Potential Meteorite, pending verification

[ndhill1976]

I haven't been detecting much lately. looks like I'm going to have to wait until I retire in 20 years before I can get back into it hot and heavy again.
BUT, I did take my 6 year old son out in the field beside my house a couple of weeks ago to see if we could find some "treasure". As far as I know, there has never been anything here except farm fields, and all I've ever found has been farm type implements and horse shoes.
On the way back to the house I got a strong nickel and iron reading and dug up this rock in just a few inches of dirt. I didn't think much of it at all at the time, but my son asked my wife to clean off his finds and she noticed that this rock had a black coating that she could chip off with her nail.
After a little investigation and research I started thinking that it could be a meteorite. It doesn't fit the bill exactly though, so I'm kinda perplexed.
It is heavy for it's size, slightly magnetic, has a black coating, you can see some sparkly type material on the side that was chipped away, and it does leave a black mark on porcelain.
My dad took it to his work where there are 3 geologists. They looked at it and 2 of the 3 thought it was a meteorite and the third wasn't sure.
I gave it to a friend that deals with environmental waste so his geologists could check it out too. They aren't sure what it is either, but they have access to a XRF scanner. Once they check it with the scanner, they should be able to tell for sure what it is.
I hate to post this prior to finding out, but I wanted your opinion and I would also like others to join in the anticipation too

 

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[Echoplex]

100% not a meteorite. Sorry.

 

[Johncoho]

It kind of looks like a piece of slag, but I'm no expert.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Best of luck with the XRF scanner.

 

[galenrog]

An XRF will not tell anyone if this item is a meteorite. It may be able to determine surface composition if both hardware and software were designed for the composition of the item. XRF machines designed for scrapyard will be just as useless in this situation as those used by pawn shops or gold buyers. Even an XRF designed for mining exploration may not be up to the task.

Not all geologists are created equal. The area of expertise varies greatly from one to another. A qualified professional who examines meteorites on a regular basis would be a much better choice than one who deals primarily with environmental issues.

Time for more coffee.

 

[pepperj]

I thought the meteorites were magnetic, is your piece?

 

[ndhill1976]

They have been having trouble with the XRF scanner with bad batteries and it isn't calibrated correctly. For the lack of safety they didn't want to try to use it. He was talking over my head, but he said that if something went wrong with the scanner, it would immediately kill someone if they rays hit them. Apparently it's a very strong machine.
However; 3 or 4 of his geologists looked at it, filed down one side and tested it to the best of their abilities, and they all conclude that it is a space rock. It has the right amount of nickel and iron, it has some striations in the rock, and the charring on the outside. They even noticed a little bubble (like a weld bubble) on the outside where it go so hot going through the atmosphere.
Once they get their XRF scanner up and running, he will take it back and scan it, then he can give me a full report of the makeup of the rock.

Yes PepperJ, it is slightly magnetic.

 

[Nashvegas]

Hope you're right!

 

[Rubka888]

That is really cool if it is a space rock!

 

[against the wind]

Does it contain small greenish particles?

 

[ndhill1976]

Does it contain small greenish particles?

No, not that I can tell

 

[chub]

100% not a meteorite. Sorry.

Curious to know what the indications on the pic are to your warrant reply. Im fascinated with meteorites....and meteor wrongs.

Chub