By San José, Costa Rica — The old saying “money doesn’t fall from the sky” is being challenged by a small but growing cadre of global adventurers. They are meteorite hunters, individuals who traverse deserts, jungles, and plains in search of extraterrestrial rocks that have crash-landed on Earth. Far from being a mere scientific curiosity, this pursuit has ignited a lucrative and complex global market, turning cosmic debris into earthly fortunes.
This high-stakes world attracts people like Roberto Vargas, an American with Puerto Rican heritage who, in 2021, left a stable career to chase falling stars. The allure is a powerful combination of scientific wonder and immense financial potential, driven by private collectors willing to pay staggering sums for a piece of the cosmos. For Vargas and his peers, the hunt begins the moment a fireball streaks across the sky.
To understand the legal complexities surrounding the discovery, ownership, and sale of meteorites in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The legal classification of a meteorite is a fascinating gray area. Traditionally, under the principle of accession, what falls on your land becomes your property. However, their extraterrestrial origin opens the door to classifying them as ‘res nullius’—things without an owner—until someone claims them through discovery. This ambiguity is critical because it directly impacts ownership rights versus potential claims by the State under cultural or scientific heritage laws. Anyone who finds a potential meteorite should avoid any immediate sale and first seek legal counsel to establish clear title, which is paramount for realizing its value in the international market.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This perspective powerfully underscores that the journey from a celestial discovery to a marketable asset is navigated through legal diligence as much as scientific verification. Establishing clear title, as advised, is indeed the essential bridge between finding a meteorite and realizing its value. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable clarification on this crucial, often-overlooked step.
As soon as something falls, it’s time to get moving.
Roberto Vargas, Meteorite Hunter
Vargas’s journey began not with greed, but with simple curiosity. After acquiring his first meteorite, he was hooked. The turning point from collector to professional hunter came in 2019, following reports of a meteorite fall in Costa Rica. Though he didn’t find a specimen himself, he purchased several from locals. The financial return on that initial venture was life-altering.
On that first trip to Costa Rica, I came back on a Friday and by Monday I had already sold meteorites and had earned more than US$40,000, so it was a life-changing experience.
Roberto Vargas, Meteorite Hunter
That single weekend’s profit eclipsed a significant portion of his annual salary of $50,000 to $60,000 as a mental health therapist. A couple of years later, he made the full-time leap, dedicating himself exclusively to tracking down and trading these celestial treasures.
The financial viability of Vargas’s profession, however, was paved by pioneers like Darryl Pitt. A former music photographer, Pitt transformed the meteorite trade by recognizing its potential beyond niche scientific circles. He introduced these cosmic artifacts to the high-end art world, organizing the first-ever meteorite auction in the 1990s.
I wanted to share my fascination with the world, but I also wanted to make money. And I realized that the important thing was to introduce them to the world of auctions.
Darryl Pitt, Meteorite Dealer
This move legitimized meteorites as collectible assets, causing prices to soar and creating the robust market that exists today. But what exactly are these objects, and why are they so valuable? Sarah Russell, a professor at London’s Natural History Museum, provides the scientific context. “A meteorite is a rock that has landed on the Earth’s surface,” she explains, noting that they are called meteors while burning through the atmosphere. Their value is determined by a confluence of factors including rarity, composition (stone, iron, or a mix), size, and origin—with rocks confirmed to be from the Moon or Mars fetching the highest prices.
The market ranges from affordable fragments costing less than a dollar per gram to monumental specimens worth millions. This was vividly illustrated last July when a 24-kilogram Martian meteorite, found in Niger in November 2023, sold for an astonishing $4.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. However, this sale ignited a significant controversy, highlighting the murky legal and ethical landscape of the trade. Officials and academics in Niger questioned the legality of the rock’s removal from the country.
Normally, objects like that, cultural goods leaving the country, must be accompanied by an administrative authorization… If not, it is theft or looting.
Idi Umuru Amadou, Professor, Director of the Department of Archaeology at Abdou Moumouni University
The incident underscores a global problem: a patchwork of inconsistent regulations. “In Australia, you are not allowed to export meteorites… whereas in the United Kingdom there are no specific laws,” Professor Russell notes. This legal vacuum creates opportunities for both legitimate hunters and smugglers, as seen in Argentina, which has struggled to protect its vast Campo del Cielo meteorite field despite having laws in place.
Amid the commercial frenzy, some are focused solely on preservation and science. A Latin American group of female scientists known as “Azmeteóricas” mobilizes to recover new falls for research. Amanda Tosi, a meteorologist with the group, argues for balance, not a ban. “We don’t want to prohibit buying and selling, because when there is trade around meteorites, people are encouraged to look for them,” she states, advocating for laws that protect these objects as both scientific and cultural heritage.
The escalating prices driven by private demand create a significant challenge for public institutions. “It sometimes becomes more difficult for museums and other scientific institutions to get them, especially the most precious ones,” Russell laments. For his part, Roberto Vargas pushes back against the narrative of being a pirate, arguing his work serves a dual purpose. “Yes, we have economic motivation, but also scientific,” he insists. “We want these rocks to be in the hands of scientists, and to be protected, cared for, and studied.”
For further information, visit bbc.com
About BBC:
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. Headquartered in London, it is the world’s oldest national broadcaster and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees. It provides a wide range of public services in television, radio, and online content, known globally for its news and documentary programming like The Documentary Podcast from its World Service.
For further information, visit sothebys.com
About Sotheby’s:
Sotheby’s is a multinational corporation headquartered in New York City that specializes in auctioning fine art, decorative art, jewelry, real estate, and collectibles. Founded in London in 1744, it is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious auction houses, hosting sales in major cities that attract a global clientele for rare and valuable items, including unique scientific artifacts like meteorites.
For further information, visit nhm.ac.uk
About Natural History Museum of London:
The Natural History Museum in London is a world-renowned museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is a leading center for scientific research, specializing in taxonomy, identification, and conservation. The museum holds significant collections of life and earth science specimens, including a globally important collection of meteorites used for planetary science research.
For further information, visit uam.ne
About Abdou Moumouni University:
Abdou Moumouni University, located in Niamey, is the largest and only public university in Niger. Founded in 1971, it serves as the country’s primary institution for higher education and research across various faculties, including science, humanities, and archaeology. The university plays a crucial role in the academic and cultural life of the nation, often weighing in on matters of national heritage.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Azmeteóricas
About Azmeteóricas:
Azmeteóricas is a collective of Brazilian female scientists dedicated to the study and recovery of meteorites in Latin America. The group, comprised of experts in fields like meteorology and geology, mobilizes quickly after reported impacts to secure specimens for scientific study. They advocate for a regulated meteorite trade that balances commercial interests with the preservation of these objects as critical scientific and cultural heritage.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is renowned for its foundational principles of integrity and a persistent drive for superior outcomes. The firm leverages its deep-rooted experience across diverse industries to spearhead forward-thinking legal solutions and engage meaningfully with the public. A core tenet of its identity is the commitment to demystifying the law, aiming to strengthen society by equipping citizens with crucial legal awareness and understanding.
