[meteorite-list] More on: Your opinion, please...

[magellon]

Here is the reply from the Aussie gal with the meteor wrong:

"I appreciate very much your efforts on my behalf and the interest you have
taken.  I took your advice and rubbed the sample on medium grade sandpaper -
it rubbed the surface of the paper right off, but the stone was unmarked. No
scratches or shiny area. It sure is tough stuff!!
I then rubbed it as you said on the back of a ceramic tile and it left dark
gray marks, so I guess it's not hematite. I would assume then that it is
magnetite, although only slightly magnetic.
So, it is still a bit of a mystery. What do you think?
Incidentally, Ken, when I think about it, I may have found a few small
pieces of this same material in a stream nearby, when searching alluvials
for corundum. If they turn out to look like the same material, I will send
them to you if you are interested.  They were not prolific, probably enough
to fill a matchbox in approx. half a ton of gravel. I will see what I can
find."
Thanks again for the responses.
Best,
Ken Newton

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An eBayer saw my meteorwrong page and asked my opinion of the following.

I discreetly bow to those more experienced: ( the last two picts are
small, sorry)

 Top

 Bottom

 Side
Here is her story,

"I picked this up in country New South Wales in a National Park Wilderness
area. It is unlike any surrounding rocks or any that I have seen in that
district. I have done quite a bit of fossicking for sapphires & rubies
and seen nothing like this. The area is mostly volcanic basalt overlying
granidiorite and some granitic areas. This may be terrestrial iron, but
if so, it perhaps may have become airborne from the volcano?, as it is
oriented and has a rollover lip. It is heavier than other rocks of similar
size, but not considerably so, (125 gms), and it is slightly magnetic,
but not considerably so. Size is 2.5" x 1.5" x 1". Incidentally, there
is no industry within several hundred kilometres, and no railway line,
so it would not be smelter ore or slag."
I will pass on to her you expert observations.

Thanks,

Ken Newton

#9632
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