12 replies to this topic

[UncleVinny]

Searching for meteorite fragments is HOT is this area.
A friend and I went up to Lotus California near Coloma.
HUNDREDS of folks are searching (and some finding) meteorite fragments from a recent fall.
The strewn field covers much of Lotus and Coloma.

Here I am joined by a friend with our metal detectors.
It turns out these carbonaceous chondrites are best found with your eyes alone, as
they contain little iron.

Locals are getting $1,000 per ounce for the meteorites; more than gold!

[ducky]

I read something that said the population of Lotus has doubled since the search for meteorites started.

It would be cool to find one, but I would have no idea what I was looking for.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I have a friend who has a friend who found a $20k piece last week. she's keeping it in a safe deposit box. amazing!

[jpow5]

I have a friend who has a friend who found a $20k piece last week. she's keeping it in a safe deposit box. amazing!

I saw her on the news last night (http://sacramento.cb...th-about-20000/). It was an interesting story and fun for the kid to take it to school. What a neat family story to share for generations.

I was disappointed that the reporter didn't go into more detail of how to tell its a meteorite or just a rock. The only explanation at the end of the story was that she had a geologist confirm that it was a meteorite. I can see why the people already looking don't want to tell their "secrets" on how to find them/what to look for, but you'd think a reporter would dig a little deeper, maybe google it for more info, maybe talk to a geologist herself, something, anything.

[femmesavante]

Yesterday while I was waiting for my car to be smogged there was a lady on the phone getting a group together to go search for meteorite fragments. Interesting!

[UncleVinny]

These are different and rare meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites.
Most meteorites are very heavy nickel-iron, but CM carbonaceous chondrites are "mainly of silicates, oxides and sulfides." Silicates are like sand. These are softer and lighter, but still have melt marks and are black. They just start to burn up in the atmosphere, so the outer coating may look like melted wax, but when they cool they can often leave an appearance of mottled leather; mostly dark but may be brown with speckled inclusions in it.

While in Lotus, people came up to me with pieces of asphalt, slate, granite, and even glass thinking it was a candidate. It helps to look on line (wiki) for photos.

[U2FORME]

I've heard that people are being offered over $28,000 per ounce of meteorite, which is definitely more than
the price of gold. No wonder some are calling it the new gold rush.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Why are meteorite fragments so valuable?

[4thgenFolsomite]

Why are meteorite fragments so valuable?

because its unbelievably rare. it also is valuable to science because it provides indicates of conditions that created the universe and the earth itself.

[Chad Vander Veen]

because its unbelievably rare. it also is valuable to science because it provides indicates of conditions that created the universe and the earth itself.

What's driving the "meteorite rush"? Are there more hitting this area than usual?

[nomad]

What's driving the "meteorite rush"? Are there more hitting this area than usual?

Meteorites hit the all the time, the biggest drive right now is these fragments may be easier to find due to the size and very good idea of the location. Most are found at the poles because they are preserved.

Oh yeah, I bet GREED has created a lot of new scientists all of a sudden as well.

[UncleVinny]

Why are meteorite fragments so valuable?

Only about 3% of all meteorites are this type, CM carbonaceous chondrites. They contain oxides and even amino acids, the building blocks of life.
In fact some scientists speculate that life can spread throughout the galaxy because
these types of chemicals provide the basis for reproduction.
Most meteorites are nickel-iron, but these are pretty much space material in its raw form, just the way it was before the earth formed, and may be 6 billion years old.

[25or6to4]

What's driving the "meteorite rush"? Are there more hitting this area than usual?

There was one that exploded in the atmosphere the other night over Coloma or there abouts and parts of it rained down in the area. That's the reason for the rush right now, just one big one that exploded before impact. Think of the debris as shrapnel.