buying a meteorite from
a dealer or bidding on an auction it can be very helpful to have some information
about the current "market price" of particular type or class of meteorites.
This page is an attempt to help in this respect.
It must be kept in mind that large price variations
can be expected based on a multitude of factors such as the following:
Availability
This is always the most important price determinant
- Supply and demand - certain specimens within a group may be very rare
or thought to be rare and can command much higher prices than more common
group members.
Size and Form
Larger pieces may cost less per gram as a result
of less cutting waste and preparation, while broken fragments are often
less expensive than cut slices. Remnant fusion crust is usually considered
a premium. The slice thickness is also an important price determinant,
again due to cutting losses.
Weathering
Meteorites that are seen to fall can be recovered
in fresh condition, while those that are found may be extremely old and
weathered. Fresh and/or cool looking meteorites are in higher demand.
Preparation
Great price variation can exist due to the quality
of cutting, polishing, etching, and presentation, as well as to overall
customer service.
Historical Interest
The demand side of "supply and demand" can be greatly influenced if the specimen was seen to fall, hit something man made(car, house, curb?...), came from an identifiable celestial object,
is historically significant, or just effectively
hyped by the seller.
What's in a name?
As a general rule meteorites with names hold their value better than meteorites from Africa with just a number.
If you just want to own a meteorite, very nice classified pieces can be found for under 25 cents per gram on Ebay.
You can also find unclassified meteorites mostly from North West Africa (NWA) for under 5 cents per gram on Ebay.
Caveat Emptor, and Good Luck!
The Meteorite Express
METEORITE PRICE GUIDE - August 2007
$/gram low-high
Availability code:
Price range in US dollars
VR=very rare
per gram from know sales
R=rare
of the particular class.
C=common
Sale may have been a longtime ago!
VC=very common
Under a dollar are colored red.
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| CIl |
128-1,650 |
R |
| CI2 |
200-1,000 |
R |
| CM1 |
NA |
R |
| CM2 |
4-100 |
VC |
| CR2 |
25-200 |
C |
| CH3 |
50-500 |
R |
| CB |
10-350 |
C |
| CO3 |
3-100 |
VC |
| CK3 |
100 |
R |
| CK4 |
10-100 |
C |
| CK5 |
20-150 |
R |
| CK6 |
NA |
R |
| CV3OxA (Oxidized-Allende subgroup) |
2-200 |
VC |
| CV3OxB (Oxidized-Bali subgroup) |
200 |
R |
| CV3R (Reduced subgroup) |
5-60 |
R |
| CV4 |
NA |
R |
| C4 (Coolidge, Loongana 001, HaH 073 grouplet) |
25-150 |
R |
| C3 (ungrouped) |
100-200 |
R |
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| R CHONDRITES |
40-1,000 |
C |
AMPHOTERITE LL
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| LL3.0-3.9 |
1-100 |
VC |
| LL4 |
1-88 |
C |
| LL5 |
1-45 |
C |
| LL6 |
1-46 |
C |
| LL7 |
8-100 |
R |
TRANSITIONAL L/LL
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| L/LL3 |
5-30 |
R |
| L/LL4 |
3-20 |
R |
| L/LL5 |
5 |
R |
| L/LL6 |
10 |
R |
OLIVINE-HYPERSTHENE L
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| L3 |
2-22 |
C |
| L4 |
1-25 |
VC |
| L5 |
.25-140 |
VC |
| L6 |
.10-500 |
VC |
| L7 |
NA |
VR |
TRANSITIONAL H/L
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| H/L3 |
5-100 |
R |
| H/L4 |
2-15 |
C |
OLIVINE-BRONZITE H
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| H3 |
2-20 |
C |
| H4 |
.15-343 |
VC |
| H5 |
.10-54 |
VC |
| H6 |
.10-100 |
VC |
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| "kakangariites" (proposed grouplet) |
830 |
R |
OTHER CHONDRITES
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| EH3 |
20-50 |
VC |
| EH4 |
20-110 |
C |
| EH5 |
NA |
R |
| EH6 |
NA |
R |
| EL3 |
NA |
R |
| EL4 |
100 |
R |
| EL5 |
NA |
R |
| EL6 |
10-85 |
C |
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| ANGRITES |
120-1,000 |
C |
| BRACHINITES |
100-625 |
R |
| ACAPULCOITES |
30-1,000 |
R |
| LODRANITES |
2000-29,108 |
R |
| WINONAITES |
75-800 |
C |
| UREILITES subgroup 1 |
50-385 |
VC |
| UREILITES subgroup 2 |
240 |
R |
| UREILITES subgroup 3 |
NA |
VR |
| UREILITES polymict |
50-200 |
C |
| HOWARDITES |
15-100 |
C |
| EUCRITES cumulate group |
10-100 |
R |
| EUCRITES noncumulate "Main series" |
7-85 |
VC |
| EUCRITES noncumulate "Stannern Trend" |
10-100 |
C |
| EUCRITES noncumulate "Nuevo Laredo Trend" |
100-200 |
R |
| DIOGENITES |
16-85 |
VC |
| AUBRITES |
10-200 |
VC |
| SHERGOTTITES (basalts) |
350-4,000 |
VC |
| SHERGOTTITES (lherzolites/harzburgites) |
NA |
R |
| NAKHLITES (clinopyroxenites/wehrlites) |
700-35,000 |
R |
| ORTHOPYROXENITE |
NA |
VR |
| CHASSIGNITE (dunite) |
10,000-142,500 |
VR |
| LUNAITE (highlands breccia) |
750-160,000 |
C |
| LUNAITE (mare basalt) |
2,000-20,000 |
R |
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| IA |
.2-6 |
VC |
| IB |
5-25 |
R |
| IC |
1-6 |
R |
| IIA |
1-15 |
VC |
| IIB |
.15-5 |
VC |
| IIC |
5-65 |
R |
| IID |
1-5 |
C |
| IIE |
1-10 |
VC |
| IIF |
5-20 |
R |
| IIIA |
.50-16 |
VC |
| IIIB |
1-6 |
VC |
| IIIC |
6 |
R |
| IIID |
5 |
R |
| IIICD |
.15-13 |
VC |
| IIIE |
2-6 |
R |
| IIIF |
3-10 |
R |
| IVA |
.10-5 |
VC |
| IVB |
2-41 |
C |
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| From groups IA, IB, IIE, IIICD, and IVA |
5-25 |
VC |
MESOSIDERITES
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| Subgroups 1-4 |
2-100 |
R-VC |
PALLASITES
| ....................CLASSIFICATION.................... |
$/gram low-high |
availability |
| Main Group |
.75-60 |
VC |
| Eagle Station Grouplet |
NA |
VR |
| Pyroxene Grouplet |
12-34 |
R |