A metallic-looking rock crashed into a residence in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, on Monday, May 8, causing damage to a bedroom. Suzy Kop's home was unoccupied at the time of the incident, which was initially reported by CBS News Philadelphia. The meteorite, approximately 4 inches by 6 inches (10 by 15 centimeters) in size, entered through the roof and landed in Kop's father's bedroom.
Based on the extent of the damage, it appears that the meteorite struck the floor, rebounded to the ceiling, and eventually settled in a corner of the room. Kop mentioned to CBS News that she touched the object and found it to be warm, mistaking it for an ordinary rock.
Scientists Confirmed It Was a Rare Meteorite
Nathan Magee, the physics department chair at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), told Space.com that it was obvious the rock is a stony chondrite meteorite when contacted by the Hopewell Township police after its discovery on May 8.
The meteorite made a notable exception by crashing into a house in Hopewell Township. It caused a dent in the floorboard, created two holes in the ceiling, and was still warm when Suzy Kop found it in her father's bedroom around noon.
After ensuring the safety of Kop, her family, and their home from any potential radioactive residues, the meteorite was handed over to a nearby college, TCNJ, for further examination.
Magee's team at TCNJ consulted Jerry Delaney, a retired meteorite expert who had experience with the meteorite collection at the American Museum of Natural History. The team confirmed the space rock's age to be approximately 4.56 billion years, indicating its origin from the early stages of our solar system.
Weighing 2.2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), the meteorite is expected to be named after its landing site, Titusville, NJ. Magee stated on Thursday, May 11, that it is in excellent condition and represents one of the few witnessed chondrites falls known to science.
The outer layer of the meteorite displays a blackened crust a few millimeters thick, a result of partial burning during its entry into Earth's atmosphere. Through close examination using a hand lens, Magee's team observed that the minerals in the meteorite are predominantly blue and gray, with a small proportion of other metals mixed in.
What Are Chondrites?
As per Natural History Museum, chondrites, with their unique composition of silicate minerals, sulfides, and iron-nickel metal, are ancient rocks in the solar system that have preserved their original form for over 4.5 billion years, characterized by millimeter-sized granules resembling sand grains. These space rocks also constitute 85% of meteorites that fell on Earth.
The team utilized a scanning electron microscope's large chamber to examine the texture and composition of the meteorite, Space.com reported. Preliminary assessments indicate that it belongs to the LL-6 class of chondrites, characterized by lower iron content compared to other members of its family.
Additionally, it is estimated to be 30% to 40% denser than common Earth rocks, such as slate or granite. This led Magee to conclude that it originated from space rather than Earth.
Due to exposure to high temperatures in outer space before entering Earth's atmosphere, the meteorite underwent significant structural and compositional changes. As a result, it is challenging to easily distinguish individual grains or chondrules that typically constitute the meteorite, as shared in the update provided by scientists last week.
RELATED ARTICLE: Metallic Object Believed To Be Meteorite Smashed Into a House in New Jersey
Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
