Robert A. Haag, 45,
"The Meteorite Man",
became one of the world's first meteorite hunters 15 years ago,
and today remains securely at the top of his field. Although
several other dealers have cropped up in recent years, Haag is
still the largest source for meteorites, bought, sold and
traded, in the world.Haag is the Indiana Jones of meteorite
hunters, and has visited dozens of well-known and obscure
countries in search of the space gems. He has mounted
expeditions to the most remote regions on Earth, combing the
back country of Chile, Argentina, Namibia, Australia, Mexico,
Egypt, Siberia and others, making his own roads, navigating by
the stars, and often flying over the area in his paraplane to
help spot the treasure. A single report of a confirmed "fall"
will send Haag to the site immediately, no matter where it is,
or what it takes to get him there.
 Haag
has even been arrested and jailed (in Argentina) for plying his
trade, and some countries now outlaw exportation of large
meteorites as "national treasures", because more and more of
them were being shipped to Haag for sale by the local
discoverers. Nevertheless, Haag, once the bane of meteorite
scholars, has generously donated and traded rare meteorites to
institutions and museums around the world.
Haag was one of the first private citizens to obtain
meteorites from Mars and the Moon.
Haag maintains his huge collection in an air-conditioned
vault beneath his home in Tucson, complete with massive steel
door and combination lock. His boyish looks and sparkling smile
betray his high-energy lifestyle: Haag enjoys playing his
guitars, boating and flying when not in his workshop slicing up
the latest find or on an expedition to some godforsaken corner
of the world. He loves his job!
Robert Haag Meteorites |
