About meteorites

Buying meteorites can be a fascinating and unique hobby, but it also requires a bit of caution. It's not enough just to find a piece that appeals to you - it's important to check that the seller is trustworthy and reliable. We've been specializing in selling authentic meteorites for several years now, and we offer our customers several advantages you won't find elsewhere. Whether you're getting a meteorite just for fun, as a gift or an interesting scientific piece, we can help you choose the right one.

1. Guarantee of authenticity and quality

All meteorites in our offer are selected very carefully. We work with verified suppliers and each meteorite undergoes a thorough inspection to guarantee its authenticity. We also issue certificates of authenticity with our meteorites (included in the box, otherwise at an additional cost) to ensure you are getting a real piece from the universe, not an imitation.

2. Wide range of meteorites

We have the largest offer of meteorites in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, both in terms of the number of pieces offered and the individual species. Our offer includes a wide range of meteorites - from iron and stone meteorites to rare pallasites and carbonaceous chondrites. Our meteorites come from all over the world and include not only famous specimens such as Campo del Cielo, Muonionalusta, Sikhote Alin or Aletai, but also less common and rarer pieces such as Imilac, Erg Chech 002, Kaalijarv, Esquel and others that will appeal to avid collectors.

3. Clarity when selecting

Are you just looking for iron meteorites? No problem - we have everything neatly sorted either by type or surface treatment. By type you can choose iron, stone or stone-iron meteorites. Thanks to our intuitive system, you can easily browse through the categories, and all categories are accompanied by high-quality images to make your selection easier.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a specific surface treatment such as slices or plates, just visit the cut and polished meteorite category. Here you will find everything you need, with detailed photos of each piece. With this organized selection, you'll quickly find exactly the meteorite that fits perfectly into your collection.

4. Unique pieces with a story

Each meteorite has its own story, which is why we choose pieces that have an interesting origin and history. We offer meteorites from different historical impacts and events that are interesting. In addition, we have prepared an article with the most interesting meteorite stories, which you can read here.

5. New species are added regularly

We are actively searching for new meteorite species that could further expand our offer. We try to add news on a regular basis, so if you follow our site, you will surely discover something new. Or you can follow us on our Facebook page where we post news and interesting facts.

6. Years of experience and reliability

We have many years of experience in meteorite sales and pride ourselves on reliability and honesty. Our satisfied customers return to us often, which is proof that we do a quality job and this motivates us even more to do better. Customer reviews of our e-shop can be found here.

7. Practical boxes with nice graphics suitable for a collection or as a gift

If you don't want your meteorite just lying around on the shelf, we offer a practical and creative solution in the form of our special boxes. Each meteorite is carefully placed in a box with a graphic background depicting the country where it landed. On the back you will find a certificate of authenticity with a photo of the meteorite, its weight, dimensions and our safety trademark. This ready-made box is ideal not only as a shelf decoration, but also as a unique gift that will delight any space lover. You can find our entire box collection here.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a meteorite to add to your collection, or if you're simply fascinated by the universe, you've come to the right place. Here you will find carefully selected meteorites, expert support and quality service with fast delivery. Treat yourself to a unique experience and bring a piece of the universe into your home - we are here to help you with your selection. Link to all our meteorites here.

Author: Terezie Laubrova

There are many ways to choose a meteorite for your collection. You can decide by type - whether you want an iron, stone or rock-iron meteorite. Likewise, you can choose between raw pieces, slices or end cuts, by size or other parameters. But what about choosing a meteorite based on the fascinating history and story that goes with it? A meteorite with a unique past can be a great centerpiece for any collection, adding an interesting element to tell the story.

Erg Chech 002

The Erg Chech 002 meteorite is one of the most remarkable meteorites discovered in recent times. It was found in 2020 in the Erg Chech region of Algeria, and is the oldest volcanic rock discovered to date. This meteorite is exceptional not only for its composition, but also for what scientists have discovered about its origin.

Erg Chech 002 is an achondrite, which means it does not contain chondrules, but has a composition similar to Earth's igneous rocks. Dating has shown that this meteorite is approximately 4.56 billion years old , which means it is only slightly younger than the solar system itself. It is therefore 23 million years older than our planet Earth. This makes Erg Chech 002 a unique testament to the processes that took place during the early stages of planet formation.

According to scientists, this meteorite comes from a protoplanet that was destroyed during collisions in the solar system. Erg Chech 002 has a composition that is similar to primitive crustal materials, suggesting that it was part of the surface layers of this long-extinct body. Scientists have found that it contains rare minerals such as pyroxene and plagioclase, and its composition has made it a valuable sample for studying the evolution of protoplanets and the differentiation of planetary bodies.

This meteorite is also exceptional for its rarity, as no other meteorite with the same composition as Erg Chech 002 has been discovered so far. Its discovery has advanced scientific understanding of planet formation and shown how collisions and differentiation processes influenced the formation of planets in the early solar system.

Chelyabinsk

The Chelyabinsk meteorite is one of the most dramatic and best documented meteorite falls in modern history. On 15 February 2013, a bright bolide dazzled the sky over the southern Urals, entering the Earth's atmosphere at approximately 19 km/s. This fiery bolide exploded at an altitude of about 30 km above the ground, causing a blinding flash that temporarily blocked out sunlight and was visible for hundreds of kilometres.

The force of the explosion of the Chelyabinsk meteorite was comparable to the energy of 500 kilotons of TNT, more than 30 times the force of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The shock wave shattered windows on thousands of buildings, damaged infrastructure and injured over 1500 people, mostly as a result of flying shards of glass.

The meteorite has been classified as ordinary chondrite type LL5, indicating that it contains relatively low amounts of iron. Scientific analyses revealed that the meteorite fragments contained olivine, pyroxene and small amounts of iron-nickel metal. Research has shown that this meteorite was formed in asteroid collisions billions of years ago and that it travelled through space before being captured by Earth's gravity.

Hoba

The Hoba meteorite holds the title of the largest meteorite found on Earth. This massive iron meteorite, weighing approximately 60 tonnes, was discovered by chance in 1920 on a farm near Grootfontein in Namibia when a farmer ploughing came across the huge metal object. Even stranger, the Hoba meteorite remains where it landed and has never been moved.

Uniquely, the Hoba meteorite did not form a crater when it hit, which is unusual for an object this large. Scientists believe that due to its flat shape and specific angle of entry into the atmosphere, the meteor slowed down enough to land almost "softly" on Earth without causing significant damage to the surface. Hoba is composed mainly of iron and nickel and is estimated to be between 190 and 410 million years old.

This meteorite is valued not only for its size but also for its scientific value. It serves as a fascinating example of how large space objects can reach the Earth's surface relatively undamaged. In 1955, it was declared a national monument of Namibia, which ensured its protection and public access. Today, Hoba is a popular tourist attraction and a subject of interest to scientists who are researching its composition and story.

Sikhote-Alin

The Sikhote-Alin Meteorite is another story that captivates with its dramatic history. This iron meteorite fell on 12 February 1947 in Siberia in the Sikhote-Alin mountains. Witnesses described how the bright fireball flew across the daytime sky and exploded at an altitude of approximately 5.6km above the ground. This explosion created a deafening sound and ripped the meteor into thousands of pieces, which scattered across the surrounding landscape and formed dozens of smaller craters.

The impact of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite was so strong that some fragments penetrated deep into the frozen ground and formed craters up to several metres in diameter. The fragments were scattered over an area of more than 1.3 km² and included both massive pieces with smooth surfaces and smaller pieces with special depressions known as regmaglypts. The meteorite consisted mainly of iron and nickel, which is typical of iron meteorites.

This crash became a well-documented event because many people witnessed this unusual phenomenon. As a result, it was possible to construct a detailed reconstruction of its trajectory and how it broke up.

Bendegó

The Bendegó meteorite is one of the largest and most famous meteorites found in Brazil. It was discovered in 1784 by a cattle herder in an area of the state of Bahia. The original weight of the meteorite was approximately 5.36 tons. Bendegó is classified as an iron meteorite with a high iron and nickel content, which is typical of this type of cosmic body.

An interesting part of the Bendegó meteorite's story is the complex process of transporting it from its discovery site. Due to its enormous weight and the technical limitations of the time, the attempt to move it to the capital was very complicated. During the first transport attempt in 1785, the transport structure collapsed and the meteorite remained in place for several decades. It was not until 1888, thanks to more advanced technology and the railway system, that the meteorite was successfully transported to Rio de Janeiro, where it was exhibited in the National Museum of Brazil.

This meteorite is valued not only for its size, but also for its historical and scientific value. In 2018, it survived a devastating fire at the National Museum, which destroyed much of the collection. Bendegó was found intact among the rubble, making it a symbol of resilience and one of the few surviving witnesses to the museum's rich history.

Tatahouine

The Tatahouine meteorite fell in 1931 near the town of Tataouine, Tunisia, and is classified as a diogenite, a type of achondrite originating from the mantle of the asteroid Vesta. Fragments of this meteorite were scattered over a wide area.

As a point of interest, the city of Tatahouine inspired the name of the famous planet Tatooine in the Star Wars film series. Although not many scenes were filmed in Tatahouine itself, surrounding Tunisian desert locations such as Matmata and others have been used as backdrops for desert settings in films. This connection gives the Tatahouine meteorite an even more interesting cultural context that appeals not only to scientists but also to fans of popular culture.

Author: Terezie Laubrova

Do you want to start collecting meteorites but don't know how and where to start? With an overwhelming number of species to choose from, the first step can be confusing. This guide will give you an overview of the best meteorites for beginners - from affordable specimens that should definitely not be missing from your collection, to rarer pieces that will add value and uniqueness to your collection. You'll also learn what types of meteorites are most popular and what to consider when collecting them.

Recommended meteorites to start with

Iron meteorites

Campo del Cielo

One of the most famous meteorites you can get is the Campo del Cielo from Argentina. This iron meteorite has been found in large quantities and is often available in its raw state, although you can also find cut and polished pieces on the market. When buying, it is important to remember that meteorite is quite unstable and oxidizes quickly, although it is usually treated with oil to protect against corrosion. Campo del Cielo is popular and commercially available, making it an affordable and fascinating sample of the universe that should not be missing from any collection.

Canyon Diablo

Another well-known iron meteorite is Canyon Diablo from Arizona, USA, famous for Barringer Crater, also known as Meteor Crater, which was formed by its impact about 50,000 years ago. The story of this crater is linked to geologist Daniel Barringer, who spent decades searching for a huge piece of meteorite that he believed was buried beneath the crater. Eventually, it turned out that the main body had completely vaporized on impact due to an extreme release of energy. With a total mass of approximately 30 tonnes, this meteorite is one of the more affordable meteorites found and is usually available in its raw form.

Aletai

Another well-known and popular iron meteorite is Aletai from China, which is characterised by the beautiful Widmanstätten patterns that appear when cut and etched with acid. This meteorite is not only available in its raw state, but is also often found in the form of polished plates, cubes, prisms, spheres and even pendants.

The Swedish iron meteorite Muonionalusta, known for its beautiful Widmanstätten patterns, like Aletai, should definitely not be missed in the collection. This meteorite often appears in the form of cuts, slices and spheres, but even in its raw state it has its own unmistakable charm.

 

Sikhote Alin

Sikhote-Alin is a famous iron meteorite from Russia that is affordable and famous for its dramatic fall in 1947. The event was so intense that the impact created thousands of fragments that tore through the forest and left dozens of craters on the ground. Meteorite fragments are characterised by deep depressions known as regmaglypts, which are formed as they pass through the atmosphere. Sikhote-Alin is usually sold in its raw state.

Stony-iron meteorites

If we move from iron meteorites to the less common pallasites, we find that they make up only 1% of all meteorites found. Yet even among them there are famous specimens worth having in your collection. These meteorites are unique in their composition, which includes olivines - often beautifully coloured from yellow to green shades, and often translucent. Because of their aesthetic beauty and rarity, pallasites are one of the most sought-after types of meteorites among collectors.

Seymchan

Sericho

Sericho from Kenya, discovered in 2016, is also among the easily accessible pallasites. This meteorite is known for its evenly dispersed olivine crystals that are embedded in a metallic matrix. The crystals can have beautiful hues from yellow to green, although not all are translucent in sections. Sericho is popular among collectors for its aesthetic value and is available in cut slabs, end cuts and even in the rough.

Stony meteorites

As far as stone meteorites are concerned, they are divided into chondrites and achondrites.

Chondrites make up approximately 86% of all known meteorites, making them the most common type of meteorite. Chondrites are made up of spherical particles, called chondrules, which are spheres of a few mm in size made up mainly of olivines, plagioclase, pyroxene and other minerals.

Achondrites, unlike chondrites, are characterized by the absence of chondrules. Achondrites are the result of more intense geological processes such as melting and differentiation that occurred on parent bodies such as planetesimals and minor planets. These meteorites are similar in texture to terrestrial igneous rocks and contain minerals such as pyroxene and plagioclase in larger crystals. Achondrites are divided into different subgroups, such as HED meteorites (from the asteroid Vesta) or lunar and Martian meteorites, which are fragments from the Moon or Mars.

The NWA mystery

What is NWA and why is it sometimes a number and sometimes just an X? A huge number of different meteorites have fallen into the Northwest Africa region, and some of these meteorites have not been scientifically assigned to any known fall or find and thus have been given the general designation NWA X (Northwest Africa). These meteorites are more affordable for this reason, so you can get larger pieces for relatively low prices. If a meteorite has been classified and assigned to a find or fall, it has a number after the NWA name instead of the X mentioned above, such as meteorite NWA 869 (chondrite), NWA 14131 (achondrite - eucrite) or NWA 7831 (achondrite - diogenite), etc.

NWA 7831

NWA X

NWA X

NWA 14131

So we recommend to start in the category of stone meteorites with some NWA X, which can still be very interesting and reasonably priced.

Chondrites

Chelyabinsk

The Chelyabinsk meteorite is one of the most famous chondrites, thanks to a dramatic fall recorded in 2013 over Russia. This meteorite has become the best documented fall in history because it was captured on countless videos and photos from car dashboard cameras and security cameras. Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments are most often found in their raw state and are very popular among collectors due to their accessibility and important historical story.

Achondrites

Bechar 003

Bechar 003 is a lunar meteorite, a real fragment from the surface of our Moon. Although the price of this achondrite is higher than that of ordinary chondrites, it remains very popular among collectors and the general public. There are both raw pieces, which remain as they fell to Earth, and cut and polished slices with a distinctive texture. A lunar meteorite like Bechar 003 is a unique piece that should not be missed in any meteorite collection.

Amgala 001

Amgala 001 is another very popular achondrite that comes from the planet Mars. These fragments were formed by the impact of another asteroid on the surface of Mars, which led to the rock being ejected into space. After a long journey, this material was caught by the gravitational force of the Earth and fell to its surface. This is a relatively new find from December 2022, with a total found mass of less than 35 kilograms. Amgala 001 is available in raw pieces of various sizes and polished slices, making it an attractive addition for collectors of space artefacts.

Conclusion

This will get you started with the most well-known and common representatives of each major category, which should not be missing from any meteorite collection. We believe this will help you get started and if you are interested in having your collection nicely boxed, we recommend our boxed collection, where you will find almost all of these representatives with graphics.

And for more demanding customers:

If you're looking for something really special to add to your basic collection, we recommend Erg Chech 002 - a rare volcanic rock from a protoplanet in the early days of the solar system, which means it's older than the Earth itself. Another popular collector's piece is Imilac, a beautiful pallasite with olivine crystals, originally from Argentina. The Bendegó meteorite, which has an interesting story behind it, is also worthy of attention. This massive iron meteorite had to be intricately transported to the National Museum of Rio, where it survived a devastating fire in 2018 almost intact, and many others.

Read also our article: The Most Interesting Meteorite Stories

Author: Terezie Laubrova