How do I post or ship a meteorite safely?
Pack it in a padded inner box with desiccant inside a sturdy outer box, use tracked and insured delivery, and include paperwork for international shipments.
Meteorites are surprisingly easy to damage in the post, especially thin slices, crumbly stones and specimens with delicate crust.
Inner protection. Place small specimens in a padded membrane box, gem jar or small plastic box with foam. Wrap larger specimens in bubble wrap or soft foam. For slices, use rigid boxes so they cannot flex. Add a small sachet of silica gel for iron meteorites. Include the specimen's label in a separate small bag.
Outer box. Use a strong cardboard box with at least 5 centimetres of padding on all sides, such as crumpled paper, foam or bubble wrap. The inner package should not move when shaken. Heavy iron meteorites need especially sturdy boxes and extra padding, because their weight can burst weak packaging.
Service. Use a tracked and signed-for service. Consider insurance for valuable specimens, checking whether the carrier covers geological specimens and what value limits apply. Some carriers have restrictions on items of high value.
International shipments. Customs declarations must describe the contents accurately, such as 'meteorite specimen, natural rock', with an honest value. Check whether export permits are needed from the country of origin and whether the destination country has import rules. Some countries restrict export of meteorites.
Record. Photograph the specimen and packaging before sending, keep receipts and tracking numbers, and agree with the buyer or recipient who bears the risk.
On arrival. Open packages carefully over a table, and check specimens against photographs.