Unbelievable Discovery: Man Finds Meteorite Mistaken for a Rock

A Surprising Find in Michigan

A man from the United States unknowingly used a meteorite as a doorstop for three decades, believing it to be just a rock. This 10-kilogram piece, found in Michigan, was recently identified as a valuable meteorite worth millions. Experts estimate its value to be around $100,000 (approximately ₹74 lakh).

Meteorite's History Traced Back to the 1930s

The man discovered this meteorite when he sold his property in 1988. The previous owner revealed that the rock was unearthed during fieldwork in the 1930s and was warm to the touch at that time. The new owner thought it looked interesting and began using it to prop open doors. Recently, he decided to investigate its potential value and took it to the University of Michigan.

Confirmation of Meteorite Status

At the University of Michigan, Professor Monalisa Serbescu was initially surprised by the rock's appearance. She opted for an X-ray fluorescence test, which revealed that the rock contained 88% iron, 12% nickel, and trace amounts of heavy metals like iridium, gallium, and gold. A sample was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, where it was confirmed to be a meteorite.

Professor Serbescu remarked that this was the first time she had encountered such a valuable rock. She initially thought it might be a fragment from our solar system. Typically, meteorites consist of 90 to 95% iron. The previous owner mentioned that he sold his farm located near Mount Pleasant, about 48 kilometers from Michigan, to a farmer who showed him the rock, claiming it had fallen from the sky. Due to its landing in Edmore, it was named the Edmore meteorite.