[meteorite-list] Meteorite Crashes Through Roof of New Zealand House

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200406/s1130666.htm

Meteorite touches down in NZ home
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
June 12, 2004

A meteorite has crashed through the roof of a house in Auckland, New 
Zealand, much to the surprise of the home's owners.

Scientists were sceptical about the report but have now confirmed the 
1.3 kilogram rock has fallen from space.

It is only the ninth meteor to land in New Zealand.

Its rarity makes it valuable to collectors as well as scientists.

Joel Schiff, from Auckland University, says the circumstances of the 
meteor's discovery also add to its value.

"Falling through a roof is really an exceptional event that rarely happens, 
and this is a beautiful large specimen," he said.

Scientists plan to analyse the chemical composition of the meteorite to find 
out more about where it came from.


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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3572212
&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

Meteorite crashes through roof of Auckland house 
New Zealand Herald
June 13, 2004

A black lump that crashed into an Auckland family's living room yesterday 
was identified as only the ninth meteorite to be found in this country, 
television's One News reported. 

The 1.3kg, four billion-year-old rock fell through the roof of the house in 
the suburb of Ellerslie about 9am. 

"There was just a huge explosion and we looked around and there was just dust 
everywhere," householder Brenda Archer told the station. 

"I don't know what to make of it, it's unbelievable. I'm just glad no one was 
sitting on the couch because they just would have got absolutely crowned." 

Specialists were convinced the rock was a meteorite, but would not know where 
it had come from until it was fully examined, One News said. 

Overseas dealers were expected to offer the Archers cash for the rock. 

"Falling through a roof is really an exceptional event that rarely happens, and this is a beautiful large specimen," Joel Schiff of Auckland University said. 

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Meteorite crashes onto couch
The Australian
June 13, 2004

A 1.3kg meteorite crashed through an Auckland city home, hitting the couch 
and ending up under a computer, the Sunday Star Times reported today.

The book-sized rock hit Phil and Brenda Archer's suburban Ellerslie home on 
Saturday morning, leaving a large hole in their roof.

"I was in the kitchen doing breakfast and there was this almighty explosion," 
Brenda said. "It was like a bomb had gone off. I couldn't see anything, there 
was just dust."

She thought something had exploded in the ceiling, but her husband saw a stone 
under the computer and it was hot to touch.

The rock hit a leather couch and bounced back up to the ceiling before rolling 
under the computer. 

The Archer's one-year-old grandson Luca was playing nearby but was unhurt.

"He must have a guardian angel," Brenda said.

Auckland University meteorite expert Joel Schiff said the rock was "a national 
treasure", but international collectors would offer big money for it.

He said the chondrite type meteor - meaning it was chipped off an asteroid - 
had probably hit the atmosphere the size of a basketball at 15 kilometres per 
second before slowing to around 100-200 metres a second at impact.