On a rather ordinary day in 2015, gold-prospector David Hole stumbled upon an unusual object outside of Maryborough, Australia. It was an eccentric, brown rock, its origin and nature unknown, other than the fact that to David, it could contain gold.
Little did David know, this was not an ordinary stone, but a relic from the cosmos that was about to take him on a journey of discovery.
David, initially intrigued by its toughness, tried to crack it open with every tool in his arsenal, including a rock saw, a drill, and even a sledgehammer. But to his surprise, none of his efforts could even make a scratch! As the mystery deepened, he decided to hand over the robust stone to the expert eyes at Museums Victoria.
A Scientific Discovery
Once the rock, boasting a hefty size of 15.3 inches long, 5.5 inches deep, and 5.5 inches wide, arrived at the museum, researchers were quick to unravel the secret as to what it was. It turned out to be a meteorite—a truly rare one! This cosmic traveler likely embarked on its journey to Earth somewhere between 100 to 1,000 years ago.
The scientists discovered that the celestial rock was likely born in the asteroid belt, the rocky highway that lies between Mars and Jupiter. With a make-up of iron, nickel, and other exotic materials, the researchers were amazed to find that this particular space rock could hold clues about our universe’s creation and the formation of our own planet.
Dermot Henry, head of sciences at Museums Victoria, excitingly explained that some meteorites give a peek at the core of our planet. They could contain “stardust” older than our Solar System, shedding light on how stars evolve to create elements of the periodic table. Even more thrilling, some meteorites carry organic molecules like amino acids—nature’s Lego blocks for building life!
Emeritus curator in Geosciences at Museums Victoria, Bill Birch, who described the meteorite in this scientific paper, said, “When you consider all the events this chunk of rock has experienced since its formation 4.6 billion years ago, it’s really mind-boggling that we get the opportunity to hold it and study it today. How good is that?”
This cosmic treasure, which is slated to be on display at the Melbourne Museum, adds another unique specimen to Museums Victoria’s collection of over 400 meteorite samples. The museum welcomes everyone to come and witness this space-time capsule and feel a tangible connection to the mysteries of our universe. After all, nothing says adventure quite like holding a piece of the cosmos in your hand!
