[meteorite-list] The Richardton Meteorite

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Nov 7 00:11:22 2005
Message-ID: <200511070509.jA759rR26956_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.kfyrtv.com/showNews.asp?whatStory=4315

The Richardton Meteorite
Cliff Naylor
KFRY TV (Bismark, North Dakota)
November 6, 2005

On the night of June 30th, 1918, farmers in western North Dakota saw a
meteor, similar to this one that was video taped streaking through the
sky over Peekskill, New York. The meteorite landed in this field and
scattered debris for miles.

Ed Murphy is the state geologist who is called upon to investigate all
of North Dakota's meteorite sightings. He says this small specimen is a
tiny part of the 200 pound meteor that caused people to panic.

"The meteorite broke apart in the sky and the noise was likened to an
explosion. It rattled windows and some people jumped under their beds."
he says.

Murphy says the 200 pound space rock exploded into more than 150 pieces
when it hit the earth.

"Specimens were picked up from an area that was nine miles long and
fourteen miles wide. The largest specimen was eighteen pounds and the
smaller ones are generally around a pound, egg sized," he explains.

After the meteorite dust settled, farmers picked up the space rocks and
sold them to collectors. Murphy says this is one or only two specimens
that remain in North Dakota, the rest are on display in some pretty
prestigious museums.

"Specimens from the Richardton Meteorite are housed in museums all
across the country including the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.; the
Museum of Natural History in New York; and the British Museum in London".

Today meteorites are sold on the internet for up to five-thousand
dollars an ounce, more than ten times the price of gold. An appeal is
currently being made by Murphy to try to persuade the Smithsonian to
return the eighteen pound specimens it owns so they can be displayed
where they landed.
Received on Mon 07 Nov 2005 12:09:52 AM PST