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Meteorites: where to buy

A meteorite is a piece of rock or metal from space that survived its fall to the ground, and owning one is a lot easier than finding one. Every recognized meteorite has an official name, usually the place where it was found, such as Campo del Cielo or Gold Basin, or a code such as NWA plus a number for finds from Northwest Africa. Its classification is approved by the Meteoritical Society and listed in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database, so a specimen sold under its official name can be checked there.

The market has fakes, and plenty of "meteorwrongs": ordinary rocks mistaken for meteorites, such as slag, hematite and magnetite. A magnet alone proves little, because most meteorites attract one but slag often does too; if you test a stone, hold the magnet on a string close to it rather than touching it. Buy from dealers who give the official name and classification, show a real address and offer returns, and be careful with online auctions.

If you would rather hunt your own, the Eureka fossil map shows meteorite areas on BLM land where finds have been recorded. Meteorites you find on BLM land are for your own collection only: up to 10 pounds a year, and you may not sell or trade them.

5 shops across the US that sell meteorites. Each one links to its own website, so you can compare them one by one.

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