Iron-Nickel Meteorite Found in Field

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7412, 20 December 1930, Page 5

Iron-Nickel Meteorite Found in Field

BELIEVED TO HAVE FALLEN AS PART OP GREAT ‘SHOWER.’

CHARLOTTE, N.C,

Hurtling through tho air at a speed almost immeasurable, lighting the primeval forests for miles around, a visitor from the sky appeared in central North Carolina an estimated 500 to 1000 years ago. This meteorite has been acquired by the state museum. It is the belief of Dr Harry Davis, associate curator, geologist and -mineralogist, that the 160-pound mass of iron-nickel is tho finest known outside tho national museum iu Washington. Dr. Davis has been intensely interested in trailing and studying these visitors for many years. He has spent months running down rumours of “meteoric showers and explosions” iu central North Carolina, and has succeeded in obtaining fragments —small fragments—of meteorites. “Judging by the extent of oxidation,” Dr. Davis said of the meteorite, “it has been buried in the south-west corner of what is now Randolph County since before our historic period. And who knows how many centuries longer? The rust was slow in forming and it is deeply encrusted.” Mr T. L. Russell, a farmer of Randolph County, had been striking that particular “rock” iu his field every time he ploughed it. It seemed pcrfcc-

Jy tight and would -not budge under the plough. Finally, eight years ago, Mr Russell decided to dig it up and quit dulling plough points on it. The small mass, something like a foot in length and less in thickness either way, was all he could move. For eight years it has been at the Russell farm, while Mr Davis has been scouring North Carolina in the wake of rumours of meteorites.

Mr Russell finally sent a bit of his “rock” to the .State Department in Raleigh, and asked what it was. As a result, the object at length arrived at the museum, where it will be prepared for public inspection.