(meteorobs) POSIBBLE NEW DUTCH METEORITE????

From Marco Langbroek, Dutch Meteor Society (DMS), the Netherlands:
6/08/1999, 15:30 UT

Dear Everyone,

Although it is still too early to give a definite opinion, it appears 
very well possible that we have a new meteorite in The Netherlands. On 
July 22, a mysterious object crashed through the steel plate roofing of 
an iron melting company (!) in Weert, in the South of the Netherlands 
(51d 15'N, 5d 42' E), striking a 'crater' in the floor of 20x20 cm. It was 
seized by the Aviation Police dept. for investigation because initially 
it was thought to be part of an aircraft. That turns out to be not the case.

After press reports this morning, Casper ter Kuile and I contacted the 
Aviation Police for information; this resulted in an invitation by 
officer Krone, who was very kind, helpfull and interested (and curious!) to 
check on the object. So I took half a day leave from my work and visited 
Schiphol Airport Oost this early afternoon (with a piece of 'Mbale' 
chondrite in my pocket to show as an example -I happened to have it with 
me because I had shown it to some of my collegue archaeologist, to make 
them aware if they encounter such things during field surveys! A very odd 
coincidence indeed!), where the bureau of the aviation authorities is located.
Together with dr. L. Lindner from Utrecht University (Dept. Earth Sciences), 
who had also arrived, we investigated the object macroscopically.

Currently, we cannot say for certain (please note!) that this must be a 
meteorite. Both of us are of the opinion that the shape of the object is 
very odd (unlike anything I've ever seen in the field of meteorites), but 
the structure of the surface is very convincing. Thus, we for the moment 
judge it to be a POSSIBLE iron meteorite untill chemical investigations 
will settle the issue. But I give it a good although certainly not 100% 
chance. Dr. Lindner has taken the object to Utrecht for chemical analysis 
and isotopic measurements. Now, we have to await the final verdict on the 
object.

The shape is very odd. It is a slightly tapered, rod-like object, maximum 
dimension 42 mm long, minimum diameter 14mm. Never seen such a 
'meteorite' before. It however appears to have a very convincing 'fusion 
crust' that is dark brown-black and smooth. The elongated object has 
moothed corners. It is compact metal.

If this is a true meteorite, it is the 5th surviving Dutch one (others in 
1840, 1843, 1925 and 1990) and the first Dutch iron meteorite.

- Marco Langbroek
  Dutch Meteor Society (the Netherlands)
  http://home.wxs.nl/~dms-web/
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(meteorobs) Again possible Dutch Meteorite (more contemplation now)

Hello,

As you all have read, I returned rather excited from my inspection of the 
object that 'impacted' at Weert (The Netherlands) July 22 and might be a 
iron meteorite. In my initial excitement, perhaps my first message was a 
little bit too excited and the story needs some more quiet contemplation, 
provided below.

What I want to make clear (and fear did not quite come through in my 
initial message) is that there still are considerable questionmarks. The 
shape of the object is that odd that it might well turn out to be NOT a 
meteorite after the chemical analysis. That is what I want to make clear; 
it is far from established yet. However, after what I've seen this 
afternoon at the Aviation Police office, I feel that there certainly is a 
possibility. But we really have to await the results of the analysis, and 
only then will be able to judge properly. Note that this might take some 
time, it is holliday time here and half of the country has taken days of 
to see the August 11 eclipse.

Regards!

Marco Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society
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(meteorobs) Dutch object 'Weert' not iron meteorite (alas)

Dear Alan, dear Rob, dear Others,

I just informally received word from Charles Arps (Dutch Natural History 
Museum) that the Weert object from 22 July is NOT an iron meteorite -it 
contains no Ni.

So no new Dutch meteorite, alas.... While slightly disappointed, this 
does not come as a complete surprise, as the shape of the object was odd 
indeed and reason for some doubts in my mind clingin on.

The object remains an enigma. Given the force with which it smashed 
through the steel plated roof, and given it's outlook with something that 
closely resembles a 'fusion crust' (it certainly is not like a corrosion 
layer), it would not surprise me if it actually is a piece of a 
satellite, even though according to Alan no satellite dacays were 
expected over the area that day.

Perhaps the chemical data can shed some more light; I'll contact Dr. 
Lindner later this week for more details.

Regards,

- Marco Langbroek
  Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)
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