Are you interested in meteorites? You’re in luck. The meteorite industry has come a long way these past few years.
With some meteorites selling for thousands of dollars now, you want to be on the lookout for any irregular stones.
Despite not having a long history, the meteorite industry is complex in several ways. A lot of work goes into every sale
If you want to know how to sell meteorites, we’ve got you covered. We’ll take you through every step of the process so you can make a profitable sale.
Why You Should Consider Selling Meteorites
You might be hesitant to give up a meteorite’s aesthetic value. There are various reasons why you might want to consider selling meteorites, though:
- Money: Despite not being as profitable as people think, meteorites can sell for a good amount of money.
- Buyer availability: As an exotic object coming from space, a lot of people are willing to pay money for a meteorite.
- Scientific value: Selling your meteorite to a scientific institute can help develop a better understanding of the solar system.
- Ease of Mind: Meteorites are difficult to maintain. It’s easier to sell them than to keep them around.
Problems With Selling Meteorites
If you’re tempted to start selling meteorites, keep in mind it’s not all fun and games. It’s a multi-layered industry, and you’re bound to run into some issues:
- Insufficient income: While some meteorites sell for thousands of dollars, those are the rarest kinds. Don’t expect a great deal of money. Chances are you’ll be selling common meteorite types most of the time.
- Unavailability: Meteorites are less common than you think. It might take a while to find a new one to sell, which makes your income unstable.
- Meteor-wrongs: Despite having a unique look, people still attribute false characteristics to meteorites. It’s easy to mistake a terrestrial rock for a meteorite if you don’t know how to inspect it.
- Scammers: If you’re new to the meteorite industry, you might not be able to determine the value of your meteorite. In this case, some dealers can assign less value to your meteorite to pay less money.
What You’ll Need to Sell Meteorites
Selling a meteorite isn’t as easy as walking into a dealer’s shop and offering your stone.
You need proper qualifications, without which you won’t be able to make a good sale.
- Documentation: There isn’t an official certificate of authenticity for meteorites. You can bring the stone to a lab and have experts test its authenticity. Buyers want to make sure they’re purchasing a real meteorite, after all. Having proper documentation can put them at ease.
- Meteorite information: If you decide to sell your meteorite online, you’re going to have to do a lot of work yourself. From dimensions and density to classification, you’ll have to provide a lot of information to your buyer.
- Checking account/PayPal account: Part of the selling process is dealing with potential buyers online. Cash payments aren’t always an option. You need to have a PayPal account, a checking account, or a similar transaction service.
Where to Sell Meteorites?
Finding the meteorite is the hard part. Once you’re ready to sell it, you have a variety of venues to choose from.
1. Geo Coleccion
Think of Geo Coleccion as a middleman between you and the buyer. Not only can they appraise your meteorite, but they can also sell it on multiple platforms.
Whether it’s their website, eBay, museums, or universities, Geo Coleccion will cover a wide range of potential buyers.
- Fees/Commission: 20% of your item’s worth + shipping costs
- Payment Methods: PayPal
2. Heritage Auctions
Since they attract a lot of buyers, you can get a good deal if you offer your meteorite in an auction.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy auction, Heritage Auctions have been in the business for a while. While they specialize in coins, they have a good collection of meteorites.
They’d be more than willing to buy it from you. The best part is that you’ll get professionals to do all the work for you. They’ll take professional photos and conduct a marketing campaign to attract potential buyers.
- Fees/Commissions: 10% of your item’s worth.
- Payment Method: Cheques.
3. Etsy
Etsy is known for selling artsy and authentic items. What could be more authentic than a meteorite?
Setting up a store on Etsy is easy, and you’ll have an established audience. You won’t have trouble finding a buyer.
- Fees/Commissions: 6.5% of the item’s worth + $0.20 for listing + 3% and $0.25 payment processing fee (depends on the country)
- Payment Method: Etsy Payment.
How to Sell Meteorites?
The process of selling a meteorite is tedious and complex. Fortunately, though, we’ve broken it down into simple steps so you can get the best possible price.
1. Understand the Market’s Perception of Meteorites
Naturally, you want to understand how the market perceives different types of meteorites to avoid getting scammed.
While some meteorites sell for thousands of dollars, that’s not the norm. The price of a meteorite depends on several factors. Learn what affects your meteorite’s price so you can make the right sale.
2. Ask for a Professional Appraisal
If you’re not sure whether you can determine your meteorite’s value, it’s best to leave it to a professional.
To be safe, ask for appraisals from different dealers to form an accurate idea.
3. Lean Into the Factors That Make Your Meteorite Valuable
If you’re looking to sell a meteorite, you should know all the factors that affect its value.
Whether it’s background, classification, or size, a lot of elements can factor into your meteor’s appeal. Any one of these factors can raise or lower your meteorite’s price.
Background
A meteorite with an interesting background story is more valuable in the market.
Collectors would be more interested in a meteorite that caused some sort of destruction when it fell than a meteorite with no backstory.
For example, the famous Peekskill meteorite costs $100-$200 per gram despite being a regular h6 chondrite meteorite.
The reason it’s more expensive is that it hit a Chevy Malibu when it fell, destroying its trunk.
Location
The location in which you found the meteorite can affect its monetary value. Meteors coming from the Sahara are common, so they won’t be that valuable.
The less common a meteor is where you find it, the more a collector would be willing to offer a higher price.
Meteors from North America or Europe, for example, would fetch you a better price, as they’re less frequent there.
Rarity
There are three types of meteorites: stony, stony-irons, and iron meteorites. Each type varies in rarity. The rarer the meteorite, the more expensive it’ll be.
| Type of meteorite | Rarity |
| Chondrites | 87% of known meteorites |
| Achondrites | 7% of known meteorites |
| Iron meteorites | 5% of known meteorites |
| Stony iron meteorites | 1% of known meteorites |
Stony meteorites are the most common type on Earth. Naturally, they won’t get you a high price.
As the rarest meteorite types, Pallasites, Lunar, and Martian meteorites would fetch you a higher price. One gram is worth thousands of dollars.
Some meteorites fall from a collision or an impact. If that collision produces a limited number of meteorites, they will be more valuable.
Fall
Meteorite discovery comes in two ways: you either find it on the ground or witness it falling from the sky. Meteorites that people have seen fall from the sky are worth more money.
If you can prove you’ve seen a meteorite fall from the sky, you can get a higher price.
Timing
If you’ve witnessed a meteorite fall from the sky, the best time to sell it would be right away. The shorter the time between the sale and the fall, the more expensive the meteorite will be.
Size
Meteorites are sold per gram. Naturally, the bigger your meteorite is, the more money you’ll get.
Presentation
A meteorite needs a lot of work to be presentable. If you cut it and polish it right, you can get a higher price. If you don’t, the collector will have to account for the polishing expenses, and you won’t receive as much.
If you’re not experienced with meteorites, one wrong step can diminish their values. It’s better to leave it to an expert to make it presentable.
4. Find a Proper Buyer
This is the hardest step in the process, as it’s difficult to identify if the buyer is trustworthy. There are several elements you can judge to recognize a good buyer, though. The first, of course, is reputation.
Whether you’re selling online or to a dealer, a reputable buyer is less likely to give you a hard time with the sale.
While it’s not necessary, you can also consider whether your dealer is part of a professional organization. You can trust a member of the worldwide-known GMA and IMCA.
5. Make Sure Your Dealer Is Qualified
If a dealer attempts to sell your meteorite on your behalf, you need to make sure they’re qualified enough. They have to understand how to present your item and how to conduct a marketing strategy that attracts potential buyers.
What to Consider When You Sell a Meteorite
Knowing the market’s perception of different meteorites and how to pick a proper buyer isn’t enough. You can still make small mistakes that can ruin your sale altogether.
Caring For Iron Meteorites and Pallasites
There’s no point in trying to sell a meteorite if it’s not in good condition. Caring for meteorites isn’t easy, especially iron meteorites and pallasites. Despite being from outer space, meteorites are susceptible to external earthly threats.
You need to provide a proper environment for your meteorites to keep them in an ideal state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What external elements threaten a meteorite?
The biggest threat you need to stay wary of is humidity. It can cause meteorites to rust. If you keep your meteorites in a display, your best bet would be to invest in a small dehumidifier.
You can treat rusty spots by rubbing a CRL-dipped Q-tip against them.
How to protect a meteorite from future rust?
To prevent your meteorite from future rust, you can dip it in an oil-filled container. Make sure your oil doesn’t contain any chemical cleansers in it.
Depending on how rusty it is, leave your meteorite for a few hours or overnight every one or two months.
How to clean a dirty meteorite?
Start by gently rubbing the dirt with a toothbrush. For stubborn pieces of dirt, you can resort to steel wire brushes or jewelry files.
The oils in your fingertips can move to the surface of the stone, causing discoloration. It’s better to wear a white cotton glove when you handle it.
Who owns a meteorite if found?
Every country has different ownership rules. In the U.S., if a meteorite falls on your property, it’s yours. You can sell it if you want. If it falls on federal grounds, though, it belongs to the Department of the Interior.
Alternatively, in countries like India, the meteorite would belong to the Government Geological Museum.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
If you’re interested in learning how to sell, we have comprehensive guides on selling various items on different platforms.
- How to Sell Art Online: Learn how to start making money by setting up your store and selling art online.
- How to Sell Gold: Learn what you need to sell gold online, the pros and cons, and how to get a good sale.
- How to Sell Silver: Learn everything about selling silver coins, from getting appraisals to keeping your coins in good condition.
Wrapping Up
Now you know how to sell meteorites. The first step you need to take is to get an authenticity certification and establish ownership of the meteorite.
Once you’ve taken care of the legalities, all that’s left is the actual sale. Stay knowledgeable of the market prices to avoid getting scammed and choose a reputable buyer. Whether it’s online or face-to-face, you won’t have a hard time finding a buyer.
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