HUGE METEOR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 20

HUGE METEOR

DISCOVERED IN AFRICA

An-American astronomer, Div W.. L. Luyteri, .stationed at the observatory established; :by Harvard. University in Blosmfontein, South Africa, has just- reported a most extraordinary meteorite, .which he discovered amid the desolate .Grootfbntein district. of the Mandated frerritory: that adjoins this Dominion, y?ritea Erio Eosenthal in the San Franpisco "Chronicle."

In the infertile soil of a very sparsely peopled countryside he found a block of 'nickel ■' ironr that is larger, by a goodly margin/than any other meteorite hitherto knbvvn. Although one or two stones of even'larger size are rumoured to'exist in Arizona and Mexico, tho Griootfrontein specimen has the merit of being definitely exposed to the air and it has been photographed. Dr. Xu'yten estimates the weight as fifty tons, which, is nearly twice as much as that- of the famous shooting star brought by Admiral Peary from Greenland, and which hitherto constituted the largest authenticated example.

Humours about the existence of this massive relic have been told in the Kaffir kraals for many years, but it was not till this year that a qualified investigator, in tho person of I)r. Luyten, set out from the railhead in wagons and motor-cars for the farm, "Hoba West," miles away from the nearest, settlement. On the occasion of this trek the American took careful photographs, and caused a small fragment'to be filed off the mass in order that it might be analysed. The Transvaal Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg offered their laboratories at tho Witv/atersrand Co-operative Smelting Works for the purpose of a metallurgical test, and the result shows that the meteorite held a third pure nickel, "whereas meteoric irou usually only contains a tenth.'-- ■-- -

Several other unique features characterise the Grootfontein stone, and details have been forwarded not only to all the experts in Africa, but also to museums in. America and Europe. When this great metal lump crashed through the heavens to the desert is unknown, but in all likelihood it was not long ago by. geological standards. The meteorite is not hidden below the soil as would be the case if it were very ancient.

Being a patriotic American, Dr. Lnyten would, of course, like to take this specimen to his country, but he now finds that the Government of SouthWest Africa, which has jurisdiction in the Grootfontein district, some time ago passed a law forbidding the export of such' subjects, smaller specimens of which are by no means uncommon in that region. Even should the removal be attempted, it will be extremely difficult, as there are do facilities for lifting or shifting the great "block. Eventually it is expected one of the South African museums will send an expedition to bring it away.