The ABCs of Meteorite CollectingBy Vincent S. FosterAs Colby Navarro sat at his computer on March 26, 2003, he had no idea that a meteorite was about to of crashing on the roof of his Forest Park, Illinois, home, hitting his printer, bouncing off the wall and landing near a filing cabinet. The rock, about four inches wide, was part of a meteor shower that swept through the Chicago area, damaging at least six homes and three cars. Scientists said that before the rock broke, it was probably the size of a car. Thank heavens for the little favors. Although the chances of being hit by a meteorite are slim, it is estimated that 200 tons of cosmic debris fall to Earth every day. It rains in the form of interplanetary dust particles, micrometeorites and pieces of rock. Scientists estimate that some 24,000 stones ranging from a few grams to several kilograms hit the Earth each year. This represents a bombardment rate of approximately 40 meteorites per square kilometer over a period of one million years. That's a lot of meteorites lying around waiting to be picked up. If a meteorite is seen falling by credible observers and later recovered, it is described as a fall. There are maybe only one or two falls a year. A meteorite discovered after having been on the ground for some time is called a discovery. Falls and finds are usually named after the town or recognized geological feature closest to their point of discovery. Most meteorites are debris from the formation of planets. They come from the main asteroid belt. But a few specimens have been thrown onto the Moon or Mars during giant impacts. Unless you are lucky enough to see a meteorite pass through your ceiling, as happened in Park Forest, there are only two ways to...... middle of paper ..... .”-like indentations, scoops or ridges on the meteorite). If the fusion crust is present and intact, the meteorite is more valuable. When it comes to regmaglypts, the deeper the “footprints,” the greater the value. You can purchase whole specimens of meteorites, but if your budget is limited, you can purchase fragments. Fragments can be useful if they show a significant portion of the exterior of the meteorite as well as the interior matrix. Over time, you can build a beautiful meteorite collection that suits your budget and interests. These tips are not set in stone. But a little knowledge can go a long way and even help you find a meteorite. And that is your primary goal as you participate in the fun and excitement this hobby has to offer.ENDWord Count: 2,788Vincent S. Foster37 Brigantine Blvd.Waretown, NJ 08758Tel. : 609-488-5898E-mail: [email protected]