Last week a couple referred to me by a good friend at USGS here in Flagstaff, had what the were certian was a meteorite.
And they had the "document" to prove it. According to the story sometime in 1911 a large fireball was sighted in Indiana. And the next day the farmer that found it saw a crater "50 feet in diameter" and "right in the center and at the bottom was this "iron meteorite" 44 lbs in weight. He then had a sign made with the details of its find, stating that it was "iron and nickel" and put it up for display to visitors that would pay to see it. This went on from the time of its find to about 1960 when a series of articles came out in the local paper further bolstering the story of the "meteorite" with pictures and all, and how on that night of 1911 it caused a 50 foot crater. The story did not end there, for it was later inherited by the couple, fully convinced that it was indeed a meteorite... and then it came to my attention. Looking at it, I was immediately impressed for it was the largest piece of iron-coke slag I had ever seen! The coke slag was full of bubbles and in little pockets and cavities within a mass of extremly rusted pig iron. This was the "meteorite" that wasn't that caused a 50 foot crater in a field in Indiana in 1911. And all those years people payed as much as $1 per/person to see it, and hear the story from the finder and others as to how it was found and how it was a meteorite. I wonder, how many little kids and and adults saw that thing, and now have the impression that meteorites are like that, the "meteorite" that wasn't... The people that inherited it.. dissapointed no doubt... and maybe even dubious of my expertise... They have decided to sell it to someone willing to take the risk, and all the "documents" to go with it. (Don't be surprised if one day soon it shows up on Ebay with the documents, as the "Meteorite" of 1911... but keep in mind it wasn't... ___________________________________________________________________ Join the Space Program: Get FREE E-mail at http://www.space.com. Show your support at the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/058-5084202-7156648 _______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
