500 grams of stone meteorites from the Sahara Desert

Description: A full half-kilo (approximately 1.1 pounds) of meteorite fragments
Weight: 500 grams
Class: Unclassified stone meteorites (chondrites)
Approximate dimensions: Various
Date and location of find: Sahara Desert. Probably 2006.
Notes: Stone meteorite fragments of varying types and sizes

These unclassified stone meteorites were recovered in the Sahara Desert. They have been on Earth for some time, and show the effects of weathering, but their extra-terrestrial iron/nickel content means they will still stick to a powerful magnet — one of the first tests we run on all suspected meteorites. Although they have not been classified, every one is an authentic stone meteorite. Own your own personal strewnfield at a bargain price!

The scale cube pictured is 1/2 inch to a side. Note the attraction of a magnet in photo below, showing the high iron content. The photos below are representative example lots of the meteorites that you will receive. The meteorites in this collection will be almost identical to those pictured.  All specimens we sell come with an official Aerolite Meteorites specimen identification card and are guaranteed to be authentic rocks from space.

HOW DO WE KNOW THEY ARE REALLY METEORITES?
Although we decided not to go to the time and expense to classify these exact pieces, we know them to be part of a larger find. Some specimens from that find have already been sectioned and studied. Cutting and polishing these stone meteorites reveals chondrules and extraterrestrial nickel-iron. Both of these components are unique to meteorites and are not found in earth rocks. As similar specimens have been studied, these specimens probably don't have anything new to teach the scientific community. Unclassified meteorites are relatively inexpensive, and a great way to acquire your own piece of outer space real estate!

All meteorites we sell are 100% guaranteed as described, and come with an official Aerolite Meteorites specimen identification card.

NWA is an abbreviation for Northwest Africa, and refers to stone meteorites found by nomads in the hot deserts of Morocco and Libya. These stones are as-found, in the sense that they have not been submitted to a lab for analysis, but we know from observation that they belong to a class of stone meteorite known as a chondrite. Chondrites take their name from chondrules, which are small grain-like spheres found within the matrix. Chondrules are believed to have formed in the solar nebula. Most chondrites also contain abundant metal flakes, made up of extra-terrestrial iron and nickel. Chondrites are the most abundant type of meteorite, and also the oldest known type of rock — older even than our own planet!

Please note: The meteorites shown are representative examples of the lot you will receive. Your winning lot will consist of at least 500 grams of genuine stone meteorites, and will be very similar but not identical to the ones pictured.

MEET THE SELLER: My name is Geoffrey Notkin. I am a meteorite hunter, science writer and photographer. I have been actively involved in meteorite hunting for nearly fifteen years and have traveled around the world in search of these elusive space rocks. I have guest starred in two television documentaries about meteorite hunting: The Travel Channel's The Best Places to Find Cash & Treasures with Becky Worly, and with Adam Rogers on PBS in Wired Science. I am also a widely published science author and photographer, specializing in meteorite studies and invertebrate paleontology. My work has appeared in Meteorite magazine, Wired magazine, Meteoryt (Poland), Geotimes, Reader's Digest, Rock & Gem, Seed, Lapidary Journal, and many other national and international publications. All specimens I sell are guaranteed 100% authentic and as described. Meteorite sales help fund future expeditions which, in turn, generate new published works.

If you want to buy a meteorite, buy from a real meteorite hunter!

I accept personal checks, money orders, certified bank checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover card and PayPal. I strongly recommend insurance on all meteorite sales. Insurance only costs a few dollars and it protects both buyer and seller in the event that one of these valuable specimens gets lost in transit. Please note: We are not responsible for uninsured items once they are handed over to the postal service. Priority shipping, with Delivery Confirmation, for this specimen within the United States is $9.25 plus insurance (recommended but optional). I offer generous shipping discounts on multiple items. In most cases additional purchases ship free with your first item. Please email me for details. Overseas bidders please contact me and I will be happy to provide exact shipping charges.

All specimens that I sell are packed and shipped with great care and are accompanied by a an official Aerolite Meteorites identification card. Signed Certificates of Authenticity are available at no extra charge, just ask. Gift wrapping is also available.

WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE!

I am a member in good standing of the International Meteorite Collectors' Association (IMCA), member number 4242. The IMCA is dedicated to maintaining high standards of integrity within the meteorite collecting community, so you can bid on this item with absolute confidence. I am also a professional member of the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences, and the Society of Southwestern Authors.

Please email me ANY TIME if you have questions about this meteorite or my other auctions. I am always happy to hear from prospective bidders, and am available to discuss meteorites and meteorite hunting.

PLEASE VISIT MY ABOUT ME PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME AND MY WORK AND CHECK OUT MY OTHER METEORITE AND FOSSIL AUCTIONS