Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Hi Mark and List, That is a great story to read and it is the first time I have ever heard any of it. The outside appearance of the stone is a testament to the window of neglect and abuse it suffered before it was recognized and preserved. I wish I could find a rock like that in my yard. I certainly wouldn't sweep up the fragments and discard them! Wow. But, one cannot blame the owner for doing that, because he had no idea that it was a meteorite. So it weighs about 5-kilos and is apparently about the size of a large grapefruit. That is so cool. Since the time of Park Forest, meteorites have received a lot of media attention and have entered into the pop-culture lexicon. The chances of a freshly-fallen meteorite (even an abused one) not being recognized are smaller than in years prior to falls like Buzzard Coulee, Ash Creek, Mifflin, Almahata Sitta, Carancas, and many others) Best regards and thanks for sharing the story, MikeG -- Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 --- On 3/27/11, Mark Hammergren wrote: > The Olympia Fields gentleman whose lawn this stone fell into returned to > town more than a week after the fall. When he got back, he saw a hole in his > front yard, along with a "whole bunch" of stone chips in his driveway. He > assumed the city parks department, which was maintaining a park nearby, had > left this mess on his property. So he swept up and threw away the stone > chips (yes, this is painful, I know!), and called the city to come repair > his lawn. > > The workers dug up the hole, found the meteorite, and recognized it for what > it was. Then, amazingly enough, they knocked on his door, gave it back to > him, told him they thought it was a meteorite and likely worth a lot of > money, and went on their way. > > He called me a little while after that, said he thought he had a meteorite, > and wondered if I could verify that's what it was. I'd received hundreds of > such inquiries, with only a few of them proving to be meteorites, so I was > doubtful. But when he gave me his address, which was right at the high mass > end of the strewnfield, and described the stone, I had a suspicion his rock > might be the real thing. When I got a chance to examine it in person, it was > unmistakable. Quite rusted from spending two weeks in soggy sod, yes, but a > genuine Park Forest meteorite. > > I took some photos and weighed it, then took him and the stone down to the > Field Museum, where their meteorite collections manager (at the time) > examined it herself. I walked the gentleman back to his car, advised him > that while his meteorite was of significant scientific interest, it was also > quite valuable to collectors (museum ethics forbids me from giving specific > appraisals). I made sure he understood that since the meteorite fell on his > property, he legally owned the meteorite, and that no other public or > private organizations had a claim on it. He asked if I could recommend a > meteorite dealer, but museum ethics similarly forbid me from recommending a > specific dealer. I referred him to IMCA, and also said he could simply > Google "meteorite dealer". He left, and I never heard any more from him. > > If someone has subsequently dealt with the owner, and knows more about what > happened to the stone, I'd be interested in hearing about it. > > Best regards, > Mark > > --- On Sun, 3/27/11, Michael Gilmer wrote: > >> From: Michael Gilmer >> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass >> To: "e-mail ensoramanda" >> Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> Date: Sunday, March 27, 2011, 9:04 AM >> Hi Graham, Bill, and List, >> >> That was my initial reaction as well. I have never >> previously seen >> the photos that Bill posted, and I was expecting velvety >> black crust >> as well. This stone looks like it has seen better >> days. >> >> I'd be curious to hear more about the circumstances of it - >> where it >> was found, when, etc. >> >> Best regards and happy huntings, >> >> MikeG >> __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Thanks for the reply Mark, An interesting story and explains the rust. I wonder where the main mass of Park Forest resides at this moment then. Would be very interesting to find out if he still has it or did indeed sell it to someoneperhaps someone on this list? Graham On 27 March 2011 18:26, Mark Hammergren wrote: > The Olympia Fields gentleman whose lawn this stone fell into returned to town > more than a week after the fall. When he got back, he saw a hole in his front > yard, along with a "whole bunch" of stone chips in his driveway. He assumed > the city parks department, which was maintaining a park nearby, had left this > mess on his property. So he swept up and threw away the stone chips (yes, > this is painful, I know!), and called the city to come repair his lawn. > > The workers dug up the hole, found the meteorite, and recognized it for what > it was. Then, amazingly enough, they knocked on his door, gave it back to > him, told him they thought it was a meteorite and likely worth a lot of > money, and went on their way. > > He called me a little while after that, said he thought he had a meteorite, > and wondered if I could verify that's what it was. I'd received hundreds of > such inquiries, with only a few of them proving to be meteorites, so I was > doubtful. But when he gave me his address, which was right at the high mass > end of the strewnfield, and described the stone, I had a suspicion his rock > might be the real thing. When I got a chance to examine it in person, it was > unmistakable. Quite rusted from spending two weeks in soggy sod, yes, but a > genuine Park Forest meteorite. > > I took some photos and weighed it, then took him and the stone down to the > Field Museum, where their meteorite collections manager (at the time) > examined it herself. I walked the gentleman back to his car, advised him that > while his meteorite was of significant scientific interest, it was also quite > valuable to collectors (museum ethics forbids me from giving specific > appraisals). I made sure he understood that since the meteorite fell on his > property, he legally owned the meteorite, and that no other public or private > organizations had a claim on it. He asked if I could recommend a meteorite > dealer, but museum ethics similarly forbid me from recommending a specific > dealer. I referred him to IMCA, and also said he could simply Google > "meteorite dealer". He left, and I never heard any more from him. > > If someone has subsequently dealt with the owner, and knows more about what > happened to the stone, I'd be interested in hearing about it. > > Best regards, > Mark > > --- On Sun, 3/27/11, Michael Gilmer wrote: > >> From: Michael Gilmer >> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass >> To: "e-mail ensoramanda" >> Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> Date: Sunday, March 27, 2011, 9:04 AM >> Hi Graham, Bill, and List, >> >> That was my initial reaction as well. I have never >> previously seen >> the photos that Bill posted, and I was expecting velvety >> black crust >> as well. This stone looks like it has seen better >> days. >> >> I'd be curious to hear more about the circumstances of it - >> where it >> was found, when, etc. >> >> Best regards and happy huntings, >> >> MikeG >> >> >> -- >> Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites >> >> Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com >> Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone >> News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 >> Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone >> EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 >> --- >> >> >> On 3/27/11, e-mail ensoramanda >> wrote: >> > Just wondering why the Park Forest Main mass looks old >> and weathered >> > in the photograph? >> > >> > Was it found much later. I was expecting to see >> fresh crust and >> > matrix. I would never have guessed it was Park >> Forest. >> > >> > Graham, UK >> > >> > On 27 March 2011 09:38, Steve Witt >> wrote: >> >> Bill, >> >> >> >> Was wondering if you any other detail of this main >> mass. Finder? Location? >> >> Date of find? etc. >> >> >> >> thanx, >> >> Steve >> >> >> >> >> >> Steve Witt >> >>
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
The Olympia Fields gentleman whose lawn this stone fell into returned to town more than a week after the fall. When he got back, he saw a hole in his front yard, along with a "whole bunch" of stone chips in his driveway. He assumed the city parks department, which was maintaining a park nearby, had left this mess on his property. So he swept up and threw away the stone chips (yes, this is painful, I know!), and called the city to come repair his lawn. The workers dug up the hole, found the meteorite, and recognized it for what it was. Then, amazingly enough, they knocked on his door, gave it back to him, told him they thought it was a meteorite and likely worth a lot of money, and went on their way. He called me a little while after that, said he thought he had a meteorite, and wondered if I could verify that's what it was. I'd received hundreds of such inquiries, with only a few of them proving to be meteorites, so I was doubtful. But when he gave me his address, which was right at the high mass end of the strewnfield, and described the stone, I had a suspicion his rock might be the real thing. When I got a chance to examine it in person, it was unmistakable. Quite rusted from spending two weeks in soggy sod, yes, but a genuine Park Forest meteorite. I took some photos and weighed it, then took him and the stone down to the Field Museum, where their meteorite collections manager (at the time) examined it herself. I walked the gentleman back to his car, advised him that while his meteorite was of significant scientific interest, it was also quite valuable to collectors (museum ethics forbids me from giving specific appraisals). I made sure he understood that since the meteorite fell on his property, he legally owned the meteorite, and that no other public or private organizations had a claim on it. He asked if I could recommend a meteorite dealer, but museum ethics similarly forbid me from recommending a specific dealer. I referred him to IMCA, and also said he could simply Google "meteorite dealer". He left, and I never heard any more from him. If someone has subsequently dealt with the owner, and knows more about what happened to the stone, I'd be interested in hearing about it. Best regards, Mark --- On Sun, 3/27/11, Michael Gilmer wrote: > From: Michael Gilmer > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass > To: "e-mail ensoramanda" > Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > Date: Sunday, March 27, 2011, 9:04 AM > Hi Graham, Bill, and List, > > That was my initial reaction as well. I have never > previously seen > the photos that Bill posted, and I was expecting velvety > black crust > as well. This stone looks like it has seen better > days. > > I'd be curious to hear more about the circumstances of it - > where it > was found, when, etc. > > Best regards and happy huntings, > > MikeG > > > -- > Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites > > Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com > Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone > News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 > Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone > EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 > --- > > > On 3/27/11, e-mail ensoramanda > wrote: > > Just wondering why the Park Forest Main mass looks old > and weathered > > in the photograph? > > > > Was it found much later. I was expecting to see > fresh crust and > > matrix. I would never have guessed it was Park > Forest. > > > > Graham, UK > > > > On 27 March 2011 09:38, Steve Witt > wrote: > >> Bill, > >> > >> Was wondering if you any other detail of this main > mass. Finder? Location? > >> Date of find? etc. > >> > >> thanx, > >> Steve > >> > >> > >> Steve Witt > >> IMCA #9020 > >> http://imca.cc/ > >> > >> > >> --- On Sat, 3/26/11, bill kies > wrote: > >> > >>> From: bill kies > >>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main > Mass > >>> To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > >>> Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:44 PM > >>> > >>> Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of > the Park > >>> Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I > know of. 5260 > >>> grams. > >>> > >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg > >>> > >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/p
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Was this the one the police extorted back from Mike Farmer under threat of arrest and then used a Brillo-pad on to clean it up? Elton - Original Message > From: Michael Gilmer > To: e-mail ensoramanda > Cc: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > Sent: Sun, March 27, 2011 10:04:07 AM > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass > > Hi Graham, Bill, and List, > > That was my initial reaction as well. I have never previously seen > the photos that Bill posted, and I was expecting velvety black crust > as well. This stone looks like it has seen better days. > > I'd be curious to hear more about the circumstances of it - where it > was found, when, etc. > > Best regards and happy huntings, > > MikeG > > > -- > Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites > > Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com > Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone > News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 > Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone > EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 > --- > > > On 3/27/11, e-mail ensoramanda wrote: > > Just wondering why the Park Forest Main mass looks old and weathered > > in the photograph? > > > > Was it found much later. I was expecting to see fresh crust and > > matrix. I would never have guessed it was Park Forest. > > > > Graham, UK > > > > On 27 March 2011 09:38, Steve Witt wrote: > >> Bill, > >> > >> Was wondering if you any other detail of this main mass. Finder? Location? > >> Date of find? etc. > >> > >> thanx, > >> Steve > >> > >> > >> Steve Witt > >> IMCA #9020 > >> http://imca.cc/ > >> > >> > >> --- On Sat, 3/26/11, bill kies wrote: > >> > >>> From: bill kies > >>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass > >>> To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > >>> Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:44 PM > >>> > >>> Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of the Park > >>> Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I know of. 5260 > >>> grams. > >>> > >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg > >>> > >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmmedit.jpg > >>> > >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit2.jpg > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Bill > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> __ > >>> Visit the Archives at > >>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > >>> Meteorite-list mailing list > >>> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> __ > >> Visit the Archives at > >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > >> Meteorite-list mailing list > >> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > >> > > __ > > Visit the Archives at > > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > > Meteorite-list mailing list > > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > > > > -- > __ > Visit the Archives at >http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Hi Graham, Bill, and List, That was my initial reaction as well. I have never previously seen the photos that Bill posted, and I was expecting velvety black crust as well. This stone looks like it has seen better days. I'd be curious to hear more about the circumstances of it - where it was found, when, etc. Best regards and happy huntings, MikeG -- Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 --- On 3/27/11, e-mail ensoramanda wrote: > Just wondering why the Park Forest Main mass looks old and weathered > in the photograph? > > Was it found much later. I was expecting to see fresh crust and > matrix. I would never have guessed it was Park Forest. > > Graham, UK > > On 27 March 2011 09:38, Steve Witt wrote: >> Bill, >> >> Was wondering if you any other detail of this main mass. Finder? Location? >> Date of find? etc. >> >> thanx, >> Steve >> >> >> Steve Witt >> IMCA #9020 >> http://imca.cc/ >> >> >> --- On Sat, 3/26/11, bill kies wrote: >> >>> From: bill kies >>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass >>> To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >>> Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:44 PM >>> >>> Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of the Park >>> Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I know of. 5260 >>> grams. >>> >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg >>> >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmmedit.jpg >>> >>> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit2.jpg >>> >>> >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> >>> __ >>> Visit the Archives at >>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>> >> >> >> >> __ >> Visit the Archives at >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >> > __ > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > -- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Just wondering why the Park Forest Main mass looks old and weathered in the photograph? Was it found much later. I was expecting to see fresh crust and matrix. I would never have guessed it was Park Forest. Graham, UK On 27 March 2011 09:38, Steve Witt wrote: > Bill, > > Was wondering if you any other detail of this main mass. Finder? Location? > Date of find? etc. > > thanx, > Steve > > > Steve Witt > IMCA #9020 > http://imca.cc/ > > > --- On Sat, 3/26/11, bill kies wrote: > >> From: bill kies >> Subject: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass >> To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:44 PM >> >> Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of the Park >> Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I know of. 5260 >> grams. >> >> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg >> >> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmmedit.jpg >> >> http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit2.jpg >> >> >> >> Bill >> >> >> >> __ >> Visit the Archives at >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >> > > > > __ > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Bill, Was wondering if you any other detail of this main mass. Finder? Location? Date of find? etc. thanx, Steve Steve Witt IMCA #9020 http://imca.cc/ --- On Sat, 3/26/11, bill kies wrote: > From: bill kies > Subject: [meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass > To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:44 PM > > Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of the Park > Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I know of. 5260 > grams. > > http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg > > http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmmedit.jpg > > http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit2.jpg > > > > Bill > > > > __ > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Thanks to Mark Hammergren, we have images of the Park Forest main mass. At least, the largest one I know of. 5260 grams. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmmedit.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/razor_wire/pfmainedit2.jpg Bill __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Hi all, Most folks that are or ever have been interested in the Park Forest Meteorite, know the Garza Stone. The one that punctured the home of Phil Jones in Olympia Fields Illinois is generally accepted as the PF main mass. There is a larger mass that has been overlooked. http://www.mail-archive.com/meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com/msg16514.html Does anyone have an image or a lead to an image of this meteorite? Thanks, Bill __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Hi all, Does anyone have images or know the whereabouts/disposition of THE Park Forest main mass? Thanks and Happy Holidays, Bill __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Park Forest Main Mass
Hello List, If anyone is interested in the Park Forest 5.2kg "Nose Cone" Main Mass please contact me off list. Also, I have a few of the smaller individuals left as well. Steve Arnold Arkansas
