Meteorite verification

[Oddjob]

Recently found a 59.3 kilogram meteorite. Sent in to Wyoming university were they verified. Provided the lab paperwork on it and verified its a meteorite. They did say that for them it is enough to send it out for further testing at places more versed in this. Is there places specializing in this. This one is just one that was tested and I had lots of small ones from the same area only 300 grams up to 7100 grams. Do all those need to be tested as well? I'm just wanting to put them on the market but won't until further testing is done. I had assumed any geological department was as good as the next. When I Google stuff related I keep hitting a dead end.

 

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[Oddjob]

Perhaps this is odd to ask. But I have never had dealing with such before. I treat it like finding that amazing 3 ounce gold necklace and its stamped Italian gold. You can get it will be tested tons. Lol

 

[Red-Coat]

Hi Oddjob.

Yes, with all due respect to whoever conducted the tests, from a verification point of view there’s a quite a big difference between the Geology Department of most universities saying you have a meteorite and the opinion of a specialised laboratory with experience in meteoritics.

My recommendation in the US would be “New England Meteoritical Services”:
http://www.meteorlab.com/

They offer a rapid service for confirmation of meteorites for $30, which is a subsidised price as part of an educational outreach programme. They need only a small piece chipped or cut from the main mass (10-20g) and the price covers testing of two samples from the same specimen or group of specimens. Anything you send will be returned to you and their testing is non-destructive but may leave small marks on the surface of the samples. Return postage is also covered in the price but, if you send larger specimens, you need to contact them first and agree return postage cost based on weight.

There are more details at these links:
http://meteoritetesting.org/
http://www.meteoritetesting.org/Submitting a sample.htm

Note also their advice in the FAQ section:

#6. "I found a meteorite, how do I sell it?"
The first thing that you need to do is to have it examined and verified as a meteorite by a testing lab that verifies and or classifies meteorites. If verified, you can then sell it as an unclassified meteorite if you like. Additionally, you can move towards formal classification and registration with the Meteoritical Society, and then sell it as a classified and registered meteorite. Classification is not part of the initial verification.

#20. "I see many references to the Meteoritical Society. What do they do?"
The Meteoritical Society is an international organization composed of over 1,000 scientists and contributors representing 52 countries. The Society writes and publishes meteoritical guidelines and classification criteria needed for acceptance into their registry database.
They also maintain the records of all known meteorites in the Meteoritical Bulletin and publish "Meteoritics and Planetary Science", a leading peer-reviewed journal of planetary science.

The Meteoritical Society website is at:
https://meteoritical.org/

The option to “Report a new meteorite” is on their contacts page:
https://meteoritical.org/contact
Contact the editor of the Bulletin, [email protected]

That would be the route to maximise the value of a find but generally you need to be a member to take it further and get a formal name approved and registered in the database together with details of typology and mineralogy from a reputable source published in the MetSoc Bulletin. Standard membership is $80 ($40 if you’re retired).

It’s not a straightforward process for someone who is inexperienced and probably better to find someone who is already a member who is prepared to act as a sponsor for the submission. NEMS may be able to help you there, but it’s not part of their initial verification service.

See also section 7.1 of MetSoc’s guidelines in the pdf linked below:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/docs/nc-guidelines.pdf

With respect to additional material found in the same vicinity as the main mass, no it’s not always necessary for each individual specimen to have the same degree of verification and testing. It depends to a large extent on whether the other specimens can be incontrovertibly linked to the main mass.

One other point. It would be unusual for a fall of >60kg to pass unnoticed or unlinked to an incoming bolide, although possible if the find was in a particularly remote area… unless the fall was not in modern times. Were there any indications from weathering of the finds which suggest how old they might be?


Hope that helps. Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[galenrog]

Most universities, unless they have departments that specialize in identifying meteorites, are generally not well informed or experienced. Present the item to a qualified lab, such as the one Red-Coat suggested.

I have identified a few over the years, only because I had the equipment to properly slice, polish, and etch for someone else. Well over 99% of all suspected meteorites I cut for other parties turned out to be common terrestrial rocks.

I wish you well on this.

Time for more coffee.

 

[dougachim]

It took me over 2 years to get one approved. If it is not on the International meteorite association list it won't sell to any serious collectors. It needs to be cut. I can help with UNM or the University of Arizona, I know the guys. Just getting it zapped for the mineral content won't sell it.

 

[Oddjob]

Yes thank you all.

 

[Oddjob]

I was hunting in an area that has been under going a lot of boulder granite removal for a concrete firm. Some parts are about 70 feet deep. The rancher sold off the granite. I have a flat fee permission to hunt his ranch. Doing lots of nugget shooting in areas were I can. It was a winter purchase. His ranch now is about 60 percent thawed. I have access to the entire ranch and notice that area on the plain and only had a look around because there was no snow. Since the purchase of the rights we have only logged about 600 hours nugget shooting but it has put us in the black at least. That area that was dug out I would have never looked for gold there. We just thought we would have a look for other stuff. The rancher has a chunk much larger he found about 19 miles away on another part of his ranch years ago cutting in a new road. He too sent his in with mine. After that he sent his up north to some place in Illinois. I'm not sure of the name. I'm waiting for an email back from another place to see if I will send it there. I have already had offers. So seem rather high for something that has not been verified further. His ranch security has been having trouble with poachers since we had uw look at it. Mostly folks from the us but a few from overseas and 3 Canadians. I'm headed out in an hour with my wife and kids to go do some nugget shooting. We have a large area about 400 acres we have been wanting to hunt that is now clear.

No I don't think its a recent fall. Also from what I have read I don't think its main body either. But the crust is all together even on the little stuff that could be strewn. The 4 slices uw removed though but it was together.

Take care