I need some help

[sandsurf]

Recently I found some rocks that really stood out from the whole surroundinds. I found them in a area of about 25 meter radius. All about the same colour and much diffrent from anything even in a radius of 2 km,s. There is a sharp contrast between them and the surrounding metarils. Also the structures.

Now couple of things to remember. This find is in the desert,and on the side of the mountains thats continiously exposed to lot of wind,and that i turn means lot of corrosion.

At the time I did not have anything with me to test for magnetism or anything. The larger piece sounds metalic even if you slap your bare hand on it.

What I want to know, if it is worthwhile going back to investigate futher. Its quite difficult to get there.
To give one a idea of size. The one large piece weight around 500 kg to judge .

I really would appreciate input on this matter.
Thank You.

 

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[hvacker]

Not sure but interesting. I'd be excited. They sure resemble fusion crust from here. Aside from their size (really big) it does appear similar to a fusion crust and I like the color.

As far as going back you're probably asking the wrong people because all it takes to get some of these people to go most anywhere is just the idea of finding something. It doesn't even have to have any real value. But because I live in the desert I do know it can be hard.

The fact that you even noticed these rocks tells me you might already have a good hunch about them. If you do go back you might want to make a list of things to make a better ID. A magnet, a loupe, a file or grinder to grind a window to examine the base rock, It looks like you have a good camera, Maybe a nickel test kit from your pharmacy, and a hefty hammer. Others here could probably add to that list. You might already know what to take.
The sad part is if it passes the test, it has value but you need a way to take it home.
Good luck, I hope it's the real deal.

 

[sandsurf]

Thank you very much for the responce. I,m busy reading up all I can in order to prepare for a next visit. As mentioned, one fact that stand out above all,is that these rocks differ 100% from anything in that whole area. Secondly,they lay halfway up on a hill,where clearly lot of normal corrosion eats away at the hill. Desert winds is unforgiven to rock formations.

Some of the round ones are split through the middle. But they look like normal granite inside. Ok,thats with the eye. There is signs of a crust on the large ones.
I do not want to damage the large ones as they really in mint shape and also the beauty of it all is actually their shape.

Secondly, the ROTERKAM crater is about 200 km away from this site. I,m sure there is a lot more to this then what the eye meets. I,m not linking them to the roterkam but surely NAMIBIA lay in the " path" for possible strikes. The GIBEON METEORITES were also found about 400 km from this site.

http://www.mme.gov.na/gsn/posters/geological-attractions/meteorites.pdf

 

[hvacker]

I wouldn't want to damage them either. Some have said that a small window made with a file or grinder is acceptable. I don't know if that's true but it might be worth finding out. There too big to put in your pocket. Others have told to take possible finds to a University but yours would need a truck. Most finds are tiny. Some Universities have a bad habit of keeping things they like.

 

[sandsurf]

Agree. My gues is that in total the pieces that stood out from the rest of the enviroment is about close to 2 metric tons. Well,now that silly season is over, I,w contact the chemical and lab suppliers to find a nickel test kit. Once I have that ,then I can pan another visit.

Precisley for the reasons you also mentioned, I do not wnat to run to the local univercity or even GOVERMENT offices. The find will just dissappear.

My gut feeling about this is way to strong to just write them off as normal rock formation.

But thank you so far for your responce and help.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Terrestrial

 

[sandsurf]

More info

Some good news so far. I manage to get quotations for the nickel test kits( DMG) and would get them in about a week,s time. Then I can plan another desert trip and hopefully come back with good news. As said before. I really feel positive about this find.

In the mean time also discovered another possible meteorite site, with clearly some ground desturbence over a stretch of about one kilometer. Look like three impact areas. All more or less in line from east to west. Lets cross fingers. Wish I had somebody close who is well experienced in meteorite hunting.

There is a story to this. Way back, when I was about 6 years old, a farmer(very good friend of my father) told him about a sighting of a meteorite strike he witnessed. They went out for days to find the area but could never pinpoint it. Close to 50 years later I think the sites I found is from the sightings he made that time. It make sense,as from where he saw the travel path and possible area of landing, this three desturbed formations fitt 100 %. Just,they were about 10 km out in their search. I remember this very well,as I was with them at the time. Not all the fine detail but As I do my investigation,lots of memory comes back.

 

[Big Red]

Meteorites are usually very heavy? very magnetic? Even one 4 inches long, will feel like a heavyweight, in your hand, like a small sledge hammer? Blackened from traveling through space. hit one (small one!) with a hammer, if it breaks, probably not a meteorite? If it chips off, also probably not a meteorite? Did the meteorites from the impact area, you mentioned, look like these? Kind of looks like some kind of sandstone to me, hence the weathering, as sandstone is fairly soft? Still, take it to someone, to be sure, but looks doubtful to me, so far.

 

[DolanDave]

Sandsurf,
They are terrestrial, not meteorites, I come across those in the desert often. Also nickel test kits are unreliable, you need to perform an xrf test.
Dave

 

[BayRockMan]

Thank you very much for the responce. I,m busy reading up all I can in order to prepare for a next visit. As mentioned, one fact that stand out above all,is that these rocks differ 100% from anything in that whole area. Secondly,they lay halfway up on a hill,where clearly lot of normal corrosion eats away at the hill. Desert winds is unforgiven to rock formations.

Some of the round ones are split through the middle. But they look like normal granite inside. Ok,thats with the eye. There is signs of a crust on the large ones.
I do not want to damage the large ones as they really in mint shape and also the beauty of it all is actually their shape.

Secondly, the ROTERKAM crater is about 200 km away from this site. I,m sure there is a lot more to this then what the eye meets. I,m not linking them to the roterkam but surely NAMIBIA lay in the " path" for possible strikes. The GIBEON METEORITES were also found about 400 km from this site.

http://www.mme.gov.na/gsn/posters/geological-attractions/meteorites.pdf

Roterkam is too old. Whatever caused that crater has long since become terrestrial.

Too far from the Gibeon site - that strewnfield is 275 km on the long axis.

 

[sandsurf]

I am not saying they are connected to any of the known sites,but surely only the fact that meteorites ended up in more then one place in Namibia is in its own proof that one needs to keep a eye out.

Not being able to go back to the site as yet,how does one then explain the total diffrence in nature of these rock formation. If it was sandstone, then surely there must be plenty around. I walked that area in a radius from these "rocks" for about 2 kilometers. And absolutely nowhere found anything even close to this kind of shape,colour. So,somehow they are not from that area. Then who moved them if they were terrestrial. As said,largest one must be in access of 500 kg.

 

[Big Red]

I personally hope you are correct, although I think not? It is very exciting to find something like this, alone, all by itself and on top of a hill! I share in your excitement, having found meteorites myself and purchased others. I am no expert though and you need one! Even though I don't believe they are meteorites, I have seen and own rock like meteorites from China, that are essentially the same color (more or less) and I know that some are magnetic, but not all are! This is why you need a geologist to look at them and determine what they are. (for sure!)
If we lived close to each other, I would go out with you looking for them, anytime! Nothing more exciting than the hunt! I wish you every success and great luck! The other two sites sound exciting also! I made up a cane, with a rare earth magnet on the end, so you don't need to be always on your knees, or getting up off them? It works awesome and I recommend it! I would say trust no one's opinion, other than a professional and/or a Geologist! Have fun and check out those new sites you mentioned and keep us posted! Big Red

 

[sandsurf]

Well,way to busy with marketing now but in due time would be able arrange a trip to visit the site again. The other discovery of the three sites will have to wait as its close to 400 km away from me. Will keep all up to date.And thank you all for the info.