[meteorite-list] Newbie needs help identifying a meteorite(?)

[Gary K. Foote]

>From one relatively newbie to another it sounds like a Tektite - earth melted upon impact 
and remelted after being thrown above the atmosphere and reenterning.  Glassy in 
nature...  You say it is oblong or at least has a tapered end?  That is a regular feature 
of many tektites - formed by the aear-forces of reentry upon the plastic nature of the 
superheated earth.

Now, let's hear the rest on this list rip me wrong.  Ha!

How about a picture?  I'd love to see it.

Best,

Gary

On 18 Dec 2005 at 19:30, Ron Kaye wrote:

> About 30 years ago, I found a piece of metallic rock deeply embedded in 
> hard-packed earth out in the woods, with the ground around it charred to a 
> radius of about 18". Having extensive experience in foundry science, I could 
> ascertain that the item had been in a semi-plastic state upon impact, with 
> sand embedded in the face, and gas bubbles trailing along the outer surface 
> to a tapered rear edge.
> 
> I have had several geologists look at it, and none could identify it, except 
> to determine that it was non-ferrous and had no nickel alloys. Finally, a 
> metallurgist analyzed a small piece, and told me it was a metallic silica 
> compound. This was surprising, since at that time, there were only a few 
> places in the world with the capability of creating such a compound, and 
> none anywhere East Texas, where I found it. And no explanation could be 
> offered as to how it would come to be embedded in the ground with the 
> perimeter charred.
> 
> I have a couple of high-resolution scans of it, which I will either e-mail 
> or post if anyone is interested in seeing it. The story behind my finding it 
> is pretty interesting, which has played a significant role in my keeping the 
> piece all these years. I won't belabor the list with the story, as it has 
> little to do with meteorites, beyond my activities leading up to the 
> discovery.
> 
> If anyone on the list would be willing to help me determine just what the 
> thing is, please ping me privately.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any assistance, or just for listening.
> 
> Ron Kaye 
> 
> 
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