In the southern desert of Morocco, you can increasingly meet people struggling with the heat and carefully studying the sand. These are treasure hunters trying to locate meteorites for sale in a growing international market.
Using a powerful magnet and magnifying glass, the former physical education teacher Mohammed Buzgarin says that discoveries can exceed gold in value. The cost depends on the composition of the stone, shape and condition. Sometimes Martian samples can be sold at a price of $ 1000 per gram. Mohammed has been sifting sand for 4 years, inspecting stones for burn marks from entering the atmosphere. So far he has no luck, but the success of some of the hundreds of his “competitors” is encouraging.
Lucky Hunters
Some managed to earn a lot of money in such a field. It is said that one of the hunters found a 600-gram meteorite and sold at a price of $ 780 per gram. The greatest activity began in the 2000s.
The desert landscapes of Erfoud, Tats and Zagora in the south of Morocco are promising sites for meteorite hunters. Wind blows away sand and black stones are easier to spot.
Foreign specialists also join the search, studying the territory in the desert landscapes of Erfud, Tata and Zagora. These parts are lavishly covered with fragments, whose dark color stands out against the background of light sand. Desert zones are the most favorable areas for the accumulation of meteorites, because there are no plants there, and the structure of the territory practically does not change. For scientists, these are important breeds containing valuable information about the formation of the Solar System 4.5 billion years ago. Demand in the scientific community and professional brokers made the hunters activate. It is important to note that in Morocco there is no legal basis governing discoveries, so the one who found it takes the stone.
Playing the lottery
In 2011, fragments of the Martian stream fell in the Tata area, thanks to which 7 kg of fragments were found. The price for transportation was 500-1000 dollars per gram. Of course, the quest requires incredible patience.
A meteor hunter searches for stones near the city of Mkhamid El-Gizlan. If other countries claim to be found, then in Morocco it is not supported by the legal system. Therefore, the stones go to the one who found them.
It is important not only to find, but also to sell correctly. Transactions are usually conducted in secret and online (using specialized forums). The most precious finds are auctioned in Paris or New York.
