[meteorite-list] 1903 Mount Vernon Meteorite NPA

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:25:38 -0600
Message-ID: <BAY111-F343BEE429A1B401D0E7792B3A20_at_phx.gbl>

Paper: The Semi-Weekly Landmark
City: Statesville, North Carolina
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 1908
Page: 4 (of 4)

A Meteorite Supposed to Be a Piece of a Comet's Tail

Washington Dispatch, 8th.

     A remarkable meteorite weighing 330 pounds, arrived at the National
Museum yesterday. This stone was recently found on a farm in Christian
county, Kentucky.
     A member of the geological Survey who was sent to verify its
genuineness says that the rock contains combinations of elements that never
could have come into existence on the earth. In addition to this fact, while
the meteorite measures barely a foot and a half in length or breadth, it is
so heavy that it took several men to carry it. Scientists believe it was
dropped from the tail of a comet passing within the earth's orbit, and they
consider it a wonderful specimen, because, they say, at least three fourths
of the falling meteorites are consumed in the atmosphere before reaching the
earth's surface, or are broken in fragments.
     In appearance the rock is very rough, being covered with granules held
together by metallic cement. It is mainly made up of the iron,
characteristic only of ultra terrestrial object. It also contains a
substance called lawrencite, which oxidizes so rapidly in this atmosphere
that it cannot be perceived after a few moments' exposure. This is
considered additional proof that the stone at one time belonged to a body in
the solar system, where atmospheric conditions differ from those of the
earth.
     This particular meteorite is called Pallasite, after a similar one
found in Siberia in 1700. The curator purposes to cut the new exhibit in
half and polish one side of it, that visitors may have an opportunity to see
the peculiar elements which compose it.

(end)
Received on Thu 25 Jan 2007 11:25:38 PM PST