Free Meteorite Testing

If you have a rock found in the U.S.A. that may be a meteorite, we can test and if is a meteorite help get the material classified and published in the Meteoritical Bulletin.

Meteorites belong to the private landowner where they are found, we purchase meteorites from landowners. We do not purchase material collected illegally.

Pictures are usually not enough to tell if a rock is a meteorite.

To do the initial testing we need to see the rock or obtain a small specimen. For full classification a 20 gram piece (about the size of a quarter) must be donated to the university for future study, we do not keep this specimen. If the rock is small, less than 100 grams, 20% of the stone is required.

Most people that have a “meteorite maybe” do not have meteorites. Meteorites are rare. The chance of driving into the country and picking up several meteorites is astronomically low, you are more likely to win a multimillion dollar lottery. We examine about 100 specimens per year and we only come across a new meteorite every few years.

Without classification the value of a meteorite can suffer greatly. Full classification can cost $200-$400 USD, if you are selling the meteorite to us we pay for full analysis and you get full credit as the finder.

For example:

Sawyer 37°31.435’N, 98°37.796’W
Kansas, USA
Found: 2006 Sept 28
Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H4)

History: Found on the ground by Mr. Michael McFall on September 28, 2006, while he was sowing wheat on his farm, about 3 miles east and 1.5 miles north of Sawyer, Kansas.
Physical characteristics: A single, dense, rust-colored mass of 8.1 kg.
Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) The specimen contains fairly well-formed chondrules. Primary minerals are olivine, orthopyroxene, sodic plagioclase, chromite, troilite and rare fresh kamacite. Most metal has been altered to iron hydroxides and minor terrestrial barite is present.

Geochemistry: Olivine, Fa19.1-19.3; orthopyroxene, Fs16.1-17.2Wo1.1-1.7; clinopyroxene, Fs5.8.Wo43.6.
Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H4, S2, W3)

Mr. Mike McFall with a new Kansas meteorite:

Some meteorites we have had classified and published, follow link to the Meteoritical Bulletin entry:

Larned, Kansas: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=50998

Sawyer, Kansas: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=53806

Valentine, Nebraska: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=24148

NWA5959: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=50845

NWA5981: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=50867

NWA6158: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/index.php?code=51748

Kansas Meteorite Museum and Nature Center
21255 K Street
Haviland, Kansas 67059
Tel: 620-723-2318
Email: meteoritemuseum@gmaxx.us