Questions answered · Value, buying and selling

How much is a meteorite worth?

The short answer

It varies enormously, from very little for a small, common, weathered stone to a great deal for rare types or historic falls. Type, rarity, condition, size, beauty, documentation and legal provenance all count, and any price is only what a buyer will pay.

There is no single price for "a meteorite", any more than there is for "a stamp" or "a painting". Value depends on what kind of meteorite it is, how many similar ones exist, its condition and story, and who wants it. A small, heavily weathered piece of a common ordinary chondrite from a desert, where such stones are found in large numbers, may be worth little more than its curiosity. A beautiful piece of a famous historic fall, or a fragment of the Moon or Mars, may be worth a great deal more per gram.

The main things that move value are rarity, since some meteorite types are known from only a handful of stones; freshness and condition, with crisp black fusion crust and little rust preferred; eye appeal, such as sculpted regmaglypts or an etched crystal pattern; history, especially witnessed falls; and documentation, including an official name and a clear, legal chain of ownership. Size matters too, although price does not simply scale with weight.

An unclassified stone, however promising, is hard to value. Until a scientist has confirmed and classified it, buyers cannot be sure what they are getting, and many specimens turn out to be Earth rocks. Classification usually means giving part of the meteorite to a recognised collection.

It is also worth remembering that the meteorite market is small and specialised, and prices can rise and fall. A meteorite is best thought of as a fascinating piece of the Solar System rather than an investment. If you have a meteorite to sell, check first that you legally own it, because rules on ownership, sale and export differ from country to country.

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