INGO geologists, what do I have?

[Leadeye]

We found a big pile of sandstone iron ore on our ground, wife uses it in her garden. Local history guy said it was probably somebody's iron stash a long time ago when people collected these rocks then made charcoal from local trees to smelt pig iron.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

We found a big pile of sandstone iron ore on our ground, wife uses it in her garden. Local history guy said it was probably somebody's iron stash a long time ago when people collected these rocks then made charcoal from local trees to smelt pig iron.

He who smelt it dealt it!

 

[mensajess]

Three pages in and I get to be the one that says "you found a rock"

 

[Spear Dane]

There's no reason to automatically assume it's not a meteorite. The earth is bombarded continually by space matter.

 

[Cldedhnds]

Very cool find. You may have seen it in the spacerocks link for information on verification but if not this is local. Worst case he you get no response but email is free.

(verification only) Contact:
Nelson R. Shaffer
(812) 855-2687
shaffern@indiana.edu
Indiana Geological Survey
Indiana University
611 North Walnut Grove
Bloomington, IN 47405-2208

 

[mdemetz]

You could take it to the IPFW geology department before they're eliminated at the end of the this semester.

 

[AmmoManAaron]

There is alot of hematite in Indiana and it is often confused for meteorites. Yours however, looks awefully good. Please keep us posted when you find out for sure.

Very cool find. You may have seen it in the spacerocks link for information on verification but if not this is local. Worst case he you get no response but email is free.

(verification only) Contact:
Nelson R. Shaffer
(812) 855-2687
shaffern@indiana.edu
Indiana Geological Survey
Indiana University
611 North Walnut Grove
Bloomington, IN 47405-2208

^^^All of this^^^

This specimen looks pretty convincing to me. Contact Nelson. I know him personally and he will give you a straight answer. I'm interested to hear what he says.

 

[flightsimmer]

You do have a meteorite.
Do not turn loose of it until you have thoroughly researched it, it could be worth a lot.

 

[spencer rifle]

If it's an iron, it will display the Widmanstatten pattern of crosshatched lines when cut and etched with nitric acid. They aren't all that valuable - you can pick them up on eBay.

iron meteorite in Rocks and Fossils | eBay

 

[SchwansManDan]

Astrophysicist, perhaps.

I don't understand why he now needs a colonoscopy...

 

[hoosierdoc]

I don't understand why he now needs a colonoscopy...

Haha

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I don't understand why he now needs a colonoscopy...

Maybe his meteorite was once part of an ass-teroid?

 

[Nazgul]

Maybe his meteorite was once part of an ass-teroid?

But if it is Hematite, it could be from a Hema-rhoid!!!

Don

 

[PGRChaplain]

Ancient Foundry Slag?

 

[SmileDocHill]

I don't understand why he now needs a colonoscopy...

He wants to make sure that asteroid passed Uranus.

 

[JollyMon]

Ancient Foundry Slag?

Could be.... but the specific gravity is off from slag. The closest thing is Iron ore, limonite which has a specific gravity 3.6 - 4.0... But it doesnt look the same.... But bad news, I left it at my inlaws and its going to be a few weeks before I can do any more tests on it.

Specific Gravity Table for Metals, Minerals & Ceramics

proctologist have not been very helpful when dealing with stones in the past.... I need a Urologist..... they deal in stones sometime

 

[Tactically Fat]

As a former geologist:

I'll surmise that it's an iron concretion / nodule.

iron-oxide concretions & nodules 8

Also - you don't NEED a streak plate to perform streak tests. The bottom / unglazed underside of most coffee mugs should work just fine. But then you'll just end up with black stripes on it.

 

[indiucky]

If I had it in my shop I would do what I did with a Nazi PPK I had in here...On the tag I put "Hitler's suicide pistol......?"

"Hey how do you know that's Hitler's suicide pistol and why are you selling it for what a common one would cost?"

"Look at the tag..."

"What?"

"See the question mark?"

"Yeah..."

"There ya go then...I'm a poor but honest shopkeeper..."



"meteorite....?"

 

[JollyMon]

As a former geologist:

I'll surmise that it's an iron concretion / nodule.

iron-oxide concretions & nodules 8

Also - you don't NEED a streak plate to perform streak tests. The bottom / unglazed underside of most coffee mugs should work just fine. But then you'll just end up with black stripes on it.

So can you answer this... if magnetite and hematite are the most common of the iron concretions (which I also am thinking it is).... why would the specific gravity of my sample (3.9) be lower then what is listed on most websites.... like anywhere from 4.3 - 5.5....

 

[Tactically Fat]

Did you account for temperatures and pressures in your SG calculations?

Some Meteorite Realities

What to Do If You Think You've Found a Meteorite

http://meteorites.wustl.edu/id/density.htm