CONTACTING US AND WHAT TO DO NEXT

PLEASE NOTE: The company telephone number is for sales and media inquiries only. We cannot identify your suspected meteorite over the phone, so please follow the procedures outlined below.

We receive many requests for help with meteorite identification each year. We appreciate that there is a lot of information on this page, but please take a few minutes to read it. We have spent years developing an efficient method for examining suspected meteorites. Please follow our procedures and help us to help you inspect your find as quickly as possible.

WE OFFER TWO OPTIONS FOR METEORITE INSPECTION

OPTION A
Send us photos of your find(s) by email or USPS

There is a $10.00 non-refundable fee for submission of photographs. This fee helps us offset the considerable cost of reviewing the many samples we receive. Your submission fee covers the inspection of two different specimens. You may send up to five photos of each specimen.

We recommend that you email us photos and that you make your payment through PayPal as doing so will expedite your submission. Just click on the "Buy Now" button below. We also accept checks made out to "Aerolite Meteorites" (see mailing address below).

IMPORTANT: Once payment has been received through PayPal your online receipt will appear. Please click on the link that says "Return to Aerolite Meteorites" and you will immediately be directed to a confirmation page which includes our private Meteorite Identification Department email address, along with detailed instructions on how to send us photos. We suggest printing out the confirmation page so you can refer to it later.

 

Once your PayPal receipt page appears, please click on the link that says
"Return to Aerolite Meteorites"

If you are mailing hard copy photos by USPS:

There is a $10.00 submission fee to review hard copy photos. Please send only non-returnable prints. We are not able to return photos to the sender. Please use the P.O. Box listed below.

In addition to the photos, please include:

• A stamped, self-addressed envelope so we can respond to your inquiry.

• A note with your your name, address, phone number and any helpful information about the piece, such as where you found it, and if it is attracted to a magnet.

• A check or money order payable to "Aerolite Meteorites LLC" in the amount of $10.00 for the inspection fee. Photos that are sent without the fee will be discarded.

Please be sure the photos are in focus and that your sample is clearly visible or we will not be able to assist you in the identification of your suspected meteorite and re-submission of photos will incur an additional $10.00 fee.

You will receive one of four replies after we receive your photos:

(1) YOUR FIND IS NOT A METEORITE
If we do not believe you have a meteorite we will reply by email or letter and inform you. Please note: We do meteorite identification only. We do not provide analyses of earth rocks, so our reply to you will state only if your find is a meteorite or not.

(2) YOUR FIND IS A METEORITE
If we believe you may have a genuine meteorite, we will either email you, or call you directly so that we may discuss further options. If we feel your specimen is a meteorite we often recommend sending it (or part of it) to us for visual inspection.

(3) FURTHER ANALYSIS REQUIRED
Occasionally we are unable to determine authenticity based on photos alone may suggest that you mail a sample to us for visual inspection (see below for details). There is an additional $25.00 lab inspection fee. (Please note this fee is in addition to the $10.00 fee) If you are confident you have a meteorite, you may wish to just send the sample and save the $10 photo inspection fee.

(4) INCORRECT SUBMISSION
If the submission guidelines are not followed (example: sample photo is out of focus, sample photo is in the wrong format, etc.) your email will be returned without a response or explanation. If you choose to resubmit photos an additional fee will be charged.

OPTION B
Send us a sample of your find(s)

We offer to examine your suspected meteorite find at the Aerolite Meteorites Identification Department for a $25.00 fee. This helps cover the time of our staff geologist and meteorite experts as they examine potential space rocks. Your $25 fee covers the inspection of three separate specimens provided they are sent at the same time and in the same package. Additional specimens may be included for $5.00 per specimen.

You will receive one of three replies after we receive your sample(s):

(1) YOUR FIND IS NOT A METEORITE
If we do not believe you have a meteorite we will reply by email or letter and inform you. Please note: We do meteorite identification only. We do not provide analyses of earth rocks, so our reply to you will state only if your find is a meteorite or not. If you have included full return postage, we will also ship your specimen back to you. If you do not include full return postage, the piece will be disposed of.

(2) YOUR FIND IS A METEORITE
Congratulations! We will contact you to discuss further options and see what you would like to do with your find. At this stage we are often able to provide an estimation of its value.

(3) FURTHER ANALYSIS REQUIRED
Very occasionally we receive a piece that cannot be positively identified without further testing. If this is the case, we may recommend the piece be sent for further testing to an assay lab. We can either ship the piece back to you for you to take it to lab of your own choosing, or or we can take it to our local assay office. Assay lab testing costs an additional $45.00. We never incur additional testing fees without your express permission.

SPECIMEN MAILING CHECKLIST

If you are mailing specimens to us, please go through the checklist before you leave for the post office:

• Include a check made out to "Aerolite Meteorites" for $25. Samples that are sent without an inspection fee will be discarded.

• Please include a note with your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

• Include full return postage if you would like the sample returned to you. For example: if it cost you $11.95 to ship the sample to us, you must include $11.95 for us to ship it back to you. If you do not include full shipping costs for the return package, the material will not be returned to you.

• Include a mailing label with your full name and address.

SPECIMEN MAILING GUIDELINES

Please pack your sample(s) securely and send to the address below. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are typically the least expensive way to ship heavy items. We advise against mailing rocks in regular letter envelopes as they often arrive damaged. We strongly recommend adding USPS Delivery Confirmation which only costs an additional $0.65 per shipment, and allows you to track your package.

Please ship to:

Aerolite Meteorites LLC
P.O. Box 36652
Tucson, AZ 85740
USA

A specimen the size of golf ball is large enough for us to test. Please do not send ten pounds of rocks, it's not necessary. It is up to you, the finder, to determine if it is necessary to cut off a piece for analysis. In some cases, cutting a piece off may diminish the value of the piece. If the sample is not overly large, we recommend sending the whole piece.

PLEASE NOTE: We receive hundreds of inquires each year regarding suspected meteorites. It usually takes two to four weeks to receive and inspect a sample, depending on our workload. Please be patient. Calling our offices will only connect you to the sales department and they will not be able to answer any questions about your rocks. All photos and samples receive personal attention, provided our guidelines are followed, and are examined in the order in which they were received.

Photographs and samples sent to us without the examination fee included will be discarded without being inspected. Samples that are mailed to us without full return postage will be discarded.

By mailing us a specimen you agree that we are not responsible for loss or damage to any material. Packages, and their contents, mailed to Aerolite Meteorites are done so entirely at the risk of the sender.

IMPORTANT! We will not accept Registered Mail or Certified Mail shipments except by prior arrangement. Our staff does not have time to wait on line at the Post Office to sign for packages. If you send Registered or Certified Mail packages they will be returned to you unopened. We are happy to accept mail with Delivery Confirmation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 

Yes, I want to know if my find is a genuine meteorite! Click here:

 

Thank you for your interest in our meteorite identification services, and keep on hunting!

Aerolite Meteorites LLC and Meteorite Men the TV Series
P.O. Box 36652
Tucson, AZ 85740
USA

Disclaimer: By contacting us, sending us photographs or specimens you agree that Aerolite Meteorites LLC is not responsible for loss or damage to ANY materials sent to them. All materials sent to us are entirely the responsibility of the sender. Any emails or digital photos sent to Aerolite Meteorites may be used by us for demonstration, educational or other purposes. We will not return any materials unless correct return postage is supplied.