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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This email from Douglas (Starstuff),

I work for Arena Auto Auctions in Bolingbrook and my job is to park
cars
that are unloaded from a transporter into designated parking spots as
well as to pull cars that will go to the detailing shop prior to being
auctioned. As a SUV was being driven to the staging area of the
parking
lot I heard a click, click with every tire revolution. Flat tires are
common due to discarded license plate screws and a flat tire
bottlenecks
the staging lane as it can't be moved and getting hold of a service
truck is like pulling teeth. If there was a puncture I'd have to park
it
before the tire goes down. I pulled a stone out from between the
treads
and noticed that it was heavy for it's size and looked like melted
iron
with a black surface that could be a fusion crust. When I got home I
tested it with a magnet and it is magnetic. I examined it with a
magnifying glass and it has what appear to be "melt lines"
on it. The
part that came in contact with the road is worn away and the inside
looks like head cheese with granuals. After researching several
meteorite identification websites I'm 90% sure that it is authentic
but
I will have it tested at Adler. What an unusual way to find a
meteorite.
Could you post this under meteors, comets and other space debris on
your
forum. I don't think my message went through.

-----------------

If indeed it is a meteorite, it certainly is an unusual manner to collect them. Let us know on your findings.

Perhaps we all should start checking our tires...thoses with bald tires have other problems to contend with.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

An update on Douglas's meteor find....

---------------

I took a magnet and light loupe to work with me and found dozens of
meteorite fragments. An unnoticed bollide must have broken up near
Bolingbrook and rained down on the auto auction parking lot.

--------

Perhaps so, or maybe it's part of the meteor that smashed thru the roof in a suburb of Chicago a couple of years ago.

[Al Degutis]

Any new info on the Douglas meteor?

On this topic, there's a new Yahoo Group dedicated to meterorite hunters:

groups.yahoo.com/group/meteorite_hunters/

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Yes indeed....Douglas sent me an update last week:

Joe...

My rocks weren't meteorites but glacial rocks that contain magnetic
hematite.

That is really too bad. But even so, still quite cool.