(meteorobs) Stone at Mecca

[Hunter, Robert]

But it's continually touched and kissed by innumerable people.  It stays
polished.  Plus, it should have some nickel in it.  And, if it's fine
grained, it wouldn't tend to rust anyway.  Wrought iron is remarkably
rust resistant.  

The iron pillar of Meharala (sp?) has been stuck in the dirt for at
least 1400 years.  It's in the center of Delhi.  The part of it that
people touch is absolutely smooth and black.  It looks just like the
black stone.  The rest of it is brown and rusty.  But, amazingly, even
the part beneath grade level has not rusted away. 

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Matson, Robert
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 4:17 PM
To: 'Global Meteor Observing Forum'
Subject: (meteorobs) Stone at Mecca

In my opinion, that stone at the Ka'aba at Mecca is not a meteorite.
The color is completely wrong for either a stone or iron meteorite that
fell (or was found) so long ago.  An iron would be rusty; a stone
meteorite would not be black.

I suppose I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's a tektite -- at
least that would make it a temporary space rock... ;-)  --Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org]On Behalf Of Hunter, Robert
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 1:09 PM
To: Global Meteor Observing Forum
Subject: RE: (meteorobs) mythology


Is that the meteor that is the black stone in one corner of the Ka'aba?

It's believed to be an iron-nickel meteorite, but, of course, it can't
be sampled for analysis. 
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