[meteorite-list] What can be said about this meteorite from 1865?

From: chris aubeck <caubeck_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Mar 11 10:23:42 2006
Message-ID: <3a5693b30603110723l302c716fv9c807c1bab44a17b_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi colleagues,

I'm trying to finish a magazine article in record time.

Could someone possibly briefly comment on this item? I am interested
in what may have caused the markings, some kind of modern-day
"diagnosis." What else can be deduced about the object?

Many thanks,

Chris




Samuel Haughton. "On the meteoric stone that fell at Dundrum, County
of Tipperary, on the 12th August, 1865." Proceedings of the Royal
Irish Academy, 9, 336-41.

The Meteoric Stone, that forms the subject of the present Paper, fell
near Dundrum, county of Tipperary, under circumstances that were
described to me as follows, by the man in whose garden it fell:--


Statement of eyewitness.

"I, John Johnson, of the parish of Clonoulty, near Cashel, county
Tipperary, was walking across my potato garden, at the back of my
house, in company with Michael Fahy and William Furlong, on the 12th
of August, 1865, at seven p. m., when I heard a clap, like the shot
out of a cannon, very quick, and not like thunder; this was followed
by a buzzing noise, which continued for about a quarter of an hour,
when it came over our heads; and on looking up, we saw an object
falling down in a slanting direction. We were frightened at its speed,
which was so great that we could scarcely notice it; but after it
fell, we proceeded to look for it, and found it at a distance of forty
yards, half buried in the ground, where it had struck the top of a
potato drill. We were some time in looking for it (a longer time than
that during which we had heard the noise). On taking up the stone, we
found it warm, milk warm, but not hot enough to be inconvenient. The
next day it was given up to Lord Hawarden.

"John Johnson."

It was afterwards presented by Lord Hawarden to the Geological Museum
of Trinity College, where it is publicly exhibited.

The stone weighed 4lbs. 14? oz. It is rudely pyramidal in form; the
triangular base being a freshly broken surface, and the faces of the
pyramid being covered by the usual black vitrified glaze. It is
evidently a portion of a much larger stone; and as it appears from the
foregoing statement that its vertical velocity was not great, it is
probable that other pieces of the larger mass may yet be found in the
neighbourhood of Dundrum.

A singular feature is observable in this stone that I have never yet
seen in any other:--the rounded edges of the pyramid are sharply
marked by lines on the black crust, as perfect as if made by a ruler.
This appearance is strictly confined to the surface, and seems to be a
result of some peculiar tension of the fused crust in cooling; for no
trace of any continuation of the lines can be found in the interior of
the stone.

On examination with the lens, specks of metallic iron and of magnetic
pyrites are visible, and also a few minute grains of chrysolith; no
other minerals can be detedted in the paste, which is of a dull grey,
and of loose texture, almost like a porous sandstone; and the whole
stone would attract little notice, were it not for its specific
gravity, and the metallic particles visible in it.
Received on Sat 11 Mar 2006 10:23:39 AM PST