Comments for Historic Falls

Comment on Historic Falls by Prof. Peter Spargo

Prof. Peter Spargo — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:43:43 +0000

Dear Historic Falls:

A while back I published a series of three articles on the history of the Hoba meteorite.These appeared in the Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (MNASSA). As MNASSA only has a relatively limited circulation in world terms I’m wondering whether these articles ever came to your attention. If not, and you would like copies of the articles, kindly drop me a line and I will be happy to let you have a set.

With kindest raegards,

yours sincerely

Peter Spargo

(Prof P E Spargo
Department of Physics
University of Cape Twn)

Comment on Hraschina by Matej Kukec

Matej Kukec — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 22:13:50 +0000

Hello!
I wanted to ask if anyone has some precise Hraschina meteorite finds map. I will go there this winter in hope to find something.

I would appriciate any help. thanks

Comment on Diep River, South Africa, *1906 by Dave Robbins

Dave Robbins — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:22:38 +0000

In 1966, when I was 6 years old, we moved to the Hermitage Farm in Diep River, and rented a part of the farmhouse, which had been subdivided. In another part of the subdivided farmhouse lived ‘Oubaas’(Old Boss) Van Ryn, the owner of the farm and a man then in his late seventies. I was an inquisitive youngster, and this is probably what made him ask if I would like to see where “the stone from the sky” hit the farmhouse. I remember that it was on another extention to the farmhouse, which he said had been part of the stables. Moreover, the roof had been repaired so there was actually nothing to see. I subsequently found out that a meteorite had struck the farm on November 4, 1906, and that ‘Oubaas’ had been a witness to the event. I am so sorry now that I didn’t ask him more questions but, after all, I was 6 years old!

Very interesting site.

Comment on Dundrum, Ireland, *1865 by Heidi

Heidi — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:31:45 +0000

My birthday is August 12. I just learned of collectors seeking “birthdate falls.” This will definitely go on my wish list!

Comment on Hoba by wannell

wannell — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:24:22 +0000

WOW biggest meteorite i ever seen!

Comment on Rocks In My Head by David Childs

David Childs — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:19:16 +0000

That is one terrific way of describing how one gets hooked. I can relate to standing outside, looking up at the stars, thinking…what is really going on out there? The piece about ALLENDE really kicks in when you regard the age of these things, AWESOME!

Comment on Rocks In My Head by Jon Todd

Jon Todd — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:54:53 +0000

I very much enjoyed your input on the awsome hobby of collecting meteorites. It sure does give you a perspective of how small we are with the rest of the universe, good job! jon.

Comment on Rocks In My Head by alex j rynkiewicz

alex j rynkiewicz — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:12:36 +0000

i work as a prison guard in wilkes-barre,pa 18702 usa and on 9july09 -940pm while walking to work i was hit by a falling pea sized rock piece. it lodged in my cap with a medium thump. it is golden colored in bright sunlight but greyish if kept in the dark. has small clear stones. no one knows what it is- it weighs 13 grains estimated. non magnetic-

Comment on Hatford by chris

chris — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:47:51 +0000

If by a yomp you mean search would be very willing to spend a couple of days searching total amature good eyes and magnet stick !

Comment on 20th by Tim Heitz

Tim Heitz — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:01:05 +0000

Allende

Allende – Chihuahua,Mexico
Type – Stone ,Carbonaceous Chondrite
Class – (CV3)
Fell – Feb 8,1969

Fell in the area of Chihuahua, Mexico on Feb 9, 1969 The strewnfield is one of the biggest stone strewnfields ever recorded. Allende contains grains of dust from stars that existed long ago before our Solar System formed. This makes this meteorite one of the only meteorites truly containing “stardust”. Ancient stardust in meteorites helps explain the evolution of the our galaxy. Allende is one of the most studied meteorites in the world. So for, this the oldest thing man has ever touched, which dates 4.5 billion years old.

This meteorite is of a rarest type known, a carbonaceous chondrite (CV3 – only 16 examples of which are known). Carbonaceous chondrites are considered to represent the most primitive material in the solar system, and are of particular interest to planetary scientists, which formed during the evolution of the our galaxy.

The fine-grained grey matrix consists largely of the silicate mineral olivine, which hosts abundant spherical chrondrules and light colored clusters of minerals known as Calcium Aluminium Inclusions (CAIs). Both chondrules and CAIs formed when superheated dust in the solar nebula cooled, crystallising CAIs and then chodrules, 10 to 50 million years before larger objects such as our planet began to form. CAIs have been isotopically dated at 4.57 billion years old (4,570,000,000 years), making this meteorite the oldest thing you will ever hold.

Perhaps even more amazing is that scientists found tiny microdiamonds within the Allende Meteorite. Studies show that these tiny diamonds came from stars that existed before our solar system formed.

In 2009 from American Mineralogist, scientists have found a new mineral only present in Allende meteorite, which is called Tistarite.

The name of the new mineral is derived from the word “star” and the composition “Ti,” implying that this new mineral
is likely a condensate among the first solids formed in the solar system at the birth of our Sun.