When a seven-ton meteor exploded over northeast Ohio last week, it triggered a modern gold rush. Two dozen meteorite hunters from across North America descended on the Cleveland area, armed with satellite maps, wads of cash, and specialized equipment to search for fragments worth hundreds or thousands of dollars each.

NASA classified the six-foot-wide meteor as a rare eucrite, a type not seen in the U.S. in decades. The St. Patrick's Day fireball, traveling at 44,000 mph, created a sonic boom heard as far as Pittsburgh and scattered an estimated 200-300 pounds of space rocks across a 20-30 mile strewn field. Professional hunters like Roberto Vargas and Mark Dayton joined amateurs in the search.

By Thursday afternoon, Vargas had found a prize specimen with delicate tendrils, refusing to disclose its exact location despite media attention. The meteorite community operates on a mix of competition and cooperation, with hunters often sharing samples with universities for scientific analysis in exchange for credit. Prices vary dramatically - from a $5.3 million Niger find to gumball-sized fragments worth hundreds - making the hunt both a scientific pursuit and potentially lucrative treasure hunt.