Robert A. Haag (born 1956[1]) is an American famous for collecting meteorites. Some meteorites acquired from Haag are currently on display in the Smithsonian.[1]

Robert A. Haag
Born1956 (1956) (age 68)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMeteorite hunter
Known forCollecting meteorites

Detainment edit

Haag was detained as a preventative measure pending judgement in Argentina charged with removing protected rocks (the 37 ton El Chaco meteorite).[2][3] Haag claimed he was set up by an Argentinian mineral dealer, who had asserted the meteorite belonged to the land owner and the dealer entered into an arrangement to broker the sale to Haag for $200,000. Haag was released from detainment and left Argentina after paying bail and having his passport returned.[4]

Achievements edit

Haag was the first private citizen and meteorite hunter to discover a lunar meteorite,[5][6] known as Calcalong Creek. It was discovered among other meteorites coming out of the Australian Millbillillie meteorite (eucrite achondrite) strewn field. It was bought as a Millbillillie by Haag, but he discovered it was a lunar meteorite. He was also one of the first private citizens to obtain Martian meteorites.

He was featured in a story in Omni Magazine in July 1993.[7][8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Speigel, Elliot Lee (May 29, 2008). "Meteorite Man Seeks Life in Cosmic Rocks". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  2. ^ Paynter, Ben (January 2007). "The Meteor Farmer". WIRED. Vol. 51, no. 1. pp. 2 of 3. The ranks included Robert "Meteorite Man" Haag, once jailed in Argentina for allegedly poaching protected rocks...
  3. ^ Robert A Haag Biography - NovaSpace Galleries
  4. ^ Norton, O. Richard (1994). Rocks from Space (1st ed.). Mountain Press Publishing Company. p. 297. ISBN 0878423028.
  5. ^ Norton, O. Richard (1994). Rocks from Space (1st ed.). Mountain Press Publishing Company. p. 300. ISBN 0878423028.
  6. ^ Greco, JoAnn (June 2007). "Space for Collecting". Art & Antiques. Retrieved 2008-11-26.[dead link]
  7. ^ Smith, Jeff. "Biography of Jeff Smith Lightning photographer". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  8. ^ Oberg, James (July 1993). "Rocks for sale" (PDF). Omni. 15 (9): 18.

External links edit