Jump to content

Need Help With Possible Meteorite ID


Recommended Posts

I guess I'm as big a moron as all the other meteorite wannabees, but here it is. I found this hunk of metal out in the Idaho desert. It was in the vicinity of an old railroad stop.

That railroad dates back to the late 1800's, and that stop was abandoned long ago. I figured the rock had something to do with the railroad, but looking at it the other day, I started wondering. I had it checked at a local scrapyard a couple of years ago, and the gun showed it had +/- 10% nickel. It will cause a round magnet to roll around. It's about 2" across at the widest point. What say you

experts? Everything I know about meteorites could be written on the back of a postage stamp, with room left over. The closeup pic is a small broken face. We ground a flat spot on one side so the xrf gun could get a reading.

Jim

Cerro Grande rock broken face 2.jpg

Cerro Grande rock 2.JPG

Cerro Grande rock1.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites


http://meteorites.wustl.edu/realities.htm

Don't be put off by the 'commentary'.  This seems like a pretty good DiY meteorite identifier site.  A ton of info including lots of photos.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not actually rock, Fred.....it's solid metal, though I am definitely not arguing that it's a meteorite....I have no idea what it is.

Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah...I hadn't even thought of that, but the wife mentioned it while looking at it last night. So, I naturally thought.."I know just where to ask"...LOL. I first thought it was from the firebox of a locomotive, but there's no way that would be hot enough to melt iron or steel. It was found about 100 yards from the tracks. There is quite a bit of junk laying around that area. I think that stop was sort of a track maintenance place. There are cinders along the track there for a ways. There's no water available there. That track originally ran up to the town of Mackay where there was a substantial copper mine, and also serviced the gold and silver mines in Montana, and the Idaho area around Salmon. Now it runs out to the Idaho Engineering Laboratory.

Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya know, that's something I hadn't even considered. I appreciate that idea. It sorta looks like it was formed in rock. I guess I should do a specific gravity test on it to start with. Right now, though, all my time is spoken for. But, that's something I should do this winter.

It's also too big to weigh on my little Gem Pro 250 scale, too.

Jim

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...