Q&A for How to Find a Meteorite

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How do I find an expert?

Community Answer

You can start by looking online for an expert near you. You could also reach out to a nearby college or university to find information on the nearest experts in the field.

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Do meteorites get buried after falling?

Community Answer

Sometimes the meteorite can get covered up by shifting dirt or sand. This often depends on how long ago the meteorite fell.

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Question

if I find a meteorite, can I sell it?

Community Answer

You can, but you should have it appraised and certified by an expert before attempting to sell it to make sure you are selling a genuine meteorite.

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Question

Do meteorites only land in dry places?

Community Answer

No, it is just more common to find them there as they corrode slower. In moist areas, they are more likely to deteriorate. They fall all over the world.

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Question

A stone fell out of the sky last year. Was it a meteorite?

Community Answer

Yes. If the rock came from space and hit the earth's surface, it was a meteorite.

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Question

Where do meteorites fall often?

Community Answer

Meteorites often fall in dry places, such as a desert. More meteorites have been found in the Sahara desert than in any other place in the world.

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If I saw it come down, how do I pinpoint where it is?

Community Answer

Search the general area of where you saw it come down. If you can't find it with the naked eye, use a metal detector or a meteorite stick.

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Question

Where can I buy a meteorite?

Community Answer

Unless you have a permit, you can't. It's possible to find a private party willing to sell, but it can be expensive.

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Question

How do I know it's a meteorite if I DON'T take it to an expert?

Sayaka

Community Answer

You can't know for sure. Doing a full battery of tests is required. Look at different types of meteorites, and ask for advice. Be sure to wear gloves when touching it: oils from your skin can damage it.

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Question

After about 60 years, will a meteorite still be in existence in humid Louisiana?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Meteorites are rocks. Humidity is not going to destroy a meterorite in 60 years. Rocks at the bottom of waterfalls are not destroyed in 60 years.

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Can I send a sample of a meteorite and you'll tell me its type?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Not to wikiHow. Instead, send the sample to a meteoriticist. You could find such a person through the astronomy department of a university. In addition, a geologist might be able to help you.

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Question

Can I find meteorites near river beds?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes. Meteorites are distributed randomly but uniformly over the whole planet. The above article suggests that arid locations are the best places to look, but humidity is not likely to disintegrate a meteorite in your lifetime.

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Question

I have found a meteorite and I want to have it classified. Are there certain kinds of people that do that type of job because I want to sell it?

Donagan

Top Answerer

A meteoriticist is a scientist who studies meteorites. Such a person could be found through the astronomy department of a college or university.

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Question

Where are the best places to find meteorites?

Community Answer

Dry, arid regions are the best places to find meteorites because they deteriorate a lot slower in these areas.

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Question

Where in the USA can I find meteorites?

Community Answer

Anywhere, but your best bet for locating them are in deserts and dried lake beds.

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Question

Will meteorites always contain iridium?

Shan Kenneth Bayon-on

Community Answer

No ,there are different types of meteorites like metallic, non-metalic or semi-non metallic meteorites. What the meteorite contains depends on what substance/element/compound it was composed of and where it came from.

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Question

Would it hurt if a meteorite hit me?

Community Answer

It is quite likely, considering that even though their speed is significantly reduced when entering Earth's atmosphere, they are still traveling at around 300 mph when they hit the ground. Even a small meteorite could cause significant damage.

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