Meteorites are rocks that have fallen to the Earth’s surface from outer space. These celestial objects have fascinated humans for centuries, and many collectors are willing to pay exorbitant prices to add them to their collections.
Here are the 10 most expensive meteorites in the world and what makes them so valuable:
10. Gibeon Meteorite – $437,500
The Gibeon Meteorite was discovered in Namibia and it is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. This meteorite was sold in an auction for $437,500 in 2021. It has a striking appearance with a rusty look and has a unique design. It weighs over 307 lbs and is one of the largest Namibian meteorites.
It is said that the Meteorite was discovered on the edge of Kalahari desert in Southern Africa and it was sold at an auction on Christie’s for $437,500 Dollars.
The Gibeon Meteorite with its rarity and age estimated age makes it one of the most expensive meteorites. It is also one of the largest meteorites to exist, therefore, it gets its high price.
9. Tisserlittine 001 Meteorite – $525,000
The Tisserlitine Meteorite is a part of the Moon and is one of the few Moon Meteorites to exist. It weighs over 4.33 pounds and it was sold for $525,000 in an auction in 2021. High value is due to its rarity as a few of the lunar meteorites. Also, it is of the few lunar meteorites that can be owned by people.
The fact that this meteorite is a part of the moon, and therefore, it adds high value to it. It is the fourth largest lunar meteorite to land on the earth. So, its rarity is why it is so expensive.
8. The Springwater Meteorite – $600,000
The Springwater Meteorite was discovered in Canada, and Saskatchewan in 1931 and was sold to Royal Ontario Museum for $600,000. At first, its largest piece weighed 85 lbs and in 2009 another piece was found that weighed 117 lbs. The total weight of this meteorite reaches about 266 pounds. This meteorite is a stony-iron pallasite meteorite.
As a pallasite meteorite, it contains olivine crystals. Moreover, it is the largest pallasite meteorite discovered in Canada. This meteorite is rich in kamacite and taenite as well.
7. NWA 11789 Lunar Meteorite – $612,500
The NWA 11789 Lunar Meteorite was discovered in Mauritania in 2017 and is believed to have originated from the Moon. This meteorite was divided into 6 particles as a result of the impact of falling to the Earth. But it was assembled and a single meteorite was formed.
Its high value is due to its rarity, scientific significance, and the fact that it is one of the few lunar meteorites available for private ownership. This was owned by Dustin Dickens and this went into auction in 2018. The meteorite was sold for a price of $612,500.
The NWA 11789 Lunar Meteorite is a part of the moon itself and therefore its rarity is out of this world. This also contains evidence of high temperatures that it went through while falling to the Earth and therefore holds huge scientific importance as well.
All of this makes this meteorite a rare and important one giving it a high value.
6. Brenham Meteorite Main Mass – $700,000
The Brenham Meteorite was discovered in Kiowa County, Kansas in 1882 and is made of iron and gemlike olivine crystals. The main mass weighs over 1,400 pounds and contains stunning Widmanstätten patterns, which are created by the cooling and crystallization of the metal in the meteorite.
Therefore, it is the world’s highest pallasite meteorite. It fetched a price tag of $700,000 in 2007.
The Brenham Meteorite with its beautiful patterns and the presence of olivine and peridot stones easily gives it its high value. Moreover, this is also the biggest piece of pallasite meteorite. Therefore, all of the qualities of this meteorite makes it one of the most expensive meteorites in existence.
5. Slice of Fukang Meteorite – $721,552
The Fukang Meteorite was discovered in China in 2000 and is believed to be over 4.5 billion years old. This particular slice of the meteorite weighs 21 pounds and contains beautiful olivine and pallasite crystals.
Its high value is due to its rarity, beauty, and the fact that it is a large slice of the famous Fukang Meteorite. The Fukang meteorite is the most valuable pallasite meteorite and it contains olivine and peridot stones. This slice of meteorite went into auction in 2021 and it fetched $721,552.
This slice of the meteorite is part of the Fukang Meteorite, therefore, it is bound to be valuable. Therefore, with the presence of olivine and peridot. As the Fukang meteorite itself is extremely high priced, so a slice of it will be high priced.
4. Bur Abor Meteorite – $600,000-$800,000
The Bur Abor Meteorite was discovered in Kenya on 27th November 1997. The main mass which was sold weighs over 274 kgs or 604 pounds. This meteorite was sold in the Bonhams auction which fetched around $600,000-$800,000. Its high value is due to its rarity and scientific significance.
First of all this meteorite is rare and has a unique design. It contains holes and looping shapes in the main mass that are known in gemology as scoops and regmaglypts.
This meteorite is extremely rare as it took millions of years to form as it was floating through space. The Natural History Museum of London also has a piece of this meteorite on display.
3. Conception Junction Meteorite – $850,000
The Conception Junction Meteorite was discovered in Conception Junction, Missouri in 2010 and its age or when it hit the earth is not known.
It weighs over 37 pounds and contains green olivine crystals embedded in an iron-nickel matrix and peridot gemstones. Its high value is due to its rarity, age, and scientific significance.
The rock’s discoverer, Karl Aston, has donated a sizable section of it to museums and academic institutions, although some pieces are still available for purchase.
This meteorite is one of the few pallasite meteorites found. Its value is estimated to be $850,000 but the rock has been cut into several small pieces to be sold.
With only 20 pallasite meteors found in the United States, its rarity is extremely high. The Conception Junction Meteorite apart from being rare is magnificent in appearance with a brownish-milky white color, additionally, it has peridot gemstones. So with all this, the high value of this meteorite is unquestionable.
2. The Willamette Meteorite Crown Section – $1.3 million
The Willamette Meteorite is the largest meteorite ever found in North America and was discovered in Oregon in 1902. It weighs over 15.5 tons and is made of iron-nickel alloy.
The meteorite has a smooth surface as a result of the accompanied by hollow areas which are the result of the collision with the atmosphere. Its high value is due to its rarity, large size, and historic significance as one of the first meteorites to be studied in the United States.
This large meteorite is on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Although the crown section of this meteorite which weighs about 13.4 kgs or 29.5 lbs was sold for $1.3 million in 2007.
The 7 figured price that this meteorite has upon itself is unquestionable. The Willamette Meteorite is the largest meteorite ever found in the United States and the sixth largest overall.
Willamette Meteorite is made of iron which is extremely rare as there are only 600 out of 25,000 meteorites on Earth that are made of iron. This meteorite was also important to the Clackamas tribe.
Therefore, with all this rarity and importance of this meteorite, a small part of the crown of this meteorite fetched a high price.
1. The Main Mass of Fukang Meteorite – $2 million
The Fukang Meteorite was discovered in China in 2000 and is believed to be over 4.5 billion years old. The main mass of the meteorite weighs 1,003 kg or 2,211 pounds and contains beautiful olivine crystals and peridot stones that have a gem-like quality.
It is also the largest pallasite meteorite. Its high value is due to its rarity and the beauty of the olivine crystals.
A 44-pound chunk was taken out of it by a Chinese merchant, who displayed it at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The meteorite, which is today regarded as the rarest and oldest of all meteorites, first came under investigation at this time.
The Fukang Meteorite with a weight of 2,211lbs or 1003 kg is the largest pallasite meteorite. The presence of olivine crystals and peridot gives it its high price tag. Also, this meteorite is about as old as the Earth, about 4.5 billion years.
All of this makes this specific meteorite extremely unique, valuable, and rare. Therefore, its mineral content and rarity are the reasons why this meteorite is ridiculously expensive. But even though it has a price tag of $2 million, it hasn’t been sold to anyone else, but every collector has set their eyes on this prize of a meteorite.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these meteorites are highly valued due to their rarity, scientific significance, large size, and aesthetic qualities. They represent a piece of history and the mysteries of the universe, and their high prices reflect the fascination and curiosity they inspire in collectors and scientists alike.
FAQs
What is the most expensive meteor?
The Main Mass of the Fukang Meteorite is considered the most expensive meteorite in the world, with a price tag of $2 million. It is a stony-iron meteorite that was discovered in China in 2000 and weighs over 1,000 pounds.
What is the rarest type of meteor?
The rarest type of meteor is the stony-iron meteorite, which makes up only 1% of all meteorites that have been discovered. These meteorites are a combination of iron-nickel alloy and rock, and they often have unique and valuable characteristics, such as gemstones or unusual mineral formations.
What meteorites are worth money?
Meteorites that are rare, large, have aesthetic qualities, or contain unique characteristics can be worth a lot of money. Some examples of high-value meteorites include the Willamette Meteorite, Brenham Meteorite Main Mass, and the Tissint Meteorite.
How much is 1g of meteorite worth?
The value of 1 gram of meteorite depends on the rarity, type, and quality of the specimen. Some common meteorites can be worth as little as $0.10 per gram, while rare and high-quality specimens can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars per gram.
How much is a real meteorite worth?
The value of a real meteorite can vary widely depending on its rarity, type, size, and condition. Common meteorites can be purchased for as little as $1 per gram, while rare and highly sought-after specimens can sell for hundreds or even millions of dollars.
Are small meteorites worth money?
Small meteorites can be valuable depending on their rarity, type, and quality. While larger meteorites often command higher prices, small fragments can also be highly prized by collectors and scientists, especially if they are from a rare or famous meteorite.
Are meteorites rarer than gold?
Meteorites are much rarer than gold. While gold is a relatively common element on Earth, meteorites represent only a tiny fraction of all matter in the solar system. It is estimated that fewer than 1 in 1,000 rocks that fall to Earth are meteorites, making them much rarer than gold.
