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Title: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 27, 2011, 07:22:03 PM hi guys and gals, i recently got a metal detector for me and my daughter to have a play about with and on our first outing we found few junk bits and bobs but 1 thing thats looks abit strange?
tried to cut it with my grinder and its totaly blitzing my metal cutting disc? looks like a rock but has a red layer of surface rust type stuff and is really heavy for its size ! have we found a meteorite? or is it just a piece of iron ore? pics to follow... Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Val Beechey on July 27, 2011, 07:41:52 PM Welcome to DW WelshDigger. Great site with lots of help and advice if needed.
Look forward to seeing your pici of the U.F.O. :o Val Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 27, 2011, 07:59:43 PM Welcome aboard Welshdigger, Your find sounds very interesting and like Val look forward to seeing it. Have you tried a magnet? I wouldn't of thought your grinder would have had too much trouble if it was ore.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: waltonbasinman on July 28, 2011, 08:32:12 AM Sounds interesting. Can,t wait for the pictures.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Techony on July 28, 2011, 09:17:25 AM tried to cut it with my grinder and its totaly blitzing my metal cutting disc? Not being one who usually takes a grinder to my finds, I do like the novel approach ;D But please be careful. If it were to turn out to be something important, the grinder solution might not be the best way to retain its value. Can't wait to see the pictures, it does sound interesting. Well found Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 28, 2011, 09:38:37 AM As far as I'm aware Tony cutting is the only way to truly authenticate a meteorite.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 09:51:19 AM Sounds very interesting. Can't wait to see a photo.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 10:27:02 AM soz for the delay guys as i went to take a pic last night the batteries went >:( bloody typical.
charged it up though and took a few pics. hope these work??? (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0010.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0015.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0011.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0013.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0012.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI0014.jpg) if the pics work you can see the 2 grind marks where i tried to cut it. the first little one was with my grinder with about half an old disc on it and it burnt my disc away and only done a little cut? so i put brand new cutting disc on and the second deeper cut is how far that one got through before it burnt out? i know its a bit silly to grind stuff that i found but i showed all my mates and even a few old skool guys who didnt have a clue what it was then i read on the tinternet that thats how they test metals is to look at the sparks? this is my 1st detector and im a total newbie here and havent got a clue what im doing to be honnest... thats why im here ;) hopefully you guys and gals will show me the ropes and help me out with any questions or problems i have. anyways have a look at the pics( if they worked?) and see if it is just a 287gram piece of old junk or meteorite? Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Napoleon on July 28, 2011, 10:30:32 AM look like more a piece of iron to me than a meteorite but maybe wrong Weslhdigger hope i do because meteorites are very valuable this days .Bravo mon ami.Nap
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 10:37:13 AM hi ,as i said im a total newbie to this and havent got a clue what it is..neither have a few of the people ive showed?
thats why im here to ask the experts ;) whatever it is its going in our little box so me and my daughter can see everything weve found at the end of the summer hols. Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 10:41:59 AM Have a look at some of these pics and see if any of them look similar?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=iron+meteorites&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=981&bih=632 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=iron+meteorites&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=981&bih=632) Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 28, 2011, 10:45:55 AM Well it does have the right sort of weight and colour of an iron meteorite, my only concern would be the shape. You have either got to cut through it or seek some expert advice to be sure....well found.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 10:48:45 AM yeah it does look like some of those.
it got a dark outer finish thats like gum metal but a real shiny inner? should i get all the red stuff off it and give it a good sand? or grind it straight through the middlle or anything? Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 28, 2011, 10:58:01 AM No I would leave the "crust" on it, now you have started then I would use the same cut but alter the angle so you are only taking the corner off. you need to cut it but do as little damage as possible.
Like this (http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chef_02/DSCI0014.jpg) Great photo's by the way ;) Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 11:04:39 AM I agree with Geoff. If it is a real meteorite then you need to do as little damage as possible. Try to take off a small corner and see what the insternal structure is like.
If I remember correctly meteors have something called a fusion crust. This is where a crust forms from the intense heat while the meteor is entering the atmosphere. Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 11:10:21 AM right then ill chop the corner off it using the same cut .
i better go get a couple of new cutting discs first then lol ill post some pics when its done... Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 11:14:22 AM Look forward to seeing the results. This has really caught my interest. And hey, if it turns out to be just a lump of iron, then at least we have all had good chat as well. Lol
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 11:48:21 AM yeah jon its good chatting to everyone and ive found this site really helpfull and full of info already!
also this was my daughters first find so whatever it is she will be keeping it . i managed to get hold of a proper good disc from my m8 down the road and only just made it lol ive chopped the corner off :o (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00112.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00102.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00122.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00142.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00132.jpg) was shocked that the part i was cutting didnt really get that hot.... but the rest of it got boiling? and the red stuff surrounding it seemed to fall off when i put the mole grips in it revealing a black kinda gun metal outer finish? most prob is a piece of old junk but hey ..you never know whats in them there hills lol Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 28, 2011, 11:56:33 AM OK now you need someone with a bench grinder ;D as you need a smooth surface to see the make up of it.
I personally think it is a meteorite.....and I'm a sceptic :o Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 12:01:27 PM righty o geoff i will nip to my mates garage now to get it as smooth as possible..
will tyr to post more pics when its done but im finding it really difficult to get a good close up pic with my rubbish digi camera >:( Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 12:01:43 PM I think it's a meteorite aswell. It's looks more like a meteorite than just a lump of iron.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 12:15:08 PM wow this cam up real nice and smooth fair play ;D
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00113.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00103.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00123.jpg) (http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l569/welshdigger1/DSCI00133.jpg) kinda hard to get a real good close up shot but i can definatly see what seems like a coating to the darker outer? Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 12:19:00 PM It really does look like a meteorite to me. I wander where or who you could ask to confirm?
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 12:34:52 PM i have a m8 who workied in portsmouth uni up until a few weeks ago and he said they had a department up there that deals with stuff like this IF it is a meteorite?
might give cardiff uni a ring and find out if they would take a look. or theres somewhere on the net that says to cut 20% off it and send it to them and they will check it for you ??? Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Chef Geoff on July 28, 2011, 01:00:00 PM Well looking on the net it seems to tick all te right boxes as far as having a Mineral outer crust (brown) a line of crust (black) and the iron core. Fascinating it's like a miniature Earth ;)
Just goes to show what we miss by not digging iron. Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 01:12:48 PM wow not a bad first find then , happy days ;D
thanks for all your help ! just imagine this has been floating about in space for years then...maybee its passed uranus lol wouldnt mind finding out how old it could be though? Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 01:18:28 PM If it's a meteorite we are probably talking millions if not billions of years old.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 01:27:15 PM This link might help with the identification. It's for the natural history museum.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/mineralogy/contact-enquiries/index.html (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/mineralogy/contact-enquiries/index.html) Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Mick on July 28, 2011, 01:53:17 PM There you have website - how to recognize meteorite ;)
http://www.meteoritemarket.com/metid1.htm (http://www.meteoritemarket.com/metid1.htm) Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on July 28, 2011, 02:06:01 PM looking at that site mick it does tick every box ;)
jon ive contacted the natural history museum and also the museum in cardiff so i wil see what they say. i wonder if i get any super powers if i bath with it or something haha thanks for the help guys and gals ;D Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Jon1987 on July 28, 2011, 02:11:33 PM No worries welsh digger. It's a fantastic find if it is one. And just incase it's not, it's be fascinating trying to work it out. Keep us up to date with what the museum and uni have to say :)
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Val Beechey on July 28, 2011, 04:08:02 PM Well I wasn't disappointed in waiting to see your picis. :o
Absolutely stunning. What a find. It's a good size as well. Most Meteorites are quite small. I wonder how long it's been here, never mind there. Look forward to reading more as the story progresses. Val Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: tyna on July 28, 2011, 04:52:37 PM If it is indeed a meteorite then I suppose you know that it's more valuable than gold??
OMG I sincerely hope it is :o Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: wayne on August 18, 2011, 08:28:02 PM hi what an interesting find ,thanks for the op pertunity to view this.i watched a program on meteorites sometime ago, i remember something about looking for thumb print indentation on them,this apeares to have some.
Ive seen whats called mine stones,this looks similar ,and these stones are very much heaver than normal stones or rocks found down the coal mines,same sort of colour on the outer ,and smoother surface. i relay hope its a meteorite. Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: dances with badgers on September 11, 2011, 04:41:46 AM ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: Metalmickey on September 11, 2011, 06:47:25 AM A Meteorite passing through earths atmosphere & crash landing on the surface would not do so & end up the shape your find is. Sorry. :(
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: anthonyjay on February 09, 2012, 12:31:06 PM Have you looked at HEMATITE. It is found quite often in England, I have a similar piece I found several years ago.
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: dances with badgers on February 09, 2012, 08:30:09 PM meteorites are perforated i think :)
Title: Re: have i found a meteorite? or just a piece of iron? Post by: welshdigger on February 09, 2012, 10:00:17 PM i still dont know what it is???
and had no reply from the museum or uni?? still got it though just incase ;-) |