Anyone Can Find Meteorites
Anyone can find meteorites, if you look for them, and know
what to look for. Some people have a "nose" for them, and it just
might be you. However, there are some tools and hints to help those
who are just ordinary people with a hunger for meteorites.
Since meteorites are scarce, you will find a ready market
for them if you find one. If you do, you'll be hooked.
- The first thing to look for is a "fusion crust." This is a
dark surface sometimes with flow lines. It is caused by heat
of the friction when the meteorite enters Earth's atmosphere.
- ALL meteorites contain metal. The nickel-iron ones are
mostly metal, and the stony ones have a high metal content, although
it may be ground up too fine and mixed in the silicate material to
be seen. As such, Magnets will be attracted to meteorites.
The stronger the magnet, the more it will attract even a stony
meteorite. The "magnet on a string" is a simple tool to test
for meteorites.
- Since meteorites contain metal, look for smooth, rusty rocks.
- Meteorites are a little (and sometimes a lot)
heavier than a typical Earth rock.
Tools to Assist Your Meteorite Quest
- A metal detector is invaluable for the serious meteorite hunter.
- Magnet-on-a-string. Use it as a pendulum and
hold it next to a specimen to detect deflection, which may be a clue.
- Variations on this include a magnet on the end of a
walking stick or cane. The stronger the magnet the better. This
will save your back from bending over each suspected meteorite to test it.
- The great H.H. Nininger, the father of meteorite
hunters, fashioned a magnetic rake which he would tow behind his vehicle.
- Rocks from Space,
by O. Richard Norton. Dick Norton has written the "bible"
for meteorite hunters. A must-read. It has maps,
diagrams, stories, and everything a meteorite hunter must
know to intelligently hunt for treasure from space.
Where To Go to Find Meteorites
- "Strewn Fields" This is the footprint of an impact.
Several worldwide strewn fields are shown in the
Norton book, some in the U.S. These
have been searched by others, but there is undoubtedly material
that has not yet been found.
- Deserts--The desert is devoid of ground-covering
plant life, and infrequent rain. It is a good region for hunters,
as meteorites will not weather and erode as fast, and are right on
the surface. Sand dunes are especially good.
- Craters Again, known craters are shown in
Norton's book. Be careful here-Meteor
Crater in Arizona, once the source of thousands of specimens,
is now closed to meteorite hunters. You can be arrested and fined.
You should always check if the area is on private property, and
get permission before entering. This is especially true overseas.
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