Summary for beginners:

• Headline sale: A 25 kg Martian meteorite (NWA 16788) sold at Sotheby’s New York on July 16, 2025 for about $5.3 million all-in, setting a new auction record.
• Why so valuable: Extreme rarity and high scientific value. Fewer than ~400 certified Martian meteorites exist among 77,000+ classified meteorites.
• Can you find your own: Yes, but it’s hard. Dry deserts and Antarctic ice are best for preservation and discovery.
• Ownership and identification: Private ownership is often allowed, but a rock isn’t “officially a meteorite” until it’s analyzed and accepted into the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.

Author’s perspective: This guide is written for new collectors who are curious about meteorite prices, where to find them, and how the market works, with accurate, source-linked information to help you avoid costly mistakes.

The record sale: NWA 16788 at Sotheby’s New York

• What happened: On July 16, 2025, Sotheby’s auctioned the largest known Martian meteorite on Earth (cataloged as NWA 16788). Hammer plus buyer’s premium and fees totaled about $5.3 million, surpassing the auction house’s $2–4 million estimate and setting a new price record for meteorites.
• Size and rarity: Approximately 375 × 279 × 152 mm, just under 25 kg—about 70% larger than the second-largest known Martian meteorite.
• Price per gram: Roughly RMB 1,500 per gram (about US$200+/g depending on exchange rate), significantly higher than gold.
• Chain of custody under review: Reports indicate the specimen was found in Niger in November 2023, later exhibited in Italy, and then sold in New York. Niger authorities have reportedly opened an inquiry into the meteorite’s export path and temporarily paused exports of gemstones/meteorites to ensure traceability. Sotheby’s stated the export and sale complied with applicable regulations.
• Sources:
  • Associated Press coverage on record sale and Niger inquiry: https://apnews.com (search “NWA 16788 Sotheby’s Niger investigation”)
  • Sotheby’s sale information: https://www.sothebys.com (search “Martian meteorite NWA 16788”)
  • Meteoritical Bulletin Database (for meteorite classifications): https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/

NWA 16788 at Sotheby’s New York

Note: Because auction catalog pages can change post-sale, use the site search functions above to access the original lot page and condition report.

Why Martian meteorites are so expensive

• Extreme rarity: Out of 77,000+ officially classified meteorites, only around 400 are confirmed Martian meteorites. Lunar meteorites are also rare and command high prices.
• Scientific value: Meteorites are our primary physical samples for understanding the solar system. For example, CI carbonaceous chondrites have bulk compositions closely matching the Sun’s photosphere, making them a benchmark for solar system composition.
• Market dynamics: Large, fresh, aesthetically striking, or scientifically important specimens receive premiums. Provenance and legal export documentation are critical to value and liquidity.

Where can you find meteorites

• The reality: Meteorites fall globally with roughly equal geographic probability. But you’re most likely to find them in environments that preserve dark stones and make them stand out:
  • Hot deserts (e.g., Sahara in North Africa, Arabian Peninsula, parts of Australia). Dark meteorites are visually detectable on light-colored, stable surfaces where weathering is slow.
  • Cold deserts (Antarctica). Systematic searches by national programs recover large numbers because ice flows concentrate meteorites, and dark rocks contrast against snow/ice. These are typically collected under scientific programs and curated for research.
• Why not your backyard: In humid, vegetated regions, meteorites weather and disappear quickly, and visual searches are hindered by soil and plants.
• Ethics and legality: Always check local laws. Some countries restrict or prohibit private collection, export, or sale of meteorites. Obtain landowner permission on private land, and be aware of protected areas and cultural heritage regulations.

Meteorites (black below) are very conspicuous on the Antarctic ice sheet. Photo: Lin Yangting

Nubian Desert Meteorite -  From NASA Science

 

How to tell if a rock is a meteorite 

• Field clues (not definitive):
  • Fusion crust: A thin, dark, glassy rind from atmospheric heating. May show shallow thumbprint-like pits (regmaglypts) or flow lines. 
    • Magnetism: Many (not all) meteorites attract a magnet due to native metal. Carbonaceous chondrites and some achondrites may be weakly magnetic.
    • Density and metal flecks: Chondrites often contain visible metal specks and feel heavy for their size.

Celebrated for having the most beautiful regmaglypts, the Alin iron meteorite is becoming increasingly rare in private circulation. Photo by Oriental Meteorite.

Click the image to learn more and purchase.

• Why experts are necessary: Some Martian and lunar basalts look nearly identical to terrestrial rocks. Official identification requires lab analysis (e.g., thin sections, electron microprobe, oxygen isotopes).
• Official recognition: For a stone to be internationally recognized as a meteorite, it must be analyzed and accepted into the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Start here: Meteoritical Society Portal: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/

Can you keep and sell a meteorite you find?

• Practical answer:
  • Before classification: You can own and display a found rock, but it is not “officially” a meteorite without laboratory analyses and Meteoritical Bulletin acceptance.
  • After classification: In many jurisdictions, private ownership and transactions are allowed, provided the specimen was lawfully acquired and exported. Always document provenance and comply with local and national regulations.

Meteorite price guide for beginners

Note: Prices vary by type, size, freshness, provenance, aesthetics, and legality. The record Martian sale is an outlier; most meteorites are far less expensive.

• Common chondrites (L/LL/H, weathered desert finds)
  • Small fragments or slices: a few dollars per gram
  • Attractive full stones with fresh fusion crust: tens of dollars per gram
• Carbonaceous chondrites (select types)
  • CM/CO/CV: often tens to low hundreds of dollars per gram depending on freshness and rarity
  • CI (extremely rare): can reach very high prices; typically not available to beginners
• Iron meteorites
  • Widmanstätten patterns after etch; often priced per kilogram: from tens to a few hundred dollars per kilogram for common irons; much higher for aesthetic individuals or rare groups
• Lunar meteorites
  • Often hundreds to thousands of dollars per gram depending on freshness, fragment size, and documentation
• Martian meteorites
  • Typically hundreds to well over a thousand dollars per gram; large, museum-grade individuals can be orders of magnitude higher (as the NWA 16788 sale shows)A 18-specimen boxed set of major meteorite slice types—Martian (NWA 13190, NWA 11474 Shergottites), Lunar (NWA 11474 Feldspathic Breccia), HED Howardite, Aubrite (Hagounia 001), EL (NWA 2965), L3/L4/L5/L6 (NWA 869, NWA 849, NWA 10152), H3/H4/H5/H6 (NWA 4818, NWA 10152, NWA 869), CK5 (NWA 4818), CV3 (NWA 2965), Pallasite (Sericho), IVA (Muonionalusta), and IIAB (Agoudal, low Ni)—crafted by Oriental Meteorite; click the image to learn more and purchase.

Buying advice:

• Always demand documentation: classification, Meteoritical Bulletin link, lab report, find/export paperwork where applicable.
• Buy from reputable dealers affiliated with recognized organizations (e.g., IMCA—International Meteorite Collectors Association).
• Be wary of “too cheap” Martian or lunar offers; counterfeit and misidentified rocks are common.

If you want to search for meteorites yourself

• Best locations: Stable, arid surfaces with light-colored ground. Research local laws before any expedition.
• Tools: GPS, magnet, jeweler’s loupe, strong magnet with protective tape, field notebook, bags with labels, camera, gloves. Avoid excessive handling to preserve surfaces.
• Documentation: Record coordinates, date, find circumstances, photographs in situ, and orientation if visible. Good documentation adds scientific and market value.
• Next steps for authentication: Contact a university planetary science lab or a curator with experience in meteorite classification. Expect to provide a small piece for analysis.

Preservation and handling

• Can you touch meteorites? Yes, they’re not unusually radioactive. But avoid frequent handling with bare hands—sweat and oils can contaminate or alter surfaces, especially for research-important specimens. Use gloves or handle edges only.

Frequently asked questions

• Do all meteorites have fusion crust and thumbprints? Many do, but small fragments or broken individuals may lack obvious exterior features.
• Are metal-detecting and magnets foolproof? No. Slag, industrial byproducts, and terrestrial basalts can fool magnets and detectors. Lab analysis is the standard.
• Why are deserts “full of meteorites”? They aren’t “full,” but they preserve and reveal meteorites that would otherwise weather away or be hidden by vegetation elsewhere.

Trusted resources and links

• Meteoritical Bulletin Database (official classifications): https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/
• Associated Press (news on NWA 16788 sale and Niger investigation): https://apnews.com
• Sotheby’s (auction listing and results): https://www.sothebys.com
  Tip: Use each site’s search for “NWA 16788” or “Martian meteorite Sotheby’s 2025” to locate the specific lot and reports.

Final thoughts for new collectors

• Meteorites are finite and scientifically important. The best collections balance responsible sourcing, proper documentation, and careful preservation.
• Begin with verified, well-documented common chondrites to learn textures and structures, then step up to rarer types.
• If your goal is investment-grade pieces, focus on provenance, legality, and aesthetics—and expect prices to reflect true rarity.

Need help? If you share your budget, preferred type (iron, chondrite, lunar, Martian), and whether you want a complete stone, slice, or micromount, I can suggest a shortlist of reputable sources and recent comps, and help you verify documentation with the Meteoritical Bulletin.