Massive Meteorite Used as Doorstop for Over 80 Years Found in Michigan Farm
In a remarkable turn of events, one of the largest meteorites ever recorded in Michigan was discovered after more than eight decades of living inconspicuously as a doorstop at a local farm. The incredible space rock, weighing in at 10 kilograms (22 pounds), went unrecognized by experts until it caught the attention of the scientific community.
The meteorite, affectionately nicknamed the Edmore meteorite, remained at the farm for several decades, serving as a humble doorstop. Little did its owners know that they possessed an immensely valuable and scientifically significant specimen. The significance of this discovery became apparent in 2018 when Mona Sirbescu, a geologist at Central Michigan University (CMU), had the opportunity to examine the rock.
“I could tell right away that this was something special,” Sirbescu said, reflecting on her investigation. “It’s the most valuable specimen I have ever held in my life, both monetarily and scientifically.”
The story behind the Edmore meteorite’s discovery is just as intriguing as the space rock itself. David Mazurek, a Michigan resident, approached Sirbescu in 2018, asking her to examine a rock he had possessed for three decades. Although Sirbescu often received similar requests throughout her career, this particular rock turned out to be extraordinary.
To Mazurek’s astonishment, his long-held doorstop was no ordinary rock but a genuine meteorite. Composed primarily of iron and nickel, the Edmore meteorite contains an impressive 12 percent nickel content. Mazurek’s possession of the meteorite dates back to 1988 when he purchased a farm in Edmore, Michigan. During his tour of the property, the previous owner showed him a peculiar-looking rock used as a doorstop in a shed.
Curiosity piqued, Mazurek inquired about the rock’s origin, to which he received an astonishing response. The former owner revealed that in the 1930s, both he and his father witnessed the meteorite descending onto their property, accompanied by an intense noise upon impact. The following morning, they discovered a crater and excavated the still-warm meteorite from its newly-formed trench.
Adding an additional twist to the tale, the outgoing owner informed Mazurek that, by virtue of being a part of the property, the meteorite now belonged to him. As a result, Mazurek retained possession of the space rock for three decades, often using it as a doorstop. On occasion, his children even took the meteorite to school for show and tell.
However, Mazurek began to notice the growing fascination and commercial value of meteorite fragments, prompting him to have his gigantic space rock evaluated. The evaluation brought him astonishing news: his meteorite was a highly sought-after item due to its rarity and scientific importance, potentially fetching a significant sum of money.
Sirbescu explained, “What typically happens with these at this point is that meteorites can either be sold and shown in a museum or sold to collectors and sellers looking to make a profit.”
In the end, Mazurek sold the Edmore meteorite to Michigan State University’s Abrams Planetarium. As part of the agreement, he pledged to donate 10 percent of the proceeds to CMU’s earth and atmospheric sciences department, where Sirbescu performed the identification of the meteorite.
The final price tag for the meteorite amounted to a staggering $75,000, proving that what was once a simple doorstop had transcended into an extraordinary artifact.
It is a story that highlights the immense and unexpected wonders that can be found right beneath our feet, reminding us that even the most mundane objects may contain unimaginable value.