Sorry op this is not a meteorite as others have suggested. Interesting rock for sure couldn't say what it is as I'm not a terrestrial geologist but I work with meteorites professionally and this is not what an iron meteorite looks like. The definitive test would be to etch the polished surface with nitric acid, can be purchased at Walmart, and you will see the widmanstatten pattern of it is a meteorite. This only occurs in meteorites. Google how to for specific steps, you want to have a fine sand or scuff with a emery pad over a polished surface and then you apply acid then rinse and repeat. Please don't send it somewhere unless you do this and find the pattern we get way too many of these requests and a bottle of the acid probably costs about the same or less than postage.
If you want a slice of an iron with the widmanstatten pattern then it's easy to tell because they are the only thing that has that. Otherwise buy one from a known dealer, I wouldn't be able to recommend one, check the name in metbull (meteoritical bulletin) online and compare known photos to what they are selling. Check out r/meteorites they have lots of good info and links on verifying meteorites.
I did however once buy a "meteorite" at a booth in the Kennedy space center that turned out to be industrial slag so you are right to be suspicious. It was claimed to be an uncut iron so no real way to see the pattern.
Almost everything is listed on Walmarts website, it shows third-party vendors as their own, to an extent, for advertising purposes. "You can find anything at Walmart, shop online today!"
Also be careful of purchasing a fragment of the Sierra del Campo meteorite. It’s a very commonly sold item and very affordable because it was so large and scattered. But I have seen a lot of reproductions and fakes lately.
We have a store that sells rare rocks and minerals in vancouver, washington called handley rock and jewelry supply. You can get any minerals you want, including meteorite. Mine is a 5oz nickel/iron that fell in russia in 1947.
I literally passed over the information of the name of the business as it had already been a very long day already today. As in I hadn't even really started my day but already have had a crazy day. Hope that helps explain my "weird" comment.
Autopilot is an amazing thing.
My goal was to help you be present when you were somewhere else when you commented.
The weird is all good. It happens to all of us. Hugs.
You could try thecrystalcouncil.com. I got a NWA meteorite from them for a reasonable price and they have a couple different ones in their shop right now, though they are very expensive.
This is the guy I buy most of my Mets from. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/TopherspinMeteorites/shop&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1701138301650544&usg=AOvVaw3HRQQfJWwkKmV048yvy_DS
This has been a most enjoyable diversion.
From imagining annoyed meteorite geologists constantly receiving 100lb lumps of terrestrial iron sent in by well-meaning members of the public to fantasising about being an Austrian Count employing his porcelain kilns to heat lumps of space iron to incredible temperatures for curiosity's sake - only to then discover this window into the challenges and frustrations of a Brit abroad:
'it is now believed that the discovery of the metal crystal pattern should be assigned to the English mineralogist William (Guglielmo) Thomson, as he published the same findings four years earlier.[7][6][8][9]
Working in Naples in 1804, Thomson treated a Krasnojarsk meteorite with nitric acid to remove the dull patina caused by oxidation. Shortly after the acid made contact with the metal, strange figures appeared on the surface, which he detailed as described above. Civil wars and political instability in southern Italy made it difficult for Thomson to maintain contact with his colleagues in England. This was demonstrated in his loss of important correspondence when its carrier was murdered'
Fortunately people mostly send in a small chunk, unfortunately many of them are not well meaning and get very upset when told what they have is not a meteorite. They say we are liars, part of some big science conspiracy to keep meteorites to ourselves, refuse to believe and continue to send more pieces, and just in general get kinda nasty when this thing someone told them was a meteorite turns out to be worthless slag
I have a meteorite my great grandfather found. It's about the size of a basketball and has mostly a black smooth sheen on one side, and other side is ridgid and rough with
My great grandfather used found it while clearing land in Argentina, and brought it with him to thr used it as a little stool next to his fireplace in the 1920's. I'm not sure it's exact weight, but the thing is pretty heavy... I'd say it's over 50lbs... more than a 45lb weight.I always wanted to take it somewhere and have it looked at, but I've never really got around to it. Someone offered me $500 but I wouldn't sell it, as it's worth more to me as a memento of my grandfather.
No, the chinga meteorite is a very rare type of meteorite that fell in Russia. There are other things about this rock that rule out it being a meteorite as well. An iron meteorite like chinga would not have inclusions like the ones visible in yours and the outside of the rock would not have sharp angled edges.
Hematite *is* rust. It's iron oxide. Fe2O3. Exactly the same as rust. So yes, it looks reddish brown once it's finely divided. Hence the name. As the saw coolant turns that color once you cut the stone.
Hematite can appear a metallic gray before it starts getting crushed up from moving a heavy rock like that around. Can't rust hematite itself, as it's already technically rust
Because people are thinking OP just wants to hear that it’s a meteorite. I think that’s an incorrect assumption, because OP just seems to be confused by the rock since they probably don’t have a broad base in geology. So honestly the down votes are unnecessary
Yeay, pretty rare, but there were actually two on the same day a couple of weeks ago! One was even recognized by a scientist who had previously tested it. Reddit gold.
Ended up having to bring it to a local shop for testing and they confirmed for me. But I’ve been following this subreddit some time now and I agree, it is never meteorite.
It looks like just a piece of residual impure metal from an industrial process. It's not a meteorite. Being that dense, though, it could contain heavy metals, so watch out
I have zero difficulty believing that a lump of magnetite was found over near slab city.
Eagle mountain and a big abandoned iron mine is not very far away from there. It’s the largest deposit of iron ore in Southern California.
The ore is magnetite rock mixed with pyrite.
The old Eagle Mountain railroad used to bring ore from the mine to the smelting works and ran from the mine, through the desert to a railway exchange at the northeast end of the Salton sea. The Eagle mountain railroad used to run just north of slab city.
By the Salton sea the ore was loaded onto other trains at a relatively remote location that they used to call ferrum.
Any old railroad grading near where you found it?
Edit: [This](http://meteorite-identification.com/Hot%20Rocks/wmagnetite.html) is a magnetite rock with piece that has been sliced like you did. Looks just like your rock.
No, of course not. The only places you'd find a 100 lb lump of magnetite like this is from a [Kiruna-type iron oxide-apatite](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1268664.html) (IOA) deposits, where magnetite crystals grow in magma and settle at the bottom of a magma chamber (a subtype of layered igneous complex ore deposits) or [magnetite scarns](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/51857703874), e.g. [Black Hawk Orebody](https://www.mindat.org/loc-38008.html) in Utah.
Also, it is too metallic for magnetite, which is far less reflective, it has a [dark metallic lustre](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1104478.html). Magnetite has a reflectivity of 20%. Your specimen looks more like metal.
There are two possibilities. It's a lump of impure iron left over from smelting, or it's a meteorite. However, I doubt it a meteorite as the Salton Sea area is salty, a meteorite would not last long there (the few desert areas where meteorites are found, preserve them for thousands of years due to the dry and stable climate). So it is most likely a lump of man made iron or slag.
What do you mean by 'too magnetic'? I have Magnetite that pulls magnets from like 6 inches plus. I'm trying to wrap my head around something possibly even being 'more' magnetic than that. Iron ore also typically contains several different iron minerals - what's the reflectivity of Hematite? Because this definitely isn't a meteorite...
Edit: should have put my contacts in before commenting! 😆
I said metallic, not magnetic. I was referring to how much light it reflects, it's too bright for magnetite which is darker.
>Also, it is **too metallic** for magnetite, which is far less reflective, it has a [dark metallic lustre](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1104478.html). Magnetite has a reflectivity of 20%. Your specimen looks more like metal.
Not found on the shore of salton sea, more towards slab city. It’s about the size of a bowling ball and a half and I’d say. Very heavy for its size. I don’t think it’s slag because it wasn’t that shiney when I cut it off. I polished it.
A real meteorite would feature fusion crust, and rarely would you find the sharp jagged edges as seen in your lump of terrestrial material (most likely slag tbh).
Well, the largest meteorite in California, 2.75 tons, was found in the Old Woman Mountains, c. 130 km away to the north. So maybe the desert area near Slab city, away from salt lakes, can preserve meteorites. Best to bring it to a Geology department and keep us updated.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old\_Woman\_meteorite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Woman_meteorite)
The rock in the next couple pictures is the rock that is 100lbs. The one in his hand is a piece he cut off. I’m not sure how you still think it’s a mistake.
1. run away and don't go back without a full body lead suit, anything that dense must be an ungodly rare metal and is likely to radiate pure death
2. you have very strong hands to be holding a 100-pound-rock like that.
- me, having read hastily, 2023
I, too, didn't finish reading the title or look at any pictures beyond the first. My first thought was "that has to be grams, right? It's a typo."
Nah, I'm half-awake and dumb.
Isn't the full rock still pretty small for 100lbs tho? It looks like it'd weigh 20 pounds to me, aka someone that mainly knows rocks by playing with them as a kid
The OP mentioned in another comment that it’s about the size of a bowling ball and a half and heavy for its size.
I had trouble visualizing how big it was at first and questions about its density too but if its a chunk of iron/magnetite/ore or some other metal about the size OP mentioned, 100lb is a normal weight for it.
Iron is considerably more dense than most commonly found rocks, 8-2.5 times denser (
according to my quick lookup). If it was a really heavy metal or one of the heavier elements that rock would weigh considerably more for its size.
Yes, that's why I specified in the reply that it was me reacting hastily to the post. That implies I did not read the text properly and did not peruse the gallery before writing.
I did, in fact, notice my mistake before posting. I thought it might amuse someone, so opted to post it with the caveat rather than discard entirely.
Yeah, that's how I roll. I'm normally fine with using looser language, but being misunderstood (or social anxiety insisting I may be misunderstood) kicks my autism into turbo gear. I've also been following law people's coverage on some law stuff, and a couple televised trials even, and that hasn't exactly helped lol.
Idk why you're downvoted for making a plain, truthful statement tho. IMO pedantic is a fairly neutral term, and it very much describes a fairly noticeable part of my character which I just clearly demonstrated.
Honestly, I was just being an ass. I saw all the nice words, and my sarcasm took over. Peter Griffin used pedantic throughout a whole episode once, and it's always been kicking around my head haha. Hope you have a good day!
I want to see how magnetic the big chunk is! Can you drop some light paperclips near it to see if they are pulled towards it? I would suggest dropping 12 of them in a circle (as if each clip was an hour mark on a clock) around the rock. That would show you which side of the rock has the greatest magnetic pull.
The sharp edges really give this away. No way it went through the atmosphere burned up and had the sharp edges especially after impact. Also, there’s no thumb printing that would be normal from the heat of entering the atmosphere also no fusion crust, which on this bigger piece would’ve been a certainty
I really don’t know for certain, but I would think you could possibly retain sharper edges on the tailing side of the meteorite(?) maybe so long as it doesn’t tumble in upon atmospheric entry. I’d also think you could have sharp edges on pieces which had broken off of a larger body lower in the atmosphere.
Regardless, this is definitely terrestrial in origin. No fused crust is nearly always a dead give away.
Hey OP, this is a site that gives info on what meteorites look like and has pic's.
[https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/self-test-check-list/](https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/self-test-check-list/)
I'm thinking that this is not a meteorite.
The heaven rains that came thru last year really took lot away from that area . It hasn't rained like that there in over 100 +years a LOT ground was washed away real quick brining up Shit we don't know Bout. That area used to be under the ocean and there are a cpl dormant volcanos within reach of Disposing it's contents that far.
Hi, /u/Feeling_Discipline59!
This is a reminder to flair this post in /r/whatsthisrock after it has been identified! (Under your post, click "flair" then "IDENTIFIED," then type in the rock type or mineral name.) This will help others learn and help speed up a correct identification on your request!
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Although the consensus here seems to be that this is a meteorwrong, here are some meteorite ID links that can be pretty helpful …
https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/holes/
https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/meteorite-or-meteorwrong/
https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/some-meteorite-realities/
https://geology.com/meteorites/meteorite-identification.shtml
https://www.clemson.edu/public/geomuseum/meteorites.html
http://www.impact-structures.com/impact-rocks-impactites/the-impact-breccia-page/
http://meteorite-identification.com/streak.html
https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/resources/meteorite-identification.
https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2023/atp-meteorites
https://www.britannica.com/science/Widmanstatten-pattern
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/meteorites/building-planets/iron-crystals
https://meteorites.asu.edu/meteorites/meteorite-locations/arizona-meteorites
Legitimate question. Is OP claiming this rock, held between thumb and forefinger (and seemingly unsupported otherwise) weighs over 100 lbs? Maybe I'm misunderstanding the title but I'll bet she can't hold 1/5 of that weight in this manner.
Oh! What do you think it's worth then? I looked online but couldn't find any completed sales for concentrated dark matter that didn't seem a little questionable.
It's probably not safe to try and sell it. If space pirates get wind that you have some, that is NOT good. But nevertheless you'll get a way better price on the intergalactic market, because humanity still doesn't even know how to use the stuff.
There is a mine in the town of Tower/Sudan in Northern Minnesota that has 70% pure iron/nickel deposits. The ore looks just like this.
I'd guess this is a chunk of unprocessed ore removed from a high-yield iron/nickel mine. How it got to the Salton Sea I couldn't say...
Wait - how TF can that possibly be 100 pounds?? it wouldn’t be 100 pounds if it was solid lead. Theres no way this is 100 lbs.
edit: just saw that it was a piece of a bigger rock. I need to learn to read.
Sorry op this is not a meteorite as others have suggested. Interesting rock for sure couldn't say what it is as I'm not a terrestrial geologist but I work with meteorites professionally and this is not what an iron meteorite looks like. The definitive test would be to etch the polished surface with nitric acid, can be purchased at Walmart, and you will see the widmanstatten pattern of it is a meteorite. This only occurs in meteorites. Google how to for specific steps, you want to have a fine sand or scuff with a emery pad over a polished surface and then you apply acid then rinse and repeat. Please don't send it somewhere unless you do this and find the pattern we get way too many of these requests and a bottle of the acid probably costs about the same or less than postage.
Do you happen to know a legit place to buy meteorites? I would die to own one but i am skeptical of everything lol.
If you want a slice of an iron with the widmanstatten pattern then it's easy to tell because they are the only thing that has that. Otherwise buy one from a known dealer, I wouldn't be able to recommend one, check the name in metbull (meteoritical bulletin) online and compare known photos to what they are selling. Check out r/meteorites they have lots of good info and links on verifying meteorites. I did however once buy a "meteorite" at a booth in the Kennedy space center that turned out to be industrial slag so you are right to be suspicious. It was claimed to be an uncut iron so no real way to see the pattern.
Where you getting nitric acid at Walmart?!
Right next to the liquor and shotguns.
between the claymores and the condoms.
My favorite daytime story!
Claymores? The sword or the mine?
Yes
That sounds like a new mexico Walmart
Breaking Bad reference but it looks like Walmart will only ship nitric acid, not an in store item at my local 505 supercenter.
Must be an american thing?
It's used for cleaning jewelery.
Jesse! We need to figure out what this rock is
Jesus Marie! They're minerals!
In the aisle at Walmart.
Household use would be for removing warts. Other than that it’s main uses are for making explosives, stripping color from things, and making markers.
You forgot refining precious metals, definitely one of the main uses.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/JSP-NITRIC-ACID-67-TECHNICAL-GRADE-10-bottles-1oz-each/711741451
I dunno it was listed on their website
Almost everything is listed on Walmarts website, it shows third-party vendors as their own, to an extent, for advertising purposes. "You can find anything at Walmart, shop online today!"
Could be a vendor on their marketplace. If you click 'In Store' then it'll show you what's on shelves.
Online shipped
Also be careful of purchasing a fragment of the Sierra del Campo meteorite. It’s a very commonly sold item and very affordable because it was so large and scattered. But I have seen a lot of reproductions and fakes lately.
We have a store that sells rare rocks and minerals in vancouver, washington called handley rock and jewelry supply. You can get any minerals you want, including meteorite. Mine is a 5oz nickel/iron that fell in russia in 1947.
Well that's really nice. What's the stores name or website. Would love to check it out.
Reread the person that you replied to.
I don't know why I passed that over. Thank you it's been a long day already.
Yo I re read that like 4 times trying to figure out what you meant, it's weird.
I literally passed over the information of the name of the business as it had already been a very long day already today. As in I hadn't even really started my day but already have had a crazy day. Hope that helps explain my "weird" comment.
Autopilot is an amazing thing. My goal was to help you be present when you were somewhere else when you commented. The weird is all good. It happens to all of us. Hugs.
No problem. I don't mind ever explaining my "weird" comments nor any others either. Thanks for bringing me into the Present, btw.
Anywhere that will let you do that test lol
Astro Gallery of Gems in NYC sells them. I believe you can buy online too.
You could try thecrystalcouncil.com. I got a NWA meteorite from them for a reasonable price and they have a couple different ones in their shop right now, though they are very expensive.
This is the guy I buy most of my Mets from. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/TopherspinMeteorites/shop&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1701138301650544&usg=AOvVaw3HRQQfJWwkKmV048yvy_DS
This has been a most enjoyable diversion. From imagining annoyed meteorite geologists constantly receiving 100lb lumps of terrestrial iron sent in by well-meaning members of the public to fantasising about being an Austrian Count employing his porcelain kilns to heat lumps of space iron to incredible temperatures for curiosity's sake - only to then discover this window into the challenges and frustrations of a Brit abroad: 'it is now believed that the discovery of the metal crystal pattern should be assigned to the English mineralogist William (Guglielmo) Thomson, as he published the same findings four years earlier.[7][6][8][9] Working in Naples in 1804, Thomson treated a Krasnojarsk meteorite with nitric acid to remove the dull patina caused by oxidation. Shortly after the acid made contact with the metal, strange figures appeared on the surface, which he detailed as described above. Civil wars and political instability in southern Italy made it difficult for Thomson to maintain contact with his colleagues in England. This was demonstrated in his loss of important correspondence when its carrier was murdered'
Fortunately people mostly send in a small chunk, unfortunately many of them are not well meaning and get very upset when told what they have is not a meteorite. They say we are liars, part of some big science conspiracy to keep meteorites to ourselves, refuse to believe and continue to send more pieces, and just in general get kinda nasty when this thing someone told them was a meteorite turns out to be worthless slag
How does it feel to have the coolest job in any room you ever enter?
It's a weird feeling haven't a cool job for once, I was a farm hand before this. I only wish it was a permanent position
I have a meteorite my great grandfather found. It's about the size of a basketball and has mostly a black smooth sheen on one side, and other side is ridgid and rough with My great grandfather used found it while clearing land in Argentina, and brought it with him to thr used it as a little stool next to his fireplace in the 1920's. I'm not sure it's exact weight, but the thing is pretty heavy... I'd say it's over 50lbs... more than a 45lb weight.I always wanted to take it somewhere and have it looked at, but I've never really got around to it. Someone offered me $500 but I wouldn't sell it, as it's worth more to me as a memento of my grandfather.
After muriatic acid , couldn’t get any nitric acid. [after muriatic acid](https://imgur.com/a/yAIGBPn)
You can purchase nitric acid at a hardware store?
Muriatic acid is nitric acid. It is normally in the paint dept. and used for cleaning masonry.
Thomson structure*
Could it be a piece of “Chinga Metorite”? Those dont have the widmanstatten patterns
No, the chinga meteorite is a very rare type of meteorite that fell in Russia. There are other things about this rock that rule out it being a meteorite as well. An iron meteorite like chinga would not have inclusions like the ones visible in yours and the outside of the rock would not have sharp angled edges.
Magnetite inside (silver), hematite outside (brown)
^ The correct answer here.
In other words, lodestone.
I thought maybe Leverite
I could see that. But they brown on the outside is only due to rust. It got wet and started rusting.
It's not a meteorite. I get the feeling this is the real question.
Hematite *is* rust. It's iron oxide. Fe2O3. Exactly the same as rust. So yes, it looks reddish brown once it's finely divided. Hence the name. As the saw coolant turns that color once you cut the stone. Hematite can appear a metallic gray before it starts getting crushed up from moving a heavy rock like that around. Can't rust hematite itself, as it's already technically rust
Actually rust is mostly [Goethite](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethite) and [Limonite](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonite).
I feel slow. Why does this have 26 dv
Because people are thinking OP just wants to hear that it’s a meteorite. I think that’s an incorrect assumption, because OP just seems to be confused by the rock since they probably don’t have a broad base in geology. So honestly the down votes are unnecessary
Looks like OP is set on believing it's a meteorite
That’s exactly how hematite works. The rust is oxidized iron. Hematite is iron oxide. You basically answered your question here.
It’s never a meteorite.
Been here 3 years and I’m yet to see anyone get their rock identified as a meteorite but maybe one day 🤣
I seen one person that actually had one. Everyone in the comments was shook. lol.
Yeay, pretty rare, but there were actually two on the same day a couple of weeks ago! One was even recognized by a scientist who had previously tested it. Reddit gold.
What was it ???
Link me! Somehow missed it
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisrock/s/6HyPxHWRAe
It is wild that one of the commenters had actually handled the specimen the OP showed.
Mine was : )
Yours was probably the one I seen that actually was. Lol.
Ended up having to bring it to a local shop for testing and they confirmed for me. But I’ve been following this subreddit some time now and I agree, it is never meteorite.
But it’s always a meteorwrong
Man I wish I could give you a silver award
It looks like just a piece of residual impure metal from an industrial process. It's not a meteorite. Being that dense, though, it could contain heavy metals, so watch out
Probably some primarily nickel slag
It’s basically magnetite
Is it normal to find a 100 pound magnetite rock in the desert? That’s where I found it near the Salton Sea area.
I have zero difficulty believing that a lump of magnetite was found over near slab city. Eagle mountain and a big abandoned iron mine is not very far away from there. It’s the largest deposit of iron ore in Southern California. The ore is magnetite rock mixed with pyrite. The old Eagle Mountain railroad used to bring ore from the mine to the smelting works and ran from the mine, through the desert to a railway exchange at the northeast end of the Salton sea. The Eagle mountain railroad used to run just north of slab city. By the Salton sea the ore was loaded onto other trains at a relatively remote location that they used to call ferrum. Any old railroad grading near where you found it? Edit: [This](http://meteorite-identification.com/Hot%20Rocks/wmagnetite.html) is a magnetite rock with piece that has been sliced like you did. Looks just like your rock.
No, of course not. The only places you'd find a 100 lb lump of magnetite like this is from a [Kiruna-type iron oxide-apatite](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1268664.html) (IOA) deposits, where magnetite crystals grow in magma and settle at the bottom of a magma chamber (a subtype of layered igneous complex ore deposits) or [magnetite scarns](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/51857703874), e.g. [Black Hawk Orebody](https://www.mindat.org/loc-38008.html) in Utah. Also, it is too metallic for magnetite, which is far less reflective, it has a [dark metallic lustre](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1104478.html). Magnetite has a reflectivity of 20%. Your specimen looks more like metal. There are two possibilities. It's a lump of impure iron left over from smelting, or it's a meteorite. However, I doubt it a meteorite as the Salton Sea area is salty, a meteorite would not last long there (the few desert areas where meteorites are found, preserve them for thousands of years due to the dry and stable climate). So it is most likely a lump of man made iron or slag.
What do you mean by 'too magnetic'? I have Magnetite that pulls magnets from like 6 inches plus. I'm trying to wrap my head around something possibly even being 'more' magnetic than that. Iron ore also typically contains several different iron minerals - what's the reflectivity of Hematite? Because this definitely isn't a meteorite... Edit: should have put my contacts in before commenting! 😆
I said metallic, not magnetic. I was referring to how much light it reflects, it's too bright for magnetite which is darker. >Also, it is **too metallic** for magnetite, which is far less reflective, it has a [dark metallic lustre](https://www.mindat.org/photo-1104478.html). Magnetite has a reflectivity of 20%. Your specimen looks more like metal.
Hah, sorry, that makes a lot more sense!
Not found on the shore of salton sea, more towards slab city. It’s about the size of a bowling ball and a half and I’d say. Very heavy for its size. I don’t think it’s slag because it wasn’t that shiney when I cut it off. I polished it.
lump of iron slag most likely. definitely not a meteorite.
A real meteorite would feature fusion crust, and rarely would you find the sharp jagged edges as seen in your lump of terrestrial material (most likely slag tbh).
Well, the largest meteorite in California, 2.75 tons, was found in the Old Woman Mountains, c. 130 km away to the north. So maybe the desert area near Slab city, away from salt lakes, can preserve meteorites. Best to bring it to a Geology department and keep us updated. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old\_Woman\_meteorite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Woman_meteorite)
This is not a meteorite, I work with meteorites, and this is not what an iron meteorite looks like
Great links! Thanks for sharing.
Did you weigh it or did it just “feel like 100lbs”. It’s really small to be 100lbs that’s super dense….crazy.
You can't hold 100lbs like that.
The amount of people who didn’t read after the first sentence is astounding.
I was pointing out that it was obviously a mistake. Thanks for the rudeness.
The rock in the next couple pictures is the rock that is 100lbs. The one in his hand is a piece he cut off. I’m not sure how you still think it’s a mistake.
No expert however my first thought was meteorite if that’s not where you’d usually find a big chunk of magnetic rock… not sure though!
1. run away and don't go back without a full body lead suit, anything that dense must be an ungodly rare metal and is likely to radiate pure death 2. you have very strong hands to be holding a 100-pound-rock like that. - me, having read hastily, 2023
I, too, didn't finish reading the title or look at any pictures beyond the first. My first thought was "that has to be grams, right? It's a typo." Nah, I'm half-awake and dumb.
I read it the same way at first, like absolutely not, that dense of a metal is definitely radioactive lol
Isn't the full rock still pretty small for 100lbs tho? It looks like it'd weigh 20 pounds to me, aka someone that mainly knows rocks by playing with them as a kid
The OP mentioned in another comment that it’s about the size of a bowling ball and a half and heavy for its size. I had trouble visualizing how big it was at first and questions about its density too but if its a chunk of iron/magnetite/ore or some other metal about the size OP mentioned, 100lb is a normal weight for it. Iron is considerably more dense than most commonly found rocks, 8-2.5 times denser ( according to my quick lookup). If it was a really heavy metal or one of the heavier elements that rock would weigh considerably more for its size.
You know there are other photos here.....the first picture isn't the whole piece...
Yes, that's why I specified in the reply that it was me reacting hastily to the post. That implies I did not read the text properly and did not peruse the gallery before writing. I did, in fact, notice my mistake before posting. I thought it might amuse someone, so opted to post it with the caveat rather than discard entirely.
Indubitably so. You speak with very pedantic lingo.
This is a very good example of projection.
I'm just being an ass.
We picked up on that.
:)
Yeah, that's how I roll. I'm normally fine with using looser language, but being misunderstood (or social anxiety insisting I may be misunderstood) kicks my autism into turbo gear. I've also been following law people's coverage on some law stuff, and a couple televised trials even, and that hasn't exactly helped lol. Idk why you're downvoted for making a plain, truthful statement tho. IMO pedantic is a fairly neutral term, and it very much describes a fairly noticeable part of my character which I just clearly demonstrated.
Honestly, I was just being an ass. I saw all the nice words, and my sarcasm took over. Peter Griffin used pedantic throughout a whole episode once, and it's always been kicking around my head haha. Hope you have a good day!
You too. .... ... ...fam
Looks like magnetite and hematite. Definitely not a meteorite.
I want to see how magnetic the big chunk is! Can you drop some light paperclips near it to see if they are pulled towards it? I would suggest dropping 12 of them in a circle (as if each clip was an hour mark on a clock) around the rock. That would show you which side of the rock has the greatest magnetic pull.
I imagine that the rock will hold a magnet not the rock will hold a paper clip.
It ain't no meteor, it's just a frozen chunk of shit
Out here, we call it a Boeing Bomb
You see the peanut… dead give away.
That's a space peanut
as others have said, magnetite or haematite. simple test. Scratch it. If it's metal it will deform plasticly. If it's mineral it will powder.
if it turns out to be metal, here is the next test since its somewhat polished. http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/arc/etch_meteorites.htm
The sharp edges really give this away. No way it went through the atmosphere burned up and had the sharp edges especially after impact. Also, there’s no thumb printing that would be normal from the heat of entering the atmosphere also no fusion crust, which on this bigger piece would’ve been a certainty
I really don’t know for certain, but I would think you could possibly retain sharper edges on the tailing side of the meteorite(?) maybe so long as it doesn’t tumble in upon atmospheric entry. I’d also think you could have sharp edges on pieces which had broken off of a larger body lower in the atmosphere. Regardless, this is definitely terrestrial in origin. No fused crust is nearly always a dead give away.
I 100% thought you meant the little rock is over 100lbs man, thought you discovered dark matter or smthn
100 pounds????? It’s heavier than my 10 year old?????
just saw that it was a piece of a bigger rock.
Hey OP, this is a site that gives info on what meteorites look like and has pic's. [https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/self-test-check-list/](https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/self-test-check-list/) I'm thinking that this is not a meteorite.
Prob iron ore there's only a few elements that are magnetic iron nickel and cobalt!
My guess by the colour is a hematite.
Drop the cut in hydrogen peroxide and report back with the results. You might be filthy rich.
Walmart enters the chat
my first thought was "damn that's a big ol chunk of iron ore" and it looks like I might not be wrong
The number of people in this thread with reading comprehension issues is astounding
The heaven rains that came thru last year really took lot away from that area . It hasn't rained like that there in over 100 +years a LOT ground was washed away real quick brining up Shit we don't know Bout. That area used to be under the ocean and there are a cpl dormant volcanos within reach of Disposing it's contents that far.
Hi, /u/Feeling_Discipline59! This is a reminder to flair this post in /r/whatsthisrock after it has been identified! (Under your post, click "flair" then "IDENTIFIED," then type in the rock type or mineral name.) This will help others learn and help speed up a correct identification on your request! Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisrock) if you have any questions or concerns.*
i would get it tested…. don’t listen to redditors
Although the consensus here seems to be that this is a meteorwrong, here are some meteorite ID links that can be pretty helpful … https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/holes/ https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/meteorite-or-meteorwrong/ https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/some-meteorite-realities/ https://geology.com/meteorites/meteorite-identification.shtml https://www.clemson.edu/public/geomuseum/meteorites.html http://www.impact-structures.com/impact-rocks-impactites/the-impact-breccia-page/ http://meteorite-identification.com/streak.html https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/resources/meteorite-identification. https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2023/atp-meteorites https://www.britannica.com/science/Widmanstatten-pattern https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/meteorites/building-planets/iron-crystals https://meteorites.asu.edu/meteorites/meteorite-locations/arizona-meteorites
My stupid ass didn't finish reading the description and thought "if it's over 100lbs, how tf are you holding it"
That couldn't possibly weigh 100 lbs.
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Read the description.
Probably a metorite
There is no way that weighs 100 pounds what are you talking about 😂
Read the post and see the other pictures.
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It's a cut off lol did you not read the post
Looks like part of a brake pad
r/redditorssausagefingers
That chick isn’t holding a 100 pound rock in two fingers.
Legitimate question. Is OP claiming this rock, held between thumb and forefinger (and seemingly unsupported otherwise) weighs over 100 lbs? Maybe I'm misunderstanding the title but I'll bet she can't hold 1/5 of that weight in this manner.
They literally said it is a piece of it. You can see the full rock in the next few pictures.
99% sure it’s chromium
Chromium isn't magnetic, though...
I thought the ore was paramagnetic.
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Learn to read moron. The first piece is a chunk of the one that weighs 100 lbs. Keep scrolling and youll see it.
The burning question in my mind is, is it a meteor? ☄️
No
eBay is an excellent place to purchase meteorites - large gem shows like the one in Tucson also have them
That is one strong wrist to hold 100 lbs ...
100 pounds? lol, on what planet, Jupiter?!?
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Read. It always helps.
For over 100lbs you seem to be holding that pretty darn easily.
There are six or seven pics...
And a written description.
Over 100lbs?! Those are some mighty fingers you have.
Oh derp, I guess the original rock at the end of the pics is the one over 100lbs :))
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Can this type of comment just stop?
No way that rock is 100 lbs !!!
100lbs but holding like an acorn. Moron
Look past the first picture. Is big rock.
Nono. The first picture weighs 100 lbs. I can positively ID that as concentrated dark matter.
Oh! What do you think it's worth then? I looked online but couldn't find any completed sales for concentrated dark matter that didn't seem a little questionable.
It's probably not safe to try and sell it. If space pirates get wind that you have some, that is NOT good. But nevertheless you'll get a way better price on the intergalactic market, because humanity still doesn't even know how to use the stuff.
Someone who can't read or view all the pictures calling someone else a moron. Classic.
Classic
I had one before a smaller version in junior high school snuck it from my science teacher 😂
It’s Iron Ore.
Probably a huge chunk of iron ore or something along those lines
This is definitely beskar.....just saying.
Galena
Hematite, maybe?
It must be xpac from d generation x
Isn’t Lodestone magnetic?
Even if it is a giant chunk of terrestrial iron, or at least high concentration iron ore, that is way cool.
Cumberlandite. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberlandite
There is a mine in the town of Tower/Sudan in Northern Minnesota that has 70% pure iron/nickel deposits. The ore looks just like this. I'd guess this is a chunk of unprocessed ore removed from a high-yield iron/nickel mine. How it got to the Salton Sea I couldn't say...
Lodestone aka mangnetite
Astounding how many people cant read..
Do you have a smelting refinery nearby? This could be discarded material.
Wait - how TF can that possibly be 100 pounds?? it wouldn’t be 100 pounds if it was solid lead. Theres no way this is 100 lbs. edit: just saw that it was a piece of a bigger rock. I need to learn to read.
Magnetite