Meteorite strewn field or ???

[pecosjim]

I found this rock in Eddy County New Mexico 5/15/07.

It may have a dark brown fusion crust on much of it(or desert varnish?).

It appears about 2/3's of the rock was buried and the solid dark brown part was

above ground. That is the way I found it. It immediately stuck to my cane magnet

and I pulled it up to look at it. Looking at it with a magnifying glass I see

allot of sparkle(metal?), especially if I move it about some. This day I also

found several other rocks that stuck to my magnet. This was the largest and what

I consider to be the best candidate for a possible meteorite.

What do you think? Possible meteorite or a earth rock? I found several

possibles(attracted to magnet)in a perhaps 100 yard area. Prior I was working

an area about 2 miles to the north and found approximately 40 rocks that stick

to a magnet. Most stick very strong and some mildly(can still pick up with cane

without it falling off). I have grinded off some corners of the previous

pieces and have got either a dark metallic grey or lighter steel grey.

One I ground the end off to see a metallic surface with white irregular specks in

it. Streak plate shows nothing on this one(pic). Most of the pieces

I have found do not have a streak. A few do with either dark grey or reddish

brown. Those I guess are either hematite or magnetite. I pretty much do not

know one rock from another. These areas are near where there are Indian sites

and I have been to them over many years. Only lately have I thought about

looking for meteorites. I hope something comes out of it and my explorations.

Thanks

JS

Before I had a chance to post this I went out again in the same general area and

have another 2 pics to post.This rock was found today 5/17/07. It seems to have a weathered fusion crust or

is it just desert varnish? It weighs 6.6 ounces and has a very strong pull to a

magnet. I spotted just a piece above ground. I then poked my magnet stick at it

and it had a strong pull. When I dug it up I was easily able to pick it up with

the magnet. Both I and my son found approximately dozen other rocks that stuck

to the magnet in this area. My son was using a metal detector, but they were all on the surface.

Could this be a strewn field or just earth rocks that stick to a magnet? It is

fun to just get out and walk the dog any way.

JS

:icon_mrgreen:

[Mr Hunter Man]

PecosJim,

Are you able to cut or grind/polish a window into it, looking at the interior matrix is the best way to visually identify a possible meteorite. I looks a bit like hematite, but it does kinda look likt=e a really weathered chondrite. I wish you the best and hope that you get the help you need, if you want a few more opinions you can post a photos on my forum, there is a catagory called "meteorite identification". is there any visable to the naked eye? how about chondrules?

Here is a link that may help:

http://illinoismeteorites.com/meteorite_identification.htm

Best wishes and happy hunting,

Joe kerchner

http://illinoismeteorites.com

[pecosjim]

PecosJim,

Are you able to cut or grind/polish a window into it, looking at the interior matrix is the best way to visually identify a possible meteorite. I looks a bit like hematite, but it does kinda look likt=e a really weathered chondrite. I wish you the best and hope that you get the help you need, if you want a few more opinions you can post a photos on my forum, there is a catagory called "meteorite identification". is there any visable to the naked eye? how about chondrules?

Here is a link that may help:

http://illinoismeteorites.com/meteorite_identification.htm

Best wishes and happy hunting,

Joe kerchner

http://illinoismeteorites.com

Here are two of them with a ground down surface.

Thanks

JS

PS If they are interesting I am willing to send them to you. Don't need them back if meteor wrong.

[Mr Hunter Man]

Are thos withish looking spots metal? Are there any chondrules in them? If you want to send me a sample to examine, PM me and I will give you my address, If they are true meteorites I will help you get them classified, if not I will send them back at your request. If they are meteorites there is a place that will classify them for like $79.

If that is metal that is visiable these may in fact be meteorites, I can't tell just by looking at the photos.

Happy Hunting,

Joe Kerchner

illinoismeteorites.com

[pecosjim]

Are thos withish looking spots metal? Are there any chondrules in them? If you want to send me a sample to examine, PM me and I will give you my address, If they are true meteorites I will help you get them classified, if not I will send them back at your request. If they are meteorites there is a place that will classify them for like $79.

If that is metal that is visiable these may in fact be meteorites, I can't tell just by looking at the photos.

Happy Hunting,

Joe Kerchner

illinoismeteorites.com

I don't think I would know a chondrule if it hit me in the face lol.

The left stone pictured seems to have some shiny specks of metal in the exposed surface.

I sent you a PM.

Thanks

JS