Unidentified Rock: Possible Meteorite?

[seanliddelow]

Hello fellow Iceinspacers,

Attached is a photo of an intriguing rock someone I know found in the North of Western Australia. This person believes that it might be a meteorite. I'm not sure, but I'm know that some geologists or meteorite enthusiasts on here would be able to identify the (very odd) object. The first photo attached shows the size of the object, the second shows one of the several green flecks on the surface. I also think it may be some sort of Tektite.

Thanks, Sean

P.S Does anyone know the contact details of someone who may be able to tell me what it is?

:help:

[seanliddelow]

Attached is my first image.

Sean

[OICURMT]

is it magnetic?

[seanliddelow]

Oops, forgot to add that earlier. Yes it does appear weakly magnetic. Just enough to influence a fridge magnet and not strong enough to influence my phones compass:question:.

Sean

[JB80]

That is curious, it certainly looks metallic but the green flecks are odd and the shape too, spheres generally aren't a meteorite.

Here is a link with a few tests you can do.
http://www.meteoritemarket.com/metid1.htm

I think your best bet is to send it to the WA museum or take it in yourself, at the least they should be able to identify it.

[sn1987a]

Looks like a iron oxide pseudomorph after pyrite. Quite common in some parts of the Pilbara. Looks like a nice specimen.

[seanliddelow]

It seems closest to Pyrite, but it doesn't look like any of the examples of Pyrite shown. I'm thinking of going to the WA museum on Monday.

Sean

[seanliddelow]

That's looking better :thumbsup:

Sean

[sn1987a]

Here's what it originally looked like.

[seanliddelow]

Thanks, It must have weathered quite a lot in the intervening years. I thought it may have had something to do with WA's volcanic past.

Sean

[sn1987a]

When the pyrite is exposed to air they eventually turn to Limonite. Sometimes if you break them in half there is still a pyrite core. I used to collect "devils dice" years ago which are related.

[seanliddelow]

Thanks for the quick identification. I will now post pictures of an interesting object found near Kalbarri. Note the burrow like features.

Sean

[sn1987a]

Nope sorry can't help with that one. I've never been but I've always wanted to go to Kalbarri, I fantasize about finding a euthycarcinoid fossil.

[Astroman]

Grab yourself a rare earth magnet and if it sticks easily to it thats your first clue. When people say is it magnetic, they usually mean is it attracted to magnets. Was it originally shiney like that? Of all the meteroites i have seen most are rusty looking rocks and only shine up after A good cleaning, or they have a black crusty layer called a fussion crust if it had fallen recently.. But if it is an iron meteorite it will jump off the table to get to that rare earth magnet.

Good luck but it does look a bit like pyrite.

[Blue Skies]

I think the shiny surface is what they call "desert varnish". It is a common occurrence out in the arid areas, where the rocks on the surface develop a smooth shiny look. I don't think anyone has completely worked out why it happens yet, either. But take it to the museum anyway, they should soon sort it out for you.

[Jezza94]

If you want to get hold of a rare earth magnet, but don't want to pay heaps, try and find an old non-working computer hard drive (if you're only going to use it once)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Pulling-apart-a-desktop-hard-drive-to-get-rare-ear/

I use purpose made rare earth magnets for metal detecting out in the goldfields (I have rigged it up to a bucket, broomstick and a car battery, making it an electromagnet) to pick up any iron junk that is on the surface (generally leaving me with the goodies...gold) under the surface..... If i'm lucky.

[alocky]

Hard to say from the picture - most of what I can see looks like weathering effects only. I certainly can't see any trace fossils, but would really need to have it my hands. My wife has a PhD in geology with a few years specializing in exactly that part of the world and can't say for sure either.
Cheers,
Andrew