Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Select a hunting location. California has more than 25,000 square miles of desert, concentrated in two main regions: the Mojave and the Colorado. The Mojave runs from central California into Southeastern California and overlaps into Nevada and Utah. The Colorado Desert is adjacent to the Mojave, albeit on lower ground (under 1,000 feet), and occupies Southern California from the Colorado River to Mexico. California dry lakes include Lucerne Dry Lake, El Mirage Lake, Harper Dry Lake and Owens Lake.
Identify potential meteorites. Look for stones that have glossy surfaces or rusty surfaces without micro pits. Fine pits are an indication of volcanic stone, where gas has escaped. Large "thumbprint" indentations are generally characteristic of meteorites, especially in conjunction with the glossy surface, created by melting when the meteorite heated during entry. Feel the weight of the stone. Meteorites are heavier than regular rocks.
Test the stone. The first test is to touch the stone with your magnet cane or hard-drive magnet. The stone should be attracted to the magnet, though an actual meteorite will not be magnetic on its own. If the stone attracts other metals, like a paperclip, it is likely not a meteorite, but magnetite. If the magnet does not attract the stone, then it is highly unlikely that the stone is a meteorite. Check the surface for shiny metal flecks caused by nickel content. You may have to make a tiny scratch with the diamond file (not too much, or you'll devalue the stone), and look through the magnifying glass.
Document the find. Photograph the site from four different angles, with the background visible. Record the compass azimuth for each shot. Record the time and date of the find. Check the GPS, and record the precise geographic coordinates of the find. Assign each stone a number in your record, and label the bag you put it in with that same number.