What Makes These Space Rocks So Special?
Look, I’m no scientist—just a guy with a metal detector and too much free time—but there’s something almost spiritual about holding a meteorite. You’re touching something older than Earth itself. This chunk of nickel and iron has been floating around in space for 4.5 BILLION years before it decided to crash-land in our backyard. Pretty mind-blowing when you think about it.
And speaking of metal detectors, that’s why we treasure hunters have a leg up on traditional meteorite hunters. Most meteorites contain enough metal that they scream on a detector. My buddy John calls it “the space rock shriek” – unmistakable once you’ve heard it a few times.
My Lucky Finds (And Some That Got Away)
The meteorite community is small enough that we all know each other’s stories. Mine started with a stupid mistake, actually.
Years ago, when I was exclusively hunting gold, I kept finding these annoying “hot rocks” that would set off my detector. They drove me crazy! I’d chuck them as far as I could so I wouldn’t have to hear that false signal again. Well, turns out I may have been throwing away meteorites worth hundreds of dollars. Ouch.
My wife still gives me grief about that one. “Remember when you were literally throwing money into the bushes?” Yeah, thanks honey.
Franconia Hunting – Where I Got Obsessed
About 80 miles northwest of Kingman, there’s a stretch of desert called Franconia that’s become my second home. Last month I went out there on what was supposed to be a quick weekend trip. Ended up staying four days because the hunting was so good.
Found a beauty weighing 327 grams that I’m still trying to decide whether to sell or keep. My collection is taking over the garage, but this one’s special—has these gorgeous regmaglypts (thumb-print looking depressions) all over the surface.
I also recovered a 74-gram piece that I cut a window into. That’s something most people don’t know about meteorites—you can polish a flat spot to see what’s inside. The contrast between the dark matrix and shiny metal flecks is incredible. Nature’s artwork from beyond our atmosphere.
By the way, cutting meteorites is tricky business. Lost half of my first specimen when the saw blade caught wrong. That was an expensive lesson!
Why You Find These Things in the Desert
People always ask the same question at gem shows: “Why do meteorites only fall in deserts?”
Makes me laugh every time. Truth is, meteorites fall EVERYWHERE—about 500 hit Earth’s surface every year. The difference is preservation.
Drop a meteorite in the Amazon rainforest, and within a few hundred years, moisture and acids in the soil will destroy it. The nickel-iron components rust away, and the whole structure disintegrates.
But leave that same rock baking in the Arizona sun for 10,000 years, and it’ll still be sitting there waiting for some fool with a metal detector (that would be me) to come along.
This is why places like Franconia, Gold Basin, and Holbrook are famous in meteorite circles. These “strewn fields”—where meteorites scattered after breaking up in the atmosphere—can preserve specimens for millennia in desert conditions.
If you want to know whether or not the rock that you found is from space, check out the article I just posted: Metal Detecting for Meteorites: 5 Proven Tests to Authenticate Your Finds.
From “Hot Rocks” to Treasure – How To Start Looking
If you’re thinking of trying your hand at meteorite hunting, here’s my unscientific advice:
First off, get yourself a decent meteorite hunting metal detector. Doesn’t have to be fancy—my first Franconia finds were with an old Whites detector I bought used for $300. Both VLF and PI detectors work fine, though PI handles mineralized ground better.
Some folks swear by “meteorite canes”—basically walking sticks with powerful magnets on the end. These work okay for surface hunting newly discovered strewn fields, but they won’t help with buried specimens. And trust me, the easy surface finds disappeared years ago from the popular spots.
My secret weapon? Patience. Most hunters give up too quickly. Last year I spent 8 hours in 105-degree heat without a single good signal. Then, just as I was about to call it quits, found three meteorites within 20 minutes. Desert will test you like that.
I once got so dehydrated out there that I started hallucinating little green men watching me dig. Turns out it was just a family of ground squirrels, but I’ve been more careful with water ever since!
What Are These Space Rocks Worth?
The value question is complicated. Rare types like lunar or Martian meteorites can sell for $1,000+ per gram. More common varieties from well-known strewn fields might bring $1-5 per gram.
But here’s what no one tells you: selling meteorites is HARD. It’s a niche market. You’re either dealing with collectors who know more than you do and drive hard bargains, or you’re trying to convince skeptical buyers that your “rock” is actually from space.
I’ve had better luck trading specimens with other collectors than selling outright. Built half my collection that way.
The most valuable meteorite I ever found wasn’t even the biggest—it was a strange 22-gram specimen with curious green crystals that turned out to be something called pallasitic olivine. Ended up trading it for enough equipment to fund my hunting for two years.
Why I Keep Doing This Crazy Hobby
I’ve been meteorite hunting for a while.
My wife asks me all the time: “Bill, why do you drive four hours into the desert to walk around in 100-degree heat looking for rocks?”
It’s hard to explain. There’s the thrill of the hunt, sure. The potential value, absolutely. But it’s something more…
When I hold a meteorite, I’m connecting with something ancient and otherworldly. These rocks were floating in space when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. They watched planets form. They’ve been places we can only dream about.
And somehow, against astronomical odds, they landed right where I was searching. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.
Plus, the meteorite hunting community is full of characters. From professional geologists to conspiracy theorists convinced they’ve found alien technology—our campfire discussions are never boring!
If you’re crazy enough to try this yourself, do your homework first. Get familiar with meteorwrongs.com (yes, that’s a real site) to avoid the embarrassment of triumphantly bringing home a slag iron furnace byproduct (been there).
And if you’re ever out Franconia way and see a sunburned guy with a beat-up detector and a silly grin, that’ll be me. Stop and say hello—I’ve always got space rocks to show and stories to tell.
Just bring extra water. Trust me on that one.
My name is Paul and I am the founder of Detector For Metal, a dedicated resource for metal detecting enthusiasts seeking to uncover historical treasures and connect with the past using the latest technology. As a stay-at-home dad and family man, I’ve found metal detecting to be the perfect hobby that combines family adventure with historical learnings for the whole family.
As a father, I’m deeply committed to passing on this hobby to the next generation of detectorists, starting with my own children. I share advice on everything from metal detecting with kids to exploring the top 10 metal detecting sites you never thought about. My methodical approach to the hobby goes beyond the thrill of discovery—it’s about creating family traditions while preserving history and sharing the stories of those who came before us.
