[meteorite-list] Hypothetical launch question

[Brian Cox]

Bill,

I have a feeling that since you stated the man said it  bounced off his 
roof, but you didn't say if he actually saw it hit his roof and bounce off 
or if he heard it hit and found it on the ground or if he just came out in 
the yard and found it laying there makes me think that either some 
neighborhood kid threw it on the roof or perhaps he threw it himself and is 
just telling you it bounced as part of his "Big Story" so that it sounds 
more legitimate that he really has a meteorite. As far as anyone knows he 
could have gone up on a ladder and dropped it onto the roof. The visions of 
fame and fortune and being on TV or in the paper seem to be making everyone 
find a meteorite in their yard these days. Even if it is a meteorite, which 
would be wonderful for him and I'd be very happy for him, there seem to be 
more and more stories of people finding meteorites in their own yard and 
none in the neighbors yard or surrounding area. This makes me think that 
some people are finding meteorites on someone else's private property or 
public property or BLM land, etc. and bringing them home and sticking them 
down in the dirt like they were hiding Easter eggs and claiming they have an 
amazing new meteorite that they just happened to have found after getting 
"meteorite fever." I hope you can help him get it tested and that it is a 
meteorite, but I wouldn't hold my breathe on this one. One good thing you 
made the effort Bill to help him and took the time to drive over there and 
check it out. It's kind of your good deed of the day that you did for 
mankind.

All the best.

Brian

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:52:59 -0500
From: bill kies <parkforestmet at hotmail.com>
Subject: [meteorite-list] Hypothetical launch question
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Message-ID: <SNT102-W462247D4ADCB6ADAD5AD24A2AA0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


I had an interesting call from a gentleman in Lombard Illinois. He has an 8 
pound rock that bounced off his roof. After careful examination, I explained 
that it was probably not a meteorite but that it wasn't my place to discount 
the possibility entirely. I suggested he have a piece sliced and polished 
since he was so determined to know for sure.

The question of how this rock got there is still kind of interesting. It did 
quite a bit of damage to his roof and ceiling but it didn't penetrate the 
old roof. I suggested, to muted ears, that a beast that size would have 
easily crashed through had it been falling at terminal velocity.

There are three railroad lines near his home. Can anyone imagine how an ore 
car might launch an eight pound rock 5 blocks?

Bill