The Meteorite Cane

Hunting meteorites in a known strewn field is both frustrating and very rewarding. It is frustrating because finds are few and far between (unless you have the phenomenal luck of searching a new fall!). If you average $1.00 per hour worth of material, you will be doing quite well. On the rewarding side, there is absolutely nothing like finding a meteorite in the field. When you first hold it in your hand you know it has traveled millions of miles and that no human has ever touched it. It is an experience you will never forget. In addition, even though many hours may pass between finds, it is very relaxing to be "on the hunt" with no time lines, schedules, etc.., wieghing on your conciousness --- just you (and perhaps a friend) and nature.

To make your hunting time infinitely more productive and enjoyable, it is essential you make a meteorite cane. First you need to buy any cheep but decent cane at a thift or drug store. Near the tip, about 1/2 inch up, fasten a very strong magnet with tape. About 99% of all meteorites are moderately to strongly respnosive to a good magnet (most are strongly responsive if the magnet is very strong). This makes checking any suspected candidates very quick and easy as you tap about with the tip of the cane while walking at a decent clip. Without a meteorite cane you would be stopping and bending over THOUSANDS of times, covering far less area and taxing your back to the limit. Yes there are a few "hot rocks" that respond to a strong magnet and are not meteoric, however they rarely look meteoric upon close inspection. You just bring the tip of the cane up for a close look fot the tell tale fusion crust, or lack there of!

When you do find a true meteorite it will jump out of the dirt and "click" to the magnet. My nephew had a 40 gram Correo, which was 9/10's covered, dislodge itself from a hardened earth to leap on to his cane with a "click" that will not soon be forgotten!

Here's another tip: Computer hard drives contain one and sometimes two very strong magnets (the older the drive, usually the stronger the magnet), so don't throw those old 400Mb drives away -> salvage them! [meteorite central]