[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) POSIBBLE NEW DUTCH METEORITE????
-
To: Sirko Molau <molau@informatik.rwth-aachendot de>, Jurgen Rendtel <jrendtel@aipdot de>, Alastair McBeath <mcbal.gwyvre@virgindot net>, Rainer Arlt <100114.1361@compuserve.com>, fidac@imodot net, NAMN Meteorobs <meteorobs@latrade.com>, dedalus@latrade.com, Tim Cooper <tpcoope@mweb.co.za>, George Zay <GeoZay@aol.com>, Robert Lunsford <lunro.imo.usa@prodigy.com>, imo-news@imodot net, pavel@sunkl.asudot cas.cz
-
Subject: (meteorobs) POSIBBLE NEW DUTCH METEORITE????
-
From: Marco Langbroek <marcolan@stad.dsldot nl>
-
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 17:30:59 +0200 (CEST)
-
Reply-To: meteorobs@jovian.com
-
Sender: owner-meteorobs@jovian.com
From Marco Langbroek, Dutch Meteor Society (DMS), the Netherlands:
6/08/1999, 15:30 UT
Dear Everyone,
Although it is still too early to give a definite opinion, it appears
very well possible that we have a new meteorite in The Netherlands. On
July 22, a mysterious object crashed through the steel plate roofing of
an iron melting company (!) in Weert, in the South of the Netherlands
(51d 15'N, 5d 42' E), striking a 'crater' in the floor of 20x20 cm. It was
seized by the Aviation Police dept. for
investigation because initially it was thought to be part of an aircraft.
That turns out to be not the case.
After press reports this morning, Casper ter Kuile and I contacted the
Aviation Police for information; this resulted in an invitation by
officer Krone, who was very kind, helpfull and interested (and curious!) to
check on the object. So I took half a day leave from my work and visited
Schiphol Airport Oost this early afternoon (with a piece of 'Mbale'
chondrite in my pocket to show as an example -I happened to have it with
me because I had shown it to some of my collegue archaeologist, to make
them aware if they encounter such things during field surveys! A very odd
coincidence indeed!), where the bureau of the aviation
authorities is located. Together with dr. L. Lindner from Utrecht
University (Dept. Earth Sciences), who had also arrived, we investigated
the object macroscopically.
Currently, we cannot say for certain (please note!) that this must be a
meteorite. Both of us are of the opinion that the shape of the object is
very odd (unlike anything I've ever seen in the field of meteorites), but
the structure of the surface is very convincing. Thus, we for the moment
judge it to be a POSSIBLE iron meteorite untill chemical investigations
will settle the issue. But I give it a good although certainly not 100%
chance. Dr. Lindner has taken the object to Utrecht for chemical analysis
and isotopic measurements. Now, we have to await the final verdict on the
object.
The shape is very odd. It is a slightly tapered, rod-like object, maximum
dimension 42 mm long, minimum diameter 14mm. Never seen such a
'meteorite' before. It however appears to have a very convincing 'fusion
crust' that is dark brown-black and smooth. The elongated object has
moothed corners. It is compact metal.
If this is a true meteorite, it is the 5th surviving Dutch one (others in
1840, 1843, 1925 and 1990) and the first Dutch iron meteorite.
- Marco Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society (the Netherlands)
http://home.wxsdot nl/~dms-web/
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html