[meteorite-list] Meteorites are like lumps of gold!

[Meteorites USA]

Meteor fragments on the prairies like lumps of gold
Updated Wed. May. 6 2009 8:57 AM ET
The Canadian Press

BUZZARD COULEE, Sask. -- An asteroid that streaked across the skies over 
Canada's prairies last fall dropped a record number of fragments, 
including a bowling-ball sized chunk worth $400,000 that a selfless 
farmer has donated -- for free -- to the University of Calgary.

"These meteorites are like lumps of gold with the same kind of value," 
said Dr. Alan Hildebrand, a planetary scientist with the University of 
Calgary.

"Many people have come here to collect meteorites to sell them."

The valuable bowling-ball sized piece, weighing 13 kilograms, was 
donated to the university by farmer Alex Mitchell.

An oilfield worker found it on Mitchell's property and turned it over to 
him.

"I was surprised by the weight for the mass," Mitchell said. "It's heavy 
for the size."

Under Canadian law, meteorites may be bought and sold, but a federal 
permit is required to export them. Any found pieces are rightfully the 
property of the person owning the land where they fell.

More than 1,000 pieces of the meteor, which fell from the sky Nov. 20 
near the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary south of Lloydminster, have been 
recovered so far.

Scientists said Monday thousands more remain to be found now that snow 
has melted and the search has resumed.

The previous record of 700 pieces was set after a meteor hit the ground 
in central Alberta in 1960.

Hildebrand said searchers are finding dozens of meteorites a day.

ARTICLE CONTINUED HERE: 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090506/Meteor_fragments_090506/20090506?hub=SciTech

-- 
Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA