Hunting meteorites

[aerobrake]

Hi all,

Had a look at a collection of meteorites found in Oz at the Australian museum and was intrigued to find on the net many people go meteorite hunting quite successfully.

Has anyone had a go anywhere in Oz with any success in finding meteorites? would love to give it a shot myself.

Cheers
Mike

[Outbackmanyep]

Maybe a good place to start would be a fossicking club? Perhaps Parramatta Fossicking Club, they may not do that sort of thing but im sure they can get you onto a path.....

[Blue Skies]

I don't know about doing it in Australia - most states have laws about handing any finds over to become property of the state. If you find one you'd better be quiet about it!

[Rob_K]

A meteorite brochure put out by the Museum of Victoria in 2007 states that:
"In Western Australia and South Australia legislation means that meteorites are the property of the Government and must be lodged with an appropriate Museum. In other States, the finder is able to keep a meteorite."

I don't know if that's the present extent of State legislation - it's likely that in time other States will enact similar legislation, if they haven't done so already. Exporting a meteorite requires a Permit under Commonwealth law.

You might also find this interesting:
http://www.arts.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/88073/bathurst-observatory.pdf

Cheers -

[aerobrake]

Thanks guys, interesting. I didnt think the government would have their hand in it, not surprising tho.

Cheers
Mike