Rare Meteorite Discovered in Australia, Proving More Valuable Than gold
MARYBOROUGH, AUSTRALIA – A rock initially mistaken for gold by a local resident hasโ been confirmed as a remarkably rare meteorite, offering scientists a valuable glimpse into the early solar system.The 17-kilogram spaceโ rock,dubbed “Maryborough“โ after the nearby town,is one of only 17 meteorites ever recorded in the Australian state of Victoria and the second largest chondritic mass found there,following a 55-kilogram specimen identified in 2003.
David Hole, โthe man who โขinitially discovered the stone, brought it to the Melbourne Museum for identification after being โunable โto open it. “I’ve examined a lot ofโ rocks that people think are meteorites,” said Melbourne Museum geologist dermotโค Henry.After 37 years at the museum andโ examining thousands of rocks,Henry confirmedโ this was only the second genuine โฃmeteorite he’d encountered.
Theโฃ meteorite, estimated โtoโ be 4.6 โขbillion years old, displays a sculpted, curved appearance characteristic of atmospheric entry. “The rockโ has a โฃsculpted and curved appearance. This shape occurs whenโข a meteorite penetrates the atmosphere; the outer partโ melts, and the atmosphere sculpts โthe shape,” Henry explained. Researchers, using a diamond saw, found โthe meteorite contains a highโ percentage of iron and tiny crystalline grains of metallic minerals called โchondrules.
“Meteorites are the cheapest form of space exploration,” Henry stated. “Thes objects take us through time, providing clues about the age, formation and โchemistry of our Solarโค System (including Earth).” He further noted some meteorites contain “stardust” older than our solar system, revealing insights into star formation, and โขeven organicโฃ molecules like โขamino acids, the buildingโ blocks of life.
Scientists believe the Maryboroughโข meteorite likely originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter,dislodged by a collision and eventually landing โฃon Earth between 100 โand 1,000 years ago. Ancient records of meteor sightings between 1889 and โข1951 may correspond to its arrival.
Researchers emphasize โฃthe meteorite’s scientific value far exceedsโ its monetary โworth, considering its rarity. The findingsโ were recently published in a scientific paper detailing the meteorite’s composition and origin.