Meteor found??

[Abernus]

Hi all,

My folks bought a new house last year and have just got round to doing the garden. When digging it over and throwing the rocks out they came accross one that was very heavy for it's size.

When they looked at it; it was extremely smooth on 1 side and course on the others, magnets also have a very slight attraction to the rock. Doing a bit of reading these are some of the tell tail signs of a meteor. Does anyone know if/where we can get this verified at in the UK? Preferably in the North East area of the UK.

Thanks

[John]

You need to take it to a Museum with a good geology section. They may well refer you to the Natural History Museum in London where they have the facilities to examine the stone in depth.

Here is their website offering advice on this:

Meteorites | Natural History Museum

By the way, it's a meteor when we see it flash across the heavens but it's a meteorite when it's fallen to earth.

[RedCoat]

If it is, well done!

[Superewza]

You need to take it to a Museum with a good geology section. They may well refer you to the Natural History Museum in London where they have the facilities to examine the stone in depth.

So in the North East the Centre for Life might be worth a shout, or maybe the Discovery museum. I'm sure there was one near the entrance to exhibition park but i can't find anything on it. Hmm...

[JohnnyD333]

Bring it to a museum as mentioned, there are a few rocks that are magnetic such as magnetite, it needs to be sliced or the crust must be observed. If it is big you could catch a pretty penny for it.

[1AU]

Hi, you could bring it along to the Earth Science Dept at Durham university. I'm a geologist and geochemist there and regularly have people bring in meteorite 'finds' for identification. Cheers, Geoff

[nightfisher]

keep us posted, would be nice if it turns out to be celestial

[lukebl]

Any chance of a picture of it?

[Abernus]

Thanks for the information. I will pop round to my folks house later today and grab a few pics of it and post them up later on tonight. I will also drop off the info to them, they may pop down to Durham university as it's only 5 mins down the road from us.

[laser_jock99]

Intersting find- as previously noted if its a real one of a rare type could be worth a bit. Keep us posted.

[Stargazer Jack]

Hope it is a meteorite. Would be great to see some pictures Also I read somewhere on here that small parts of meteorites can be found in gutters and things like that. Could be worth a look the next time you clean yours out!

[Multi-Coated]

Could be a very nice find , looking forward to seeing some pics.

[John]

If anyone is interested, here is a website listing and providing details of all the recorded UK falls and finds:

UK and Ireland Meteorite page

There are not too many of them compared to larger countries like Africa, Australia and the USA of course.

[Multi-Coated]

Interesting link , thanks.

[RedCoat]

Very interesting link. So, if I can find one in Norfolk I can have the first in my county...although knowing my luck it would land on my house!

[Abernus]

Sorry fot the delay in getting back with the pictures, but as Sunday was such a nice day we took our 1yr old to the beach. Kind of the first time he has been in the sea and he loved it By the time we finished he was so tired he didn't want his supper. Early night for him and time to relax for mum and dad

Anyway as I said here are some pics. I have placed it on some kitchen roll folded in quaters:

Geoff if you think this is worth investigating further my folks and I would love to pop along to Durham University with it. Can you PM me with dates and times it's best to pop along and where to go as it's a big place.

Cheers

[Stargazer Jack]

Definitely looks scorched. Hope it is a meteorite!

[JB80]

What a lump of a thing too, for sure you need to get it tested. It looks like it's worth the trouble at least.

[JohnnyD333]

Is it much heavier than it looks? They are always surprisingly heavy. That smooth side is a good sign, basically melted coming through the atmosphere. I hope it really is a meteorite, awesome find.

[Abernus]

Yes it is very heavy for it's size. I think when we put it on the scales it came in at 1lb

[Moonshane]

is it part of your paving?

but seriously, an amazing find if confirmed. must have been large as it began it's journey through the atmosphere and what a fireball it would have created! maybe even sound?

[glowjet]

Don`t want to disappoint but it could be foundry slag iron, still worth checking out though.

[John]

Don`t want to disappoint but it could be foundry slag iron, still worth checking out though.

That would be my bet as well. But worth checking out. If (big if) it is a UK meteorite the value will be high - Barwell specimens retail for around $100 per gram (which is a flake as big as a fingernail)

So this one weighs a kilo that's $100,000 .......

[meteoriot]

That would be my bet as well. But worth checking out. If (big if) it is a UK meteorite the value will be high - Barwell specimens retail for around $100 per gram (which is a flake as big as a fingernail)

So this one weighs a kilo that's $100,000 .......

Most of my meteorites were equivalent to about £1 per gram. Depends on the type.

[Jack123456]

Even if it isn't a meteorite (i hope it is), you could still put it on the mantlepiece and tell everyone that it is.

I look forward to hearing what the verdict is.