Rob in KS
Hero Member
It sure looks like one to me. It really sticks to a magnet. We don't have much magnetite around here so I'm thinking it might be one. My camera wouldn't let me get any closer.
Another meteorite -- And now for the rest of the story
- Thread starter Rob in KS
- Start date
DesertNuggets
Hero Member
Re: Another meteorite
I'm no expert but it sure is oddly round... It really looks like an old musket ball.
I'd buy a nickel test kit and test it to be sure or run it under a metal detector and see what it comes up as.
Good luck!
I'm no expert but it sure is oddly round... It really looks like an old musket ball.
I'd buy a nickel test kit and test it to be sure or run it under a metal detector and see what it comes up as.
Good luck!
OP
OP
Rob in KS
Hero Member
- Thread starter
- #4
First a little background. We have a shed/barn that has a room with a concrete floor. It was originally a tack room for storing saddles and bridles. My son has fixed it up and has his Xbox and sound system up there. It also has an internet connection. He plays games with his friends online well into the night. This is good because I don't have
to listen to his games or music.
A week ago, I was having a campfire. My wife came out and we sat around until well after dark. While we were sitting there, she happened to mention that he had told her that he saw something fall from the sky and hit the tin roof of the barn. WHAT !!!! He didn't even mention it to me. If it hadn't been dark, I would have grabbed my
detector. I went up to the barn and interrupted his gaming and had him tell me about what he saw. He was walking back to the barn on the 10th or 11th at about 1:30am. He was about 50 feet from the barn when he saw it come in at a low angle from the southeast (to his left). He said it looked like a tracer bullet, glowing red. He heard it hit about in the middle of the tin barn roof and bounce off the edge. He said it sounded like it was bigger than a BB.
Of course, I was out there first thing the next morning with my detector. The area is so loaded with iron that the detector was getting too many hits even with a small coil. I thought it might have bounced to the back side of the roof so I went to the back to detect. There is a concrete pad on the back that has wire mesh in it so the detector was useless. So I put a powerful magnet from a hard drive on a stick and started sweeping the ground. I knew it would be on the surface since it had rolled off the roof and had only been there a few days. After a half hour on the back of the barn, I went back to the front and within 10 minutes I had it. Right where he said it had hit at the center of the barn and about 3 or 4 feet from the front of the barn. He was pretty close on the size too, it's about 5/32" (4.5mm), slightly larger than a BB. It's almost perfectly round and the surface is pockmarked.
When I first talked to him about it I tried to impress on him the odds of this happening. I can't believe he didn't even mention it for a week. He was more astounded that I found it. That was the easy part.
to listen to his games or music.
A week ago, I was having a campfire. My wife came out and we sat around until well after dark. While we were sitting there, she happened to mention that he had told her that he saw something fall from the sky and hit the tin roof of the barn. WHAT !!!! He didn't even mention it to me. If it hadn't been dark, I would have grabbed my
detector. I went up to the barn and interrupted his gaming and had him tell me about what he saw. He was walking back to the barn on the 10th or 11th at about 1:30am. He was about 50 feet from the barn when he saw it come in at a low angle from the southeast (to his left). He said it looked like a tracer bullet, glowing red. He heard it hit about in the middle of the tin barn roof and bounce off the edge. He said it sounded like it was bigger than a BB.
Of course, I was out there first thing the next morning with my detector. The area is so loaded with iron that the detector was getting too many hits even with a small coil. I thought it might have bounced to the back side of the roof so I went to the back to detect. There is a concrete pad on the back that has wire mesh in it so the detector was useless. So I put a powerful magnet from a hard drive on a stick and started sweeping the ground. I knew it would be on the surface since it had rolled off the roof and had only been there a few days. After a half hour on the back of the barn, I went back to the front and within 10 minutes I had it. Right where he said it had hit at the center of the barn and about 3 or 4 feet from the front of the barn. He was pretty close on the size too, it's about 5/32" (4.5mm), slightly larger than a BB. It's almost perfectly round and the surface is pockmarked.
When I first talked to him about it I tried to impress on him the odds of this happening. I can't believe he didn't even mention it for a week. He was more astounded that I found it. That was the easy part.
Tuberale
Gold Member
Be sure to hunt for the impact site on the tin roof. I'd suggest removing the sheet of tin affected. That sheet, combined with the eyewitness account from your son, should make this particular find much more valuable than anyone will be able to tell at this time. Will have to be sold at auction. Should combine both the roofing sheet and the meteorite for best auction results.
Finally, and do this NOW, get each of the people involved with the recovery to make as detailed accounts of what they saw, when, and what happened. Truly an amazing account!
Finally, and do this NOW, get each of the people involved with the recovery to make as detailed accounts of what they saw, when, and what happened. Truly an amazing account!
paseclipse
Jr. Member
- Jul 10, 2005
- 52
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab GPX4000, Minelab SD2100, White's GMT, Minelab Explorer II
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
That looks nothing like a freshly fallen meteorite. It's to round (they're usually never spherical) and if it was as fresh as you say then there wouldn't that much rust on it.
DesertNuggets
Hero Member
Even with your story nothing points to that being one. Go and recheck the area because that isn't it.
Thats an old musket ball or ball bearing.
Thats an old musket ball or ball bearing.
Tuberale
Gold Member
I believe this specimen would be classified as a "micrometeorite". I'm not certain that micrometeorites have a general shape. This specimen would be less than the size of a BB. The only thing odd about the description to me is the description of "glowing red", which should NOT have been present in a meteor traveling less than the speed of sound.
But then, there are darn few recently fallen meteorites that have EVER been found. The vast majority are found several hundred to several thousands of years after falling, and even those figures are subject to discussion.
But then, there are darn few recently fallen meteorites that have EVER been found. The vast majority are found several hundred to several thousands of years after falling, and even those figures are subject to discussion.
OP
OP
Rob in KS
Hero Member
- Thread starter
- #10
You guys ( and wustl ) have about got me convinced that this isn't it (dang it). I went back and hunted some more. I did actually find a BB, and 5 nails, 4 bits of wire and some tin on the surface. It's quite a bit bigger than a BB. We discussed the event again, trying to be sure of the angles and the number of times it bounced on the shed. If it came in at as low an angle as he thinks then it probably bounced over the ridge and is on the back side. He heard it hit once then a delay then 2 mores times in rapid succession. I checked the roof to make sure nothing was up there. I plan to keep hunting but the grass keeps growing.
If it wasn't a meteorite that hit, I can't imagine what it was. We live way out in the country, no neighbors within a mile.
If it wasn't a meteorite that hit, I can't imagine what it was. We live way out in the country, no neighbors within a mile.
Gold_Striker
Full Member
thats my guess "old musket ball"
Has there ever been a time we were not at war on the earth
I suppose no point in owning a firearm if you don't know how to use it. 
Has there ever been a time we were not at war on the earth
I suppose no point in owning a firearm if you don't know how to use it. 
wheelerite
Full Member
I believe musket balls are lead, so I don't think that is what that is.
ksmith
ksmith
- Jun 26, 2008
- 7,786
- 11,136
- Detector(s) used
- Ace 250 (2), Ace 300, Gold Bug 2, Tesoro Cortes, Garrett Sea Hunter, Whites TDI SL SE, Fisher Impulse 8, Minelab Monster 1000, Minelab CTX3030, Falcon MD20, Garrett Pro-pointer, Calvin Bunker digger.
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Probably not.... but I sure wish it was. We are due for a meteo"right"! TTC
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