Museum Retrieves Missing Meteorite Slab

It may seem rather strange, but meteorites - especially iron ones - with gem intrusions are extremely valuable items for collectors. Some of these space rocks may routinely exceed prices of one million US dollars on the market, while less valued items make their way to museums. Don't even think that thieves will disregard them! Such a story was that of a meteorite slice measuring only 30 by 40 centimeters, valued at about 5,000 US dollars.

The item was declared missing from the Joshua Tree Earth and Space Museum in Lakeville, some two weeks ago. However, just a few days before, the chance made that a man owning another slice of the same space rock discovered it while attending a gun show. The man immediately understood what the object was and called the founder of the museum, Terry Boswell. In an interview Boswell says that he received a call from one of his friends and fellow meteorite collector saying "I think I found your meteorite!"

Boswell recognizes that he couldn't believe that it was true. His friend, Neil Smith, the man who found the rock at the Indiana State Fairground gun show in Indianapolis, told Boswell that there had been a man who had been trying to sell the slab, however he had run as soon as the police enforcements had come at the site. Smith is one of the only few people in the world who can identify the rock, as he is the owner of a slice of the same meteorite.

"The odds of someone stealing this meteorite and then taking it to the person who has the sister piece is unbelievable. There are only a handful of people in the world who would be able to identify it with certainty, and here he goes right to this fellow who knew it was stolen," said Boswell.

The perpetrator was identified by the police and is now being searched to be taken into custody. Because the meteorite was being held in a museum office, there wasn't much security. However, Boswell says that he is currently trying to improved security measures in the near future. The Joshua Tree Earth and Space Museum created by Boswell lies 16 kilometers south of the South Bend and gives children a chance to observe fossils and meteorites.



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