has rubbed a few people the wrong way in the meteorite world and that is why I am not a member of the IMCA group - too much politics involved and cliques, like high school all over again. If you see an IMCA number or logo on an auction, it's usually safe. But, a lack of that logo or membership is not a strike against that dealer - many veteran dealers like myself refuse to join the IMCA.

Best regards,

MikeG

 

[jb80]

Can you send me free meteorites to add to my small collection?
I could do with more to be honest.

Righto, serious question.
In Florida I know there are a few noted falls but are there any strewn fields that regularly produce meteorites?
I also know hobbyist hunters are at times seen in a poor light by the professional hunters but with that in mind are there any groups who take paying customers onto a strewn field for an afternoon to find their own specimens?
Either in Florida or the US in general. I know I'd pay for that kind of day trip.
I suppose it's a bit too much of a green landscape in Florida to make it an easy job.

While I'm at it I'll pose the same question about fossils seeing as you have some on your site as well.
Any day tours that will take you fossil hunting, maybe cover whatever permits may be needed.

I ask as I'm looking to come to Florida next year for a holiday, possibly.

 

[Galactic Stone]

Can you send me free meteorites to add to my small collection?
I could do with more to be honest.

Send me your mailing address via PM and I will hook you up.

In Florida I know there are a few noted falls but are there any strewn fields that regularly produce meteorites?

Unfortunately, no. This is something I have been independently researching for years now. I do know of a strewnfield that is possibly ripe for the picking, but I am digging through public records that are almost 100 years old and it is difficult to track down solid leads. However, as you can guess, Florida's climate is very toxic to meteorites, so they are difficult to find down here.

I also know hobbyist hunters are at times seen in a poor light by the professional hunters but with that in mind are there any groups who take paying customers onto a strewn field for an afternoon to find their own specimens?

There are more people who replied to this thread than there are professional meteorite hunters in the USA. Only a small handful of people actually make their living from hunting meteorites, and this is only possible because they have the financial means to support themselves during long periods of finding no meteorites. Basically, they are advanced hobbyists - retired people with money, or self-made businessmen who transitioned into meteorites. Nobody has gotten rich finding meteorites, contrary to what is seen on TV. Disregard 95% of everything shown on that meteorite-hunting TV show - it is for TV and bears little resemblance to reality.

The good thing is, the meteorite crowd is a lot like the vaper crowd, in the sense that we are generally very open to newcomers and willing to help them get involved. There are several successful meteorite hunters who will take new people into the field for FREE. In fact, once a year there is an annual Holbrook Hunt in Arizona where people gather (including newbies) for a guided trip to the Holbrook strewnfield - some people find a small meteorite on their first trip! I also know a few good hunters who will guide newbies through the process - just PM me and I will put you in touch. Note, all of them are out West in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. There are a few bad apples (like every group), so I can steer you clear of them.

I suppose it's a bit too much of a green landscape in Florida to make it an easy job.

Exactly. Not only is the climate destructive to meteorites, but the sub-tropical landscape makes it extremely difficult to find meteorites, even if one knows they are there. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.

While I'm at it I'll pose the same question about fossils seeing as you have some on your site as well.
Any day tours that will take you fossil hunting, maybe cover whatever permits may be needed.

Florida has some of the richest fossil deposits in America, Google the "Bone Valley" formation and you'll see what I mean. You don't need a permit for invertebrate fossils, but you are required to have a permit for vertebrate fossils. Human artifacts (Indian) are off-limits. Getting a permit is relatively easy and if you hunt with a permit holder, then you are generally OK. Of course, enforcement of these permits is very lax and most hunters don't have one. I used to have a permit, but let it expire because medical issues prevent me from going out into the field. However, I can steer you in the right direction - anywhere along the Peace River is a good bet. You can literally trip over fossils after heavy rains. My stepson found mammoth teeth and mastodon teeth on his first trip out!

Best regards,

MikeG

 

[RobinBanks]

I don't really have any questions, but I must say my eyes were just opened to an entire culture that I didn't know existed!

 

[Iffy]

I don't really have any questions, but I must say my eyes were just opened to an entire culture that I didn't know existed!

Don't let da FDA find out!

MikeG, luv your thread!!!

 

[Galactic Stone]

Don't let da FDA find out!

Too late, the cat is out the bag. The BLM (Bureau of Land Management, Federal) has noticed meteorites and started to regulate them on federal and joint federal-state lands. This is thanks, in part, to all of the media exposure in the last 2-3 years. Previously, meteorites had "flown under the radar", but now they are being looked at in the same way as other regulated specimens like fossils, indian artifacts, precious metals, etc.

I don't expect any full-blown market regulation or interference any time soon however. Meteorites are still a niche market involving small potatoes money. Even vaporizers are far bigger than meteorites in terms of market share and money. So the government (federal, state, or local) doesn't really care to get involved with anything that doesn't involve big money or public safety.

Vaporizers and meteorites do have one thing in common - both can become a full-blown hobby in and of themselves. There are lots of tools, widgets, and doo-dads involved for advanced adherents.

Anyone feel free to keep firing away with questions. This is fun. And I am vaping while doing it.

Best regards,

MikeG

 

[FantWriter]

I bought some slices of a meteorite many years ago and had them set into earrings for a friend. When I sent them, I included a note saying that I'd once promised her the moon and the stars, but this was the best I could do at the moment.

I've long had the idea for a meteorite project: with the advent of single-board computers, decent little cameras, and cheap ram, why not make some units which analyse sky shots every few seconds. If nothing changes, the unit does nothing. If there's a change (like a meteor streaking past), it records a few seconds to ram. Put these units a few dozen miles apart in a barren area. Every so often, go around and download anything they recorded.

The basic idea is that if several of them capture the same event, it'd be fairly easy to triangulate where a meteorite may have hit.

I tried running the numbers to see if it could be at all worthwhile. The cost of the computer board, camera, ram, and solar cells is fairly straightforward, but the average number of meteorites in a given area per month/year is mostly conjecture, and the value of them is just wild guesses.

 

[Galactic Stone]

I've long had the idea for a meteorite project: with the advent of single-board computers, decent little cameras, and cheap ram, why not make some units which analyse sky shots every few seconds. If nothing changes, the unit does nothing. If there's a change (like a meteor streaking past), it records a few seconds to ram. Put these units a few dozen miles apart in a barren area. Every so often, go around and download anything they recorded.

The basic idea is that if several of them capture the same event, it'd be fairly easy to triangulate where a meteorite may have hit.

I tried running the numbers to see if it could be at all worthwhile. The cost of the computer board, camera, ram, and solar cells is fairly straightforward, but the average number of meteorites in a given area per month/year is mostly conjecture, and the value of them is just wild guesses.

It's a great idea and it's being implemented right now.

The US and Canadian governments have both tried it previously - the "Lost City" meteorite (Oklahoma, 1970) was photographed by automatic all-sky cameras set up into a wide network that allowed rapid triangulation and tracking. The fireball was photographed, the meteoroid was tracked, and the fall area was predicted. The meteorite was then recovered using that data and predicted fall location.

The Canadians did it in 1977 with the "Innisfree" meteorite - same scenario, it was was detected, tracked, and recovered using a combination of automatic cameras and human engineering.

Governments abandoned any idea of widespread recovery of meteorites using these techniques because there is no economic gain and science already has ready access to many meteorites.

But, private entities and some scientific groups have refined these techniques. Amateur astronomers and meteor watchers have ready access to an internet-connected, real-time, network of all-sky cameras spread across the USA and many parts of the world. This has been combined with detailed analysis of doppler radar signatures where the meteoroid's passage disturbed the atmosphere.

This is one of the things that makes meteorites fun and fascinating, because private individuals can contribute to the official science - by helping to track and recover these visitors from space. And in fact, many scientifically-valuable meteorites now being studied by various scientific institutions were donated by private collectors and hunters. Of course, science and private enterprise don't always see eye to eye, so there can be problems, but the positive far outweighs the negative.

If you are interested in getting involved in meteor tracking or meteorite recovery, I can point you in the right directions to learn more.

Best regards,

MikeG

 

[mezzio]

I bought some slices of a meteorite many years ago and had them set into earrings for a friend. When I sent them, I included a note saying that I'd once promised her the moon and the stars, but this was the best I could do at the moment.

That's actually a pretty cool idea, I might have to steal it for myself.


That being said, to the grand master meteorite man OP, is there possibly any health danger to wearing pieces of meteorite in the form of like a plug or tunnel for stretched ears? if one were to look for pieces to carve and polish, is there anything to look for when choosing specimens?

 

[FantWriter]

It's a great idea and it's being implemented right now.
Governments abandoned any idea of widespread recovery of meteorites using these techniques because there is no economic gain and science already has ready access to many meteorites.

Story of my life: coming up with a brilliant idea long after it's been tried and proven useless. ;(

 

[jb80]

Send me your mailing address via PM and I will hook you up.

That's a really kind offer but I couldn't possibly accept it as I was only joking around when I said that. Plus we have just moved to Spain and I wouldn't expect anyone to front the international postage for that. I do have a small collection though, that part was serious.
I appreciate the offer though.

Unfortunately, no. This is something I have been independently researching for years now. I do know of a strewnfield that is possibly ripe for the picking, but I am digging through public records that are almost 100 years old and it is difficult to track down solid leads. However, as you can guess, Florida's climate is very toxic to meteorites, so they are difficult to find down here.

I did read a page not long ago that mentioned 5 historical falls and some large pieces have been found but that's where it ended.
Good luck with the research though, it sounds interesting.

Hmm... Spain is a pretty large and in parts arid country. There is bound to be something here. I might look into that but I dread to think what sort of rules they may have in place.

There are more people who replied to this thread than there are professional meteorite hunters in the USA. Only a small handful of people actually make their living from hunting meteorites, and this is only possible because they have the financial means to support themselves during long periods of finding no meteorites. Basically, they are advanced hobbyists - retired people with money, or self-made businessmen who transitioned into meteorites. Nobody has gotten rich finding meteorites, contrary to what is seen on TV. Disregard 95% of everything shown on that meteorite-hunting TV show - it is for TV and bears little resemblance to reality.

Really, I would of thought there would of been more?
I don't know why but it just seems that way but maybe there are more hobbyists and enthusiasts making their presence known so it seems otherwise.
As much as I like that show when I have seen it I would take much of it with a pinch of salt. Although some of the place they have been I'd love to visit.

The good thing is, the meteorite crowd is a lot like the vaper crowd, in the sense that we are generally very open to newcomers and willing to help them get involved. There are several successful meteorite hunters who will take new people into the field for FREE. In fact, once a year there is an annual Holbrook Hunt in Arizona where people gather (including newbies) for a guided trip to the Holbrook strewnfield - some people find a small meteorite on their first trip! I also know a few good hunters who will guide newbies through the process - just PM me and I will put you in touch. Note, all of them are out West in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. There are a few bad apples (like every group), so I can steer you clear of them.

I only based my comments on a few arguments I have seen on certain forums when I have been browsing them. I know the internet does not normally translate in to reality but there definitely were a few people voicing their concerns on all the extra attention that meteorite hunting has had of late. Presumably because of the TV show.
I would be interested in that Holbrook trip or any other activity for sure but as you say they are mainly based out West and at this point we have only discussed heading to Florida mainly because there is a certain Mouse there they our kids are crazy for.
If we decide to do things a bit differently I will gladly contact you for some further info.

Exactly. Not only is the climate destructive to meteorites, but the sub-tropical landscape makes it extremely difficult to find meteorites, even if one knows they are there. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.

It must be frustrating but I'm sure living in Florida has it's other benefits.

Florida has some of the richest fossil deposits in America, Google the "Bone Valley" formation and you'll see what I mean. You don't need a permit for invertebrate fossils, but you are required to have a permit for vertebrate fossils. Human artifacts (Indian) are off-limits. Getting a permit is relatively easy and if you hunt with a permit holder, then you are generally OK. Of course, enforcement of these permits is very lax and most hunters don't have one. I used to have a permit, but let it expire because medical issues prevent me from going out into the field. However, I can steer you in the right direction - anywhere along the Peace River is a good bet. You can literally trip over fossils after heavy rains. My stepson found mammoth teeth and mastodon teeth on his first trip out!

Best regards,

MikeG

After reading your post last night I was checking out Peace River and that sort of thing looks like the perfect activity to do with the family. My only concern is what the water levels would be in late January and whether that would stop you if it was too high. I'm going to google Bone Valley in a minute and check that out as well.
There was one site I was looking at that mentioned they have a group permit so that would cover you on one of their trips but it looks so straight forward I'm not sure you even need a guide. Then again it's always useful to have someone who knows what they are doing.


Thanks Mike for your detailed and informative response. I find this thread very interesting and am glad you started it.

 

[jb80]

Amateur astronomers and meteor watchers have ready access to an internet-connected, real-time, network of all-sky cameras spread across the USA and many parts of the world. This has been combined with detailed analysis of doppler radar signatures where the meteoroid's passage disturbed the atmosphere.

As a backyard astronomer this is something I'm interested in too.
I'm pretty confident that our next house move will be more of a permanent one or at least permanent enough to build an observatory and one of the things I've already considered is an all-sky camera. To be honest I could get one now but I have other plans in the pipe line for now. Too many unfinished projects as it is.

I do know of a few people setting up their own radio echo's detectors which if memory serves me correctly involves finding some dead space on the AM radio channel, a big antenna and some free software.
Again all very interesting.

 

[Galactic Stone]

That being said, to the grand master meteorite man OP, is there possibly any health danger to wearing pieces of meteorite in the form of like a plug or tunnel for stretched ears? If one were to look for pieces to carve and polish, is there anything to look for when choosing specimens?

I have never heard of a health issue or allergic reaction to meteorites by handling or used as jewelry. Iron meteorites do have a high nickel content, so I suppose someone could have an allergy to nickel, but I imagine that is quite rare.

Meteorite as jewelry sounds and looks great, don't get me wrong here, but it is a very high maintenance piece of jewelry. The irons (especially) have a tendency to rust when in prolonged close contact with the skin. Exposure to moisture is a problem also. I would avoid most iron meteorite jewelry unless it is made by someone who specializes in meteorite - it is a very problematic material to work with. This is true for stones and iron types, but the stones do tend to fare better overall in terms of long-term stability. Most irons will rust away over time, regardless of how you treat them - they live on borrowed time when used as jewelry. This is true for the many of the meteorite jewelry pieces seen on eBay.

Which reminds me - be very, very, *very* careful purchasing meteorite jewelry on eBay. You have two issues to watch out for - authenticity (is it a real meteorite or a cheap imposter?), and was it prepared properly for use as jewelry. A little homework, like what you are doing here will help steer you clear of most hazards on the market.

If you are undeterred after learning this, then let me know and I can give more details on what to look for when selecting meteorite to make jewelry with.

Best regards,

MikeG