[meteorite-list] ID help appreciated

From: David Weir <dweir_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:42:01 2004
Message-ID: <3A65F5F4.AAECD92_at_cegi.net>

Hello List experts,

I received the following photo asking if it was a meteorite. I am pretty
sure it's not but the pallasite possibility intrigues me. I would like
to tell him what it is if anyone has a guess. His description is below.
Thanks.

http://www.geocities.com/dgweir/unknown.jpg

David

> I found this on the tundra in Alaska in 1990. The only other type of rock in
> the entire area was shale. What I believe is a meteorite consist mostly of
> rock but does effect a compass needle, and is too heavy for a normal rock.
> The picture I sent you shows dark fusion material with some glass, slightly
> raised above the lighter material. If you can look at the negative of this
> picture you will observe the lighter material is made of small oval shapes,
> some of differing color. Another side of this rock has a heavy fusion crust
> that covers the entire face. This is the face of the rock that protruded from
> the ground. This face is the bottom of the rock in your picture. If you'd
> like, I have other side view pictures I could send you. I also note that
> this does not seem to be a fragment, but is a single whole rock. I also see
> what I interpret as 'finger prints'. They are indentations that look like you
> did it with your thumb when the rock was still malleable. The rock does have
> what looks to be an impact fracture, and it weights a little over a pound and
> a half.
> Anyway, that's the best description I can give you. I hope that with the
> picture you could reasonably determine if this is just a rock or is in fact a
> meteorite. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Received on Wed 17 Jan 2001 02:43:48 PM PST