Hot desert meteorite
A meteorite found in a hot, dry desert such as the Sahara, where little rain and few plants help rocks survive and stand out.
A hot desert meteorite comes from places like the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula, the Atacama Desert in Chile or the Nullarbor Plain in Australia. Deserts are excellent hunting grounds for three reasons: there is little rain to break rocks down, few plants to hide them, and the ground is often pale and flat, so a dark stone is easy to see. Some desert surfaces have also stayed stable for a very long time, letting meteorites build up over many thousands of years.
Since the 1980s, desert finds have hugely increased the number of meteorites known, including rare types. One example is Dar al Gani 476, a martian meteorite found in the Libyan Sahara in 1998. Many desert meteorites are named after the area where they were found and given a number.
Deserts are still harsh places for a rock from space. Over time, metal rusts, staining the stone brown, and minerals from the soil can fill cracks. The fusion crust may be worn smooth or coated with dark, shiny desert varnish. Scientists record this with a weathering grade. Hunters in deserts must respect national laws, which in some countries restrict collecting or exporting meteorites.
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Level: Explorer Ages 10 and up