Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Buy the "Norton Book," by O. Richard Norton. This helpful resource provides a list of known strewn fields. Most meteorites explode in the atmosphere and fragments fall to the ground in a predictable elliptical pattern. This is why many meteorites are found in areas where they've been discovered before; they're all part of the same strewn field.
Know what a meteorite looks like in advance, so you'll know what to pick up for further testing and what to leave behind. Check out meteorite collections at museums or universities, and ask if you can touch and hold one or two. If you can, buy a couple of authentic, common and iron/nickel meteorites for reference.
Search strewn fields in deserts and dry lake beds. These areas are generally lacking in natural rocks, and it's easier to spot meteorites in a rock-free background. Antarctica is also such a place, but few amateurs are able to travel there due to its inaccessibility.
Use a strong magnet, like a rare earth magnet, to test potential meteorites for a magnetic field. Most meteorites are made of metal (even those that look like plain rocks), and the magnet is cheaper and easier to use than a metal detector.
Invest in a GPS device so that you can precisely record the spots where you find meteorites. Keep accurate records; this will be important for verification and naming.
Get a rock hammer and shovel once you're hooked, and realize that you will be hooked as soon as you make your first find. Plan trips to less well-known strewn fields that haven't been heavily hunted yet.