![]() ![]() Additionally, its flattened shape is rare, as most meteorites are roughly spherical. The meteorite also appears to belong to a rare class of non-magnetic meteorites that originated in melt pools on asteroids created by impacts of other rocks. For one thing, he'd like to compare the weathering and rusting on the surface of this rock to the 1984 meteorite, which was buried for about 100 years less time before being found. The meteorite offers some tantalizing scientific possibilities, Alexander said. But to tell for sure, a larger chunk of the object would have to be cut off and examined. He's reasonably sure that the object is another piece of a meteorite that was found in a nearby field in Arlington in 1894 - the two rocks have similar shapes and nickel content. "The university wants to do more tests on it, so we'll let them do more tests and then we'll decide if we want to sell it or keep it."Īlexander would love to be able to study the rock in detail. They may decide to hold onto their meteorite as a prized keepsake, or they may not. Because it fell on the Lilienthals' property, it legally belongs to them. The future for the space rock is unclear right now. "With all this publicity, it's becoming a favorite." "It's probably not the prettiest rock that we've got in the pile - it looks kind of like a burnt pizza - but I'm really liking it more," Nelva told. Since the discovery of the rock's true nature, the object has taken on more importance. Recently, they revisited the issue, and their son, who works for the University of Minnesota, made some inquiries at the school and was referred to Alexander. (Image credit: Anette von der Handt, Electron Microprobe Facility, University of Minnesota) The image also displays a Widmanstätten Pattern of crystals unique to meteorites. "At that point it was time to plant our fields again and we put it off until a rainy day," Nelva said.Ī scanning electron microscope image of the meteorite discovered in Arlington, Minn., shows the nickel distribution in this largely iron rock. The couple noticed the rock's unsettling weight and rare appearance, but didn't think too much of it at the time, and added it to their pile of interesting finds. When we found it, we thought it was kind of different and we put it aside." "You pick 'em up and you get your fields planted. "You pick up hundreds and hundreds of rocks," Bruce Lilienthal said. Her husband Bruce had come upon the rock two years ago during the annual spring field clearing, when the farmers comb over their land to pick up the many rocks that have been turned up from the frost over the winter. "It's not something we were expecting to find, but now that we've found out what it is, it's been exciting to learn about it," said Nelva Lilienthal. Though they haven't spent decades waiting for something like this, the Lilienthals are coming to appreciate their find just as much. "I am about to retire at the end of next year, and this was the first real meteorite that's been brought in," Alexander told. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |