A 30-year-old doorstop has been identified as a meteorite and now commands $100,000


A Michigan resident recently made the strangest discovery! On the condition of remaining anonymous, he approached Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Dr. Monaliza Sirbescu with a rocky chunk that he had used as a doorstop for over 30 years. On further evaluation, it was confirmed that the rock represented a 22-pound meteorite.

Sirbescu examined the rock under an X-ray fluorescence instrument. It was determined that it was an iron-nickel meteorite with about 88 percent iron and 12 percent nickel, which is a metal rarely found on Earth.

In efforts to confirm her evaluation of the rock, Sirbescu cut off a small, polished sample and sent it into a colleague at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The value of $100,000 was attached to the rock once the Smithsonian Institution verified the piece. After doing much research, rock is now presumed to be Michigan’s six largest meteorite. The Smithsonian is considering purchasing the rock for display.

[Via:NYpost]