KANSAS MAN FINDS 20,000 YEAR OLD METEORITE AFTER GIVING UP ON NEW ONES

May 19 2009

Haviland, KS – Meteorites are the only space body most people will ever see in person. Made up of rock, metals or both, meteorites are the only proven visitors from space and ones that can be accessed by ordinary people. Unlike major heavenly bodies such as the Moon, meteorites have been crashing into the planet for
thousands of years and because of they are the one piece of space that everyone can get a chance at touching, as is the case for Don Stimpson, curator of the Kansas Meteorite Museum and a 20,000 year old piece of the heavens.

Pulled from a Kansas field, the 1220 pound meteorite is believed to be one of hundreds embedded in the ground throughout Kansas, part of an ancient shower that littered the ancient landscape before mankind had ever stepped foot in the Americas. Though the size is rare, the age is unfortunately not with the majority of meteorites discovered by museums far from new.

“The bulk of meteorites that land are scooped up by amateur collectors and children because they tend to rest on top of the earth or at least close to the top. That leaves
museums and geologists with very little opportunity to study new bodies and only the old, kind of rugged ones that are difficult for most people to get access to,” said Scrape TV Science analyst Dr. Howard Poe. “Normally geologists are excited for old things but in the case of meteorites they are normally just dirty. These are pieces of rock and metal that have been roaming around the cosmos for millions if not billions of years so 20,000 years doesn’t really mean a whole lot to them. It does of course mean heavy digging equipment and a whole lot of cleaning.”

It is believed that the chunk uncovered is a part of the Brenham meteorites, which, 20,000 years ago brought the most excitement to what is now the state of Kansas that it has yet seen.

“The only other thing that can match what happened 20,000 years ago in Kansas was the tornado that carried Dorothy and Toto away to Oz. Of course that was complete fiction so it hardly holds much water in the scope of
interesting and exciting things,” continued Poe. “Even though it’s old the meteorite still has significant scientific value. Through study of these kinds of bodies we can start to see the building blocks of the universe. This rock has likely travelled millions and millions of kilometres through space. Every time someone uncovers a piece like this they are uncovering a piece of our collective history.”

It’s expected that the meteorite will go on display at the Meteorite Museum and be viewed by dozens from all over the state, after undergoing a thorough cleaning.

“To be fair, they probably don’t have a lot to do at the museum. Outside of the fact
that it is in Kansas it is a meteorite museum, I mean a museum dedicated to this one particular and very niche discipline that really is one of the least exciting aspects of geology. Sure these pieces are from space, and yes they put on a beautiful show when they arrive but their commonality is their curse and their blessing,” continued Poe. “I can’t imagine a whole lot of families getting excited about visiting the meteorite museum regardless of its scientific value. I mean they are space rocks and all, but they are still rocks, ones that have been buried for millennia. It’s said that there’s nothing new under the sun and in the case of meteorites nothing could be more accurate.”

After removing the meteorite from the ground it will undergo painstaking cleaning, study, and eventual display in the museum.    

Anna Phillips, Science Correspondent

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