It might seem with all the media coverage that meteorite hunting has been given recently that this is a new occupation. In fact the origins of meteorite hunting go back to the beginnings of human history. Before man knew methods to smelt iron from its ores iron meteorites were used as a source for what was then a metal more valuable than gold.
For centuries meteorites were looked upon when they fell as either a good omen or a bad one. It all depended on the opinion of the ruler at the time and place. Mysticism and wonder surrounded these stones that fell from the sky. Gradually as more meteorites fell and were recovered it became clear that their origin was from beyond the Earth.
Today we have modern tools and methods for hunting these rare stones today. It has become a weekend hobby for many and the full-time occupation for a hand full of dedicated individuals. With some study and some perseverance it is possible to go to old fall areas or the open desert and recover a meteorite yourself. Few other things are as thrilling as being the first human to ever touch a rock that landed here from space. It is an experience that is quite literally out of this world.
Finding meteorites requires a lot of knowledge and a little bit of luck. Meteorites come in all sizes, shapes and types. It is a big topic, so these are just the basics. Meteorites usually have nickel-iron metal in them and will stick to a powerful rare earth magnet or set off a signal with a […]
My name is John Higgins in addition to being an inventor and business owner, I am also an avid hunter of meteorites. To me, meteorite hunting is the ultimate sport. There is no greater feeling of euphoria than finding a meteorite from a fresh fall. And it’s just as rewarding to appreciate being out in […]
Top of the list for meteorite hunting equipment is your eyes. So the first thing to do is to tune up your eyes for what meteorites look like. After you are a little familiar with how rocks from space look you can gather together some other essential equipment and some other helpful stuff too to […]
Paul and Alan drove up at about 5:45 AM and we headed off for Tonopah, Nevada. It was great to see Alan. He moved up to Washington state a number of years ago and we had only seen him a few times over the years since. We had hunted with him many time before he […]
As I write this we are getting ready for another trip to the desert to hunt meteorites. That’s pretty good for us. Paul and I have been lucky the last few years to get out once a year for a day let alone two trips for several days in six months like we have recently. […]
Life has a way of being cyclical. A few years ago I was able to get out of town to the local astronomy hotspot ever new moon weekend. Then I was not able to go at all. For a few years Paul and I were able to go hunting for meteorites regularly, then we were […]
Well, as promised here is the story of Paul and I on a meteorite hunting vacation. Its written as a travel log so, just sit back, settle in with some popcorn and enjoy the adventure day by day. Day One: There were some last minute changes in our accommodations. The chosen RV park lost its […]
It seems the last couple years whenever we head out of town the weather is rainy. But, we knew we were going a long ways and that there was a great chance that we would pass right through any bad weather and emerge to clear skies. We flirted with rain all the way out of […]
“Store Closed Gone Hunting” was sort of the theme we began with on Monday evening. The weather was looking more ominous but we knew from the past,that what happens on our side of the mountains is very different from what happens in the desert. We needed a place to stay the first night so we […]
The second largest meteorite discovered in the United States has found a new home back in the area of its discovery. The meteorite was found in 1976 by three prospectors in the Old Woman Mountains of San Bernardino County. Over the next several years it was on display in many venues of the BLM including […]
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