My First Post Here (detecting) / maybe COOL find

richardshipp · April 9, 2007 12:39AM

I have NO experience detecting. In fact, I don't own a detector (yet). But this last week while out at a very large complex for my daughters softball practice I decided to go for a walk and as usual take the time to look around to see if I can find anything.

Check out these pics. It passes all the preliminary tests of a meteorite. I'm awaiting a response from a university for confirmation testing. While its not real big as you can see; the little thing weighs almost 13 ounces; easily holds a magnet; either attracts or repels a compass depending on which end you point at the compass. It has a fusion crust with every edge rounded or melted. There are some tiny "rust" spots on it. It looks like a rock and is not iron slag. While not a coin, it was a pretty exciting find for me. I imagined that with you all using your detectors maybe you run across these from time to time; that is why I'm posting it here.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Richard

Cladiator · April 9, 2007 12:47AM

Was it in a crater?

Cool find man!

tmot99 · April 9, 2007 12:52AM

That is VERY cool. Let us know if you find out for sure!

ricko · April 9, 2007 12:55AM

Super find... if it is a meteorite, you have a really great treasure. Although valuable (to collectors etc), I would assume it holds much greater value to you ( it sure would to me). Cheers, RickO

guitarwes · April 9, 2007 12:56AM

that little buggar would probably blow your earphones right off of you would sweep across it with your detector.

nice find. hope it's not radioactive. keep us posted.

LeeBone · April 9, 2007 1:46AM

coincollector1989 · April 9, 2007 2:55AM

sweet find

grip · April 9, 2007 3:28AM

Great find.
Al

phut · April 9, 2007 10:37AM

<< I'm awaiting a response from a university for confirmation testing. >>

Keep us posted

TuscaloosaJohnny · April 9, 2007 2:14PM

Not to burst your bubble, but if that rock is that big and weighs only 13 ounces I doubt it's a meteorite. Space rocks tend to be very dense. A meteroite that big would probably weight at least 10 lbs. Of course, I'm no meteorite expert, but that's what I've always read and heard about them.

lordmarcovan · April 9, 2007 11:38PM

I thought about entering this in the Relic/Other category of the March polls for you, since you didn't post it there. (You might not be aware of the monthly award polls yet).

However, we'll await the response from the university testing. Even though it is a March find, I don't see a problem with you entering it in the April awards because of the lag time of the testing involved.

I hope it turns out to be something cool!

richardshipp · April 10, 2007 2:09AM

No offense but I don't want to be entered into the contests. It wouldn't really be fair as I am not someone who goes out looking for things as you all do. I maybe just got lucky. I did hear from the guy at NASA already and he's recommended a Professor in New Mexico to use for the actual testing / analysis. So far its passing muster... The actual results from testing can take from a month to a year I'm told

As far as the weight; the poster was correct that meteorites are heavy for their size. The 13 ounces for the volume of this rock IS very heavy and easily puts it in the range one would expect for an Iron/Nickel meteorite. Its just a little bigger than a golf ball and weighs just under a pound.

dcamp78 · April 10, 2007 2:31AM

I've got one just like it. How much is the testing at the university?

walkerminus1 · April 10, 2007 5:06AM

Lordmarcovan said

<< I thought about entering this in the Relic/Other category of the March polls for you >>

Wouldn't this be a wildcard find since he didn't find it with a detector?

Richardshipp said

<< No offense but I don't want to be entered into the contests. It wouldn't really be fair as I am not someone who goes out looking for things as you all do. I maybe just got lucky. >>

I don't have a detector yet but have been reading this board enough to know that anything found by the majority of these people is just simply luck.

I'd say the only two that really knows what they are doing is Zot and Crockofcoins.

Rob

I believe most people will realize I was only joking.

richardshipp · April 10, 2007 5:10AM

<< I've got one just like it. How much is the testing at the university? >>

I'm waiting to hear back from the guy in New Mexico. Before you send it they ask you to do a test for Nickel. You can buy the tests on line for about $40 bucks. I found one (someone else recommended) at a CVS pharmacy. It's a "nickel alergy test"; it tests for the presence of nickel. If your rock has pretty much the same characteristics as the one I found and has enough nickel that shows up in these tests (the test swab will turn reddish) then likely it is a meteorite. The universities will tell you the exact composition; classify and certify it. Depending on what classification it is (if it is a meteorite) they can be worth anywhere from 5 cents to 5 dollars a gram. One guy has already offered me $300 for mine, but I'll likely just keep it as I think its pretty cool to have found it in the first place.

Good luck on yours.

DesertRat · April 10, 2007 5:31AM

TextOne guy has already offered me $300

I guess so, at $5.00 a gram yours would run around $1,800 if genuine. More if it has that particular eye appeal someone who collects tham is looking for

BobGreene · April 10, 2007 6:44AM

I too have an interesting rock. It is small enough to hold in the palm of my hand, but is very heavy. It is very dark gray, almost black, and has obviously been melted at one point in its history. It has sort of a metallic, glittery look to it, and when water gets on it the water sizzles. It's done that ever since I found the rock as a kid. I've never tried using a magnet on it, though.

TuscaloosaJohnny · April 10, 2007 2:10PM

Sorry about that. I thought it looked pretty big relative to the size of the keyboard in the photo. Didn't realize it was golf ball sized. You may have a winner!

richardshipp · April 11, 2007 1:33AM

<< I too have an interesting rock. It is small enough to hold in the palm of my hand, but is very heavy. It is very dark gray, almost black, and has obviously been melted at one point in its history. It has sort of a metallic, glittery look to it, and when water gets on it the water sizzles. It's done that ever since I found the rock as a kid. I've never tried using a magnet on it, though. >>

sizzles.......

BobGreene · April 11, 2007 4:37AM

<< 

<< I too have an interesting rock. It is small enough to hold in the palm of my hand, but is very heavy. It is very dark gray, almost black, and has obviously been melted at one point in its history. It has sort of a metallic, glittery look to it, and when water gets on it the water sizzles. It's done that ever since I found the rock as a kid. I've never tried using a magnet on it, though. >>

sizzles.......

>>

Yep... sizzles.

My First Post Here (detecting) / maybe COOL find

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