METEORITES 117 



METEORITES 



Meteorites are the only objects we know that have originated 

 elsewhere than on this earth, and they are therefore of great 

 scientific importance. They are so rare that they are found 

 usually by accident rather than by search. They may hit the 

 earth anywhere, and no place is too remote for one. Meteorites 

 contain nothing in themselves of economic value to man, but 

 whenever one is encountered, it should be preserved for the 

 large collections where studies are made of these unusual objects. 



Meteorites are of two kinds — stone and iron. The latter are 

 more easily recognized because of their weight and metallic 

 character. Nothing similar to them in appearance exists in nature. 

 It is unusual to find large masses of metallic iron scattered in 

 remote places, and consequently any metallic object answering 

 the following descriptions should be investigated. 



The surface of iron meteorites is usually rusty brown and is 

 dotted with holes or depressions which resemble thumb marks in 

 putty. The sound produced by striking an iron meteorite with 

 a hammer or rock is different from that produced by striking a 

 large stone. Hammering on the surface only dents or batters 

 the metal, and chips do not easily break off as they do if boulders 

 are pounded. To remove a sample the collector usually has to 

 resort to cutting with a hacksaw. 



Determine the dimensions of the specimen and estimate its 

 weight. If it weighs much more in proportion to its size than 

 other rocks in the vicinity, it may be a meteorite. If your dis- 

 covery is too large to collect for shipment to the museum, take 

 a photograph and send it in, together with detailed information 



