Is this a meteor/ need help from a geologist type person please!

trimcut123

trimcut123

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Hey guys. About 10 years ago my grandmother gave me this rock. She was told by the previous owner that it is a meteorite. I'm really hoping that this is true. I took the best pictures that i could to show the features of the rock. It is roughly 3/4 the size of a baseball. Any info on helping me figure this out would be greatly appreciated.
PICT0301.jpg

PICT0300.jpg


Thanks for the help in advance,
Matt B.
zerochance@sbcglobal.net
 
The Museum of Natural History in NYC had quite a collection of meteorites (the proper term for a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earth's surface) and this, and the room with the crystals, was always my favourite section of said museum.

Based on that less than expert backgroud I will say that that certainly looks like a meteorite.
 
Used some of their info, and i still cant tell. It is heavy for its size. Like the weight of marble, but less than steel. I had a small magnet and it did not do anything. Im gonna try and find more ways to identify it... I cant find one darn picture that looks like mine...
 
If it's a meteor shouldn't one side be worn flat and smooth from entering the Earth's atmosphere?
 
It looks a lot like a piece of slag. There are old steel foundries around here that used to make steel from pig iron. You pick stuff up all around the foundries that look exactly like that. I'm not saying that's what it is....but it looks a lot like it.
 
Find your local university, there's possibly a professor of geology there. Run it by him. But don't let him keep it :)
 
Ken C. said:
If it's a meteor shouldn't one side be worn flat and smooth from entering the Earth's atmosphere?
Click to expand...

If you're joking, please insert a smiley. If you're not, I can't think of a single comment I could make that wouldn't hurt your feelings. :D
 
Thanks for all the help guys, still trying to figure this one out. I guess the only real way would be to send it to a lab to get tested. I don't really have an Colleges in my area. So if any one could test the rock for me, I would gladly send it out...
 
if its heavy for its size, chances are good that it possibly could be. see if its magnetic or a magnet sticks to it.
 
If you can cut or pry off a small piece, you can send it to either New England Meteoritical Services (www.meteorlab.com) or Robert Haag (www.meteoriteman.com) for analysis. Both are experts in authentication of extraterrestial objects.
I collect meteorites and while this looks somewhat like one, it could very well be some form of iron slag.
If a magnet is not attracted to it, chances are it is not a meteorite.
Either one of the above sites will offer you a wealth of information on how to determine whether this is the real thing or a meteorwrong.
Hope this helps in your quest.

Rick
 
I had a weak magnet i tried with it and (nothing), but not all meteors are magnetic anyhow, although a vast majority are. I might just need a stronger magnet. I might take my speaker apart and try my 15oz sub magnet. But im still open to sending it to anyone that might be able to test it. Id rather not chop a chunk off. I would rather send the whole thing, but preferably to someone in the community..
Thnks
Matt
 
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