What are meteorites and how much they cost?

Finding and selling meteorites is a real business

In Soviet times, many children collected stamps, and in the beginning 2000-x years collecting inserts from chewing gum. Those days are gone, therefore passion people have become more serious — it's hard to check, but at the moment there are more than 40 thousand collectors of meteorites. High interest in meteorites associated with their extraterrestrial origins, after all, who wouldn't want to have a beautiful stone which came from space? The price of meteorites can reach several million dollars, so some people take their search for subsequent sale. And want to buy them a lot: collectors, scientists, heads of museums and manufacturers of jewelry. And now, the most interesting — to find a meteorite at any point of the world, even in the yard. But where and how they are the easiest to find, identify and sell? In fact, the path of the seekers of meteorites is full of dangers.

Where to find meteorites?

According to scientists, each year on the surface of our planet falls about 2 thousand tons of meteorites. Most of them drowning in the oceans and lost in the mountains, so that the seekers of space objects has had to undertake research in open and accessible areas. Usually the facts of meteorite strikes quickly recorded by academic staff of the Institute of moon and planets (Texas) have even created a registry of all the fallen on our planet meteorites. Hunters of space rocks are always aware of the approximate locations of the falls and quickly leave to search.

Information about all fallen to the Ground meteorites stored

Experienced finders of meteorites prefer to conduct searches on rocky areas of deserts or other areas with light surface — on this earth has black stones visible best. Often hunters meteorites travel to Egypt, Morocco, Iran, and other warm countries. Space objects can be found throughout Nigeria, but the seekers do not risk to go there — there is a very high crime rate. In theory, meteorites are easy to find on snow-covered Antarctica, but normal collectors can't get there.

In the sand regions of the desert, the woods and fields to look for meteorites is useless. The fact that the wind and sand may for thousands of years to grind the surface of a space object, it can simply disappear. Of course, this rule does not apply to newly fallen meteorites in a short time they will not go away. Although, if we are talking about marshland, even recently fallen stone can for a few minutes to go under the ground. Try to find.

the biggest meteorite called hoba. This iron meteorite weighing 66 tons lies in Africa — he fell on our planet around 80 million years ago

In his work, seekers of meteorites are actively using a variety of equipment. The easiest tool is a stick with a magnet on the end. As a constituent of most meteorites must include iron, it attracts 97% of valuable stones. Before sending in search of meteorites, the searchers carefully select comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes and take with them food and water — the search may well take several days. To recognize a meteorite can in the presence of a black crust, traces of melting, metallic particles and unusual pattern on the cut. Experienced collectors claim that can the eye to determine the location of the Museum of the meteorite, and even identify it by name.

the Price of a meteorite

The cost of the meteorite depends on its size, appearance, age, and species. Large stones are valued more, because they can split apart and produce jewelry. Some stones have an unusual shape, and inside there are other inclusions with crystals and beautiful minerals such objects are valued more than those that look like ordinary stones. The price of meteorite is also affected by his age, so "fresh" stone, the more expensive it is objects age in a few thousand years.

Meteorites fall to Earth all the time — recently, a "fresh" meteorite was discovered in the Indian city Sancor

But the decisive role in the formation of prices plays a meteorite of its kind. Meteorites are divided into three classes, which differ from each other in composition.

Types of meteorites:

the

the
• stone account for 90% of all the fallen on our planet from celestial objects. They are inexpensive, but there is inside of them is the metallic minerals, the price can be significantly increased;
the
• iron — amount to 6-7% of all have fallen to the Ground objects. They are rare, beautiful and cause the collectors of great interest;
the
• zhelezorudnye share is about 1.5%. Because of their rarity they are also in great demand among collectors and is highly sought after.

Meteorites are sold by weight. The cost of a gram stone meteorite may be even 10 rubles. And here iron particlesmeteorites can cost several thousand dollars. Sometimes our planets are formed after the collapse of other meteorites the surfaces of other planets fly through space and sometimes reach us. Gram of Martian soil may be 1 000 dollars and more.

the Most expensive meteorite

One of the most expensive meteorites in the world is Fukan, which was found in China in 2000. Its high cost is due to external beauty — it is literally strewn with the particles of the mineral olivine. At the time of detection, the space stone weighed 419,57 kilograms and it was valued at $ 2 million. Wanting to buy the meteorite as a whole was not, so it sawed and began to sell parts. Most parts of the meteorite was made of jewelry, and one piece weighing 31 kilograms is kept in the Museum of natural history (USA).

the Fragment of Fukan's meteorite — the most expensive and beautiful meteorite in the world

In Russia, many people have made good money on . He fell on 15 February 2013, and its blast blew out Windows of many houses. From the wounds, with broken Windows, injured 1 612 person — some of them also complained of hearing problems. The largest piece of the Chelyabinsk meteorite fell into the lake Chebarkul and while he flew 60 kilometers, its fragments scattered in a radius of 30 kilometers. Finder meteorites Alexey Vinogradov 10 days after the occurrence, was able to find about 3 kilograms of meteorite fragments after selling them he was able to buy a SUV and snowmobile. It turns out that the search of meteorites can fetch big money.

photo — Alexey Vinogradov

Where to buy a meteorite?

Meteorites are sold in pure form and in the form of various ornaments. In the USA, rare meteorites are actively put up for auction at Christie's in 2018 there was exposed to 30-pound fragment of a meteorite that fell to our planet for about 50 thousand years ago. Yes, this is not "fresh" stone, but in its form it resembles a sculpture by British artist Henry Moore — the high cost was due to this unusual stone. The stone was sold for a record 237,5 thousand dollars.

the photo is one of the sculptures created by Henry Moore

In Russia by meteorite in special stores where they are sold both in pure form and in the form of jewelry. The price of the cosmic stones are very different and can be like 500 rubles, and a few thousand dollars — it all depends on the species, age and size. Also a bunch of ads about the sale of meteorites can be found on sites like Amazon and special groups in social networks, but there is a risk of running into fake.

to Buy meteorite on Amazon right now

Another interesting fact: A total number, was sold to meteorite worth more than 5.5 million rubles. Most transactions were concluded in 2013, after the fall of the meteorite in Chelyabinsk.

a Real meteorite or not?

Some sellers of meteorites put up for sale ordinary stones, and sometimes even themselves do not know it. The authenticity of the meteorite can be tested only in the laboratory, but this procedure is worth many money. Sometimes the sellers are so confident in the authenticity that I ask buyers to pay by check — say, if a meteorite will be an ordinary rock, they will give them money. Sometimes it works, meteorites really be present and receive a confirmation certificate.

Inside the meteorites are sometimes found

Free to verify the authenticity of the meteorite, you can send it by post to . In the letter you must write, where was the object found, was seen the moment of impact, and what properties it possesses. The researchers will inform about the result and, in the case of confirmation of the authenticity of the meteorite, will offer to issue him a certificate. In return they ask not less than 20% of the total sample was found. Like, everything is quite true.

Smuggling of meteorites

If you buy the meteorite in another country or will find and keep you can pick up problems. The fact that in some States, discovered meteorites are considered a national treasure and stored in museums. If you find a meteorite in Australia and not to tell the authorities, you can end up behind bars for as much as 5 years. India does not have such strict rules, but if someone at home is found the meteorite, the state just take it yourself and not pay. In Denmark or Switzerland meteorites are also taken, but at least to compensate their cost is not so offensive.

Some seekers of meteorites tell how they came to the place of falling of a meteorite and went on the territory of the local residents. In retaliation, they pricked them with the tires

In the UK and Canada, the storage and sale of meteorites is allowed, but take them out of the country impossible. In USA selling space objects developed more, so when buyingmeteorite auction, the person gets permission for its export to other countries. Try to carry the meteorite through customs without any approving document is not necessary — even a small pebble can cause big problems.

Russia has special restrictions on the possession and sale of meteorites there. But you should always remember that the found space objects are considered cultural property and for export to another country you still need permission. In some cases, the design of such a document help the sellers themselves — of course, if it professionals.

It Seems that in our world you can make money almost any way. I recently told you how some people are looking for dinosaur bones and . Also an interesting topic, so I recommend reading!