[meteorite-list] Tornado snatches 1, 000 pound pallasite meteorite

[MeteorHntr at aol.com]

List,

If you look at photo #12  here:

http://www.kansas.com/static/slides/050507tornadoaerials/

In  the center of the picture about 1/6 of the way up from the bottom there 
is what  looks like the 2 ft x 3 ft oak stand (possibly tipped over) that the 
1,000  pound meteorite used to sit on.  Something is still on the stand, but it 
 might be debris.  But, just to the left of the stand is a big brown  blob.  
I think that is the meteorite.  However, the brown blob might  be the old 
buffalo skin that was kept in the same room as the  meteorite.

The meteorite might be gone now.  It could have been  removed by officials, 
for protection. It could have been stolen.  It could  have been removed by 
tornado.

As for the "extensive city meteorite  collection" I am almost certain all the 
city owned was the 1,000 pound Brenham  specimen (kept at the Big Well Gift 
shop) a roughly 300g end piece of Brenham,  and a roughly 100g Odessa iron 
slice in resin (both kept at the City  Hall).

In any case, I do believe that the items would have been  insured.
 
Early on, I think in the first interview the City Manager did mention that  
the well was in tact, but strangely did NOT mention if the meteorite was still  
there.
 
And for reports of the Big Well being covered in debris, as you can see  very 
plainly in that same photo #12 (lower left corner) that the gray metal box  
that covered the hole at the top of the well, that people could walk up to and  
look down into the well, is intact although the glass is broken in some of 
the  panes. And there is relatively very little debris on top of the well,  
which is in front of the Gift Shop building that is destroyed.  A  close look and 
you can see a bit of the 32 ft wide circular rock wall that  extends above 
ground, that was sitting-bench high above the concrete slap that  covers the top 
of the well.

Steve


In a message dated 5/6/2007  3:39:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time, 
cynapse at charter.net writes:
On Sun, 6 May  2007 13:49:07 -0500, you wrote:

>I agree with Charlie.  I don't  think it would be moved much, if any.   
>I think a wind greater  than the terminal velocity of the object in  
>free fall would be  needed to lift it, and that would be several  
>hundred miles per  hour.  If it is truly missing, I would be willing  
>to bet  on  theft.

I wouldn't expect theft-- yet.  A chaotic situation  known about only minutes 
in
advance, destroying the entire town, and a theft  needing heavy lifting 
equipment
and transportation (even if only a  engine-block lifter and a big pickup) 
doesn't
seem too likely.  I'd bet  it is still in the pile of debris that was the
building containing it.   Unless that building is what is now on top of the 
well,
in which case it  could be at the bottom of the well.  What is more of a 
concern
(from a  meteorite perspective, not to belittle all the other human an 
material
loss)  is the other meteorite collection of the town that is mentioned-- which
would  be much more easily lost and much harder to find.

Speaking of, anyone  have photos of the other meteorite collection, as 
mentioned
in the  articles?
 



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