Five pound iron meteorite ????

[W. Frederick]

I have found what I believe to be a meteorite. I understand it needs to be cut into in order to authenticate it. What is the best way to do this? It is beautiful and pristine...will cutting it lessen its' value? It is the size of a half grapefruit and five pounds.
I would appreciate any input. Thank you.

 

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[Echoplex]

Welcome to T-Net! *Possibly* an oriented iron meteorite. There are some surface features that look good, and some that do not. At this point, do not cut it and do not clean it. First, without revealing the location, can you tell us the circumstances of the find? Was it found in a desert? Was it buried or surface find? Does a magnet stick to it? Can you see any flow lines on the dome-shaped part or around the sides? Can you provide some more detailed pics of the dome-shape side?

It does not necessarily need to be cut to be authenticated. XRF analysis can been done without cutting and is usually the first step to confirm composition. However, an official classification would require it to be cut and a type specimen of 20% or 20 grams (whichever is less) be deposited with a repository. If you need help with this, I would be happy to facilitate.

 

[Kray Gelder]

I think more likely a river tumbled fragment of an iron milling ball, or perhaps grapeshot. Edit: I re-read your post. If that piece weighs 5 lbs, it could be a cannonball frag, maybe.

 

[ecmjamsit]

Where was it found? State? Farm field? By a railway line? etc.

 

[TreasureCatto]

Cool find! I thought it was the fragment of a cannonball

 

[Terry Soloman]

There are no striations that would indicate it is a meteorite, no regmaglypts. Below is a "Oriented Meteorite" note the striations

 

[tamrock]

I think it's a piece of limonite concretion. A natural form of mineral created on earth and stayed on earth.

 

[Davers]

Welcome to T-Net! *Possibly* an oriented iron meteorite. There are some surface features that look good, and some that do not. At this point, do not cut it and do not clean it. First, without revealing the location, can you tell us the circumstances of the find? Was it found in a desert? Was it buried or surface find? Does a magnet stick to it? Can you see any flow lines on the dome-shaped part or around the sides? Can you provide some more detailed pics of the dome-shape side?

It does not necessarily need to be cut to be authenticated. XRF analysis can been done without cutting and is usually the first step to confirm composition. However, an official classification would require it to be cut and a type specimen of 20% or 20 grams (whichever is less) be deposited with a repository. If you need help with this, I would be happy to facilitate.

These Questions will help answer rather you have a Meteorite or a Meteor-wrong ; I hope it's the real deal , It does look to be almost circular on it's top , (look's like a Ball ) but then again I saw a picture of an Antarctic Ice-burg that was dang near a perfect rectangle with 90 o angles & flat vertical sides. Soo

 

[nomad 11]

good luck to you that it is a meteorite. but with the way my luck is ? its probably half of a cannon ball ? oh well that still would'nt be half bad of a find ? let us know ?

 

[nomad 11]

Where was it found? State? Farm field? By a railway line? etc.

a State Farm field ? hmmm ?

 

[A2coins]

I see no striations. I have no idea what that means, but I wanted to sue it in a sentence it does sound pretty cool. lol hope it is but ??