[meteorite-list] Newbie needs help identifying a meteorite(?)

From: Norm Lehrman <nlehrman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Dec 19 18:25:53 2005
Message-ID: <20051219232406.22124.qmail_at_web81003.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Ron,

Just an afterthought. (I think I failed to include
the list in my previous response, but it said, in
short, that this absolutely does NOT sound like a
meteorite (or tektite, in reference to another reply).

But, what about a fulgurite??? These are never
metallic, but the "metallic silica compound"
description is broad enought to include
lechatelierite, And the sand grains fused to the
exterior fit just fine. Does it have a hollow glassy
interior?

As for the charred zone around it, I have never seen
such a thing in lightning-struck soils, but I have
seen essentially those exact dimensions in solid rock
on Ayers Rock, Australia.

Cheers,
Norm
http://tektitesource.com

--- Ron Kaye <moonshad_at_swbell.net> wrote:

> About 30 years ago, I found a piece of metallic rock
> deeply embedded in
> hard-packed earth out in the woods, with the ground
> around it charred to a
> radius of about 18". Having extensive experience in
> foundry science, I could
> ascertain that the item had been in a semi-plastic
> state upon impact, with
> sand embedded in the face, and gas bubbles trailing
> along the outer surface
> to a tapered rear edge.
>
> I have had several geologists look at it, and none
> could identify it, except
> to determine that it was non-ferrous and had no
> nickel alloys. Finally, a
> metallurgist analyzed a small piece, and told me it
> was a metallic silica
> compound. This was surprising, since at that time,
> there were only a few
> places in the world with the capability of creating
> such a compound, and
> none anywhere East Texas, where I found it. And no
> explanation could be
> offered as to how it would come to be embedded in
> the ground with the
> perimeter charred.
>
> I have a couple of high-resolution scans of it,
> which I will either e-mail
> or post if anyone is interested in seeing it. The
> story behind my finding it
> is pretty interesting, which has played a
> significant role in my keeping the
> piece all these years. I won't belabor the list with
> the story, as it has
> little to do with meteorites, beyond my activities
> leading up to the
> discovery.
>
> If anyone on the list would be willing to help me
> determine just what the
> thing is, please ping me privately.
>
> Thanks in advance for any assistance, or just for
> listening.
>
> Ron Kaye
>
>
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Received on Mon 19 Dec 2005 06:24:06 PM PST