Certain types of rocks like specific meteorites can be extremely expensive if sold to the right buyer, but the problem is that some of these rocks are really hard to identify. As such, a man had been using a rare rock as a doorstopper for decades when it was actually worth around $75,000.
Rare Doorstopper Rock
Scientists were able to come across one of the largest meteorites to ever be recorded in Michigan, and it somehow didn't make its way to experts decades after it was discovered. The rock has baffled them due to its size and how it lay for decades before being recognized.
The rock weighed 22 pounds and was used as a doorstop at a local farm. For decades, while it could've been the subject of scientific research, it was simply used as a doorstopper since it was believed to be a regular rock.
Finally, it was recognized by the scientific community after decades of serving that simple purpose. Mona Sirbescu, a Central Michigan University (CMU) geologist, explained their findings in a 2018 investigation of the object.
The geologist highlighted how it was special and was even the "most valuable specimen" they've ever held in their life. It held valuable importance not just scientifically, but also monetarily.
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The Rock's Journey
The rock fell into the hands of Sirbescu after she was asked by David Mazurek to examine a rock he had for 30 years. The man was from Grand Rapids and brought a rock that he thought could be examined just in case it was a meteorite.
This type of request wasn't unique for Sirbescu since she often gets requests; but for 18 years, most of her answers have been that the rocks she checked weren't meteorites. However, the rock from Mazurek was different since it was confirmed to be a space rock.
Aside from being a meteor, what was interesting about it was that it was a large iron-nickel rock, which had 12% nickel. This meteorite's unique properties gave scientists much to examine.
Finding the Doorstopper
The rock came into Mazurek's possession in 1988 when he bought a farm in Edmore, Michigan. While the previous owner showed him around the property, he noticed a peculiar rock being used as a doorstopper.
The seller told Mazurek himself that the object was a meteorite and that they found it in a crater of a newly formed ditch. Since Mazurek bought the property, the seller said that the meteorite would also be his.
For 30 years, Mazurek decided to keep on using the rock as a doorstep with some exceptions. In fact, his kids brought the rock to school for show and tell. When he finally noticed that some people were getting rich off of selling meteorites, he decided to approach an expert.
Mazurek sold the meteorite doorstopper to the Abrams Planetarium of Michigan State University for $75,000.
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