Is it a Meteorite ☄️ or a MeteorWRONG? 4 Rock IDs for Rockhounders Nov 2024

[@huckhuckhuck]

THis dude sells rocks all across the world. HUGE channel.

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Yep, many to academic institutions.

[@shanejuri7832]

Man, always love seeing your passion for space rocks. You seem like a chill guy that wouldn’t overreact to a situation and start to struggle breathing.

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

I am a chill guy that was also an ice hockey goaltender for 17 years. There is a bite to my bark! Thanks - I am super passionate.

[@LukeMentz]

This guy sells rocks for a living?

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Yep. I am my one boss.

[@Keviniscool65]

Bros a rock dealer 💀

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks for watching

[@johnsaucerhunter]

Nice presentation Topher (and crew). Always enjoy the verbal pros/cons that are discussed.

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

We all really appreciate it 👍! Never want to hurt feelings with science.

[@Riseupchamps777]

When looking at the rock in 36:54 of the video, i believe this owner has a significant find, unrelated to meteors. The rock at that point of the video appears to be a turtle symbol in rock art. The head is on the right. The black marks on the shell design of the turtle. The type of rock appears metamorphic, with iron and hematite. This type of rock would often be found where Spanish Conquistadors were mining close by. The turtle was often associated with treasure where the nose would point to the next landscape navigation clue or directly to the treasure. My apologies for the long explanation / input. Hope this helps.

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

I have no knowledge about any of this. It looks like one of 5 million other Earth rocks to me.

[@rockliquor1329]

I need to clear up some misconceptions, misunderstandings and explain my seemingly unorthodox approach. I am the Jimmy with the alleged lunar. #4 in your program. The first issue is one I seem to go through every time I post or share this find, an issue that every member of the crew complained about to the point where it became a discussion dead end. The “rocks samples” as they were so colourfully called. I can assure you that every piece shown in the video comes from the same boulder. As completely different as they are they all come from the same single rock. This fact is without a doubt the single most important piece of information there is! This alone should raise important questions and be more than enough to automatically qualify it for thorough examination! In my perfect world I had envisioned that once a few of these completely different looking rock types went by it would be enough to stop the presses and start the discussion about how is this possible? What kind of geological processes would be conducive in creating a seriously poly POLYmict rock? I have no doubt the thought may have crossed your minds but the logical rationale of uniformitarianism and laws of probability ensure the easiest likeliest reasoning. Jimmy didn’t understand the instructions and stacked the deck with several samples or put a bunch in one box and it’s cross contaminated or any one of a dozen other reasons. Well I’m pulling the E-brake here and taking us on a route untraveled. This is why I call it an impactite! Because it’s the only term I can use that adequately covers it all! Do I call it impact melt breccia? Do I call it Gabbroic/basaltic ejecta? Do I call it anorthositic? Feldspathic? Troctolitic? Or just regolith breccia? If I called it any one of them you’ll just point to another and say no way! So impactite covers them all! It’s not “night and day” either, IMO every Martian, lunar, vespian, Ureilite or any planetary achondrite is arguably an impactite! The single mechanism that removes them from their home planet is the operative criterion here. Impact.. may not be the right term but it’s also not the wrong term, since according to my research at least impacts are the only way to achieve such a varied and extensive reworking of rock types with distinct boundaries and without seeing massive metamorphosis. This also leads into my reasoning for not showing much of the exterior or the whole rock! I didn’t want to throw out the fact this impactite weighs 575 lbs! I didn’t want to show what looks exactly like weathered fusion crust over half of it! You’d think these are assets? You’d think they should be the first things mentioned in all caps right? Who wouldn’t? Jimmy didn’t! Because if Jimmy did then another bias is thrown into the mix ! People start shaking their heads, rolling their eyes heading for the exits! And the discussion becomes why Lunars are never that big and why that’s not fusion crust and how I’m delusional or caught up in wishful thinking, confirmation bias etc. etc. I wanted to showcase where the real and diagnostic features are! In the little picture! The multi lithologies, the shock veins, the swirling flowing melts, the PDF’s the spherules, the twinning, the warping of the twins, the breccia in breccia, the spherules in spherules the kink banding, the melt stringers, the planar fracturing, the schleirian structures, the million different clasts, the splash melts, the micro/mini/medium meteorite impacts, the metallic iron in its many forms, its magnetism its ductility its electrical conductivity the troilite like brassy sulfide, its tendency to be found enclosed by metallic iron or form these long dotted veins thinner than a hair that cuts right through clasts and grains as though weren’t there! I wanted the observable facts to lift it off the launch pad! And then throw in the external subjective features when they become more objective. But that didn’t happen either because suddenly y’all seeing quartz right after attempting to invalidate the MOHS testing I did by listing off the hardness of the mineral types with the hardness of the hardened glass (incorrectly) leading to another discussion dead end close the book thing.. do you really think I just looked up the hardness of things and just went with it? Sort of like you guys did? No! I Confirmed it! I have a terminated quartz crystal, I have a stainless steel knife, and a finishing nail, I ground down and polished the surfaces of the rock to test, made sure the quartz scratched the glass and the glass scratched the steel and that nothing scratched the quartz except another quartz, this is how I determined the hardness of the hardened glass, 6.5 was the result I determined, there is nothing on or in this rock that quartz can’t easily scratch, there is nothing on or in this rock that the hardened glass can’t scratch, and there’s very little that the stainless steel can’t scratch, just some of the green silicates, the translucent crystalline material you call quartz scratches easily with stainless steel, so absolutely not quartz! As soon as I put this down I’m making up a little video of this so yall believe me. And lastly, the thin sections pieces may be too thick, you got me on that one, but colours weren’t what I was aiming to show you, overlapping shock evidence was what I was trying to show you also there is undulatory mosaicissm I was meaning to show you but 3-5 minutes does a 575lb. POLYPOLYmict impactite no justice at all. Ok that’s enough for now, I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion and puts things in a better light ☮️✌️🕊️Mondays 🙄

[@RoxanneLatronica]

As always Well said sir.

[@michaeloutlaw7685]

@@rockliquor1329 they may not know? That’s the impression I received while watching yours being discussed. There’s a first for everything at some point. Not everything is the standard, and some things will never be, due to rarity. Side note* Seems maybe you’re a bit overqualified yourself, to be making a submission; though understood because many minds should be more productive, than one. Maybe with your confirmation of it in fact, being one, they’ll give it another look through new eyes, Mr. Jimmy! Keep on keeping on. It’s beautiful, btw!

[@rockliquor1329]

@@michaeloutlaw7685 Very true! If it is what it seems to be then there will be several aspects of it that are unique and have not been seen before at least not on this scale, which makes trying to research and compare nearly impossible! but some things are just fundamental like the multiple types blended together at different angles or the evidence of multiple impact shock events. terrestrial impactites are like all earth rocks quickly metamorphosed and recycled so by the time a second impact were to take place all evidence of the first impact would be long erased! no terrestrial impactite has ever been seen with evidence of more than one impact. Whereas on planets without atmospheres or plate tectonics there will almost always be evidence of more than one, sometimes dozens of shock events! I wonder how many this one holds? its like every piece looks completely different from every other piece! and thank you very much :)

[@BruceFeingold]

575lbs = 260815 grams. At a conservative $20/g for a lunar meteorite, your specimen is worth approximately $5,200,000!!!! Seems like rather than arguing with a bunch of internet people that collect and sell meteorites and have years of experience behind them (but, clearly don't know what they are talking about), you should spend the $4-500 to get it classified and prove them all wrong!

[@rockliquor1329]

@@BruceFeingold indeed sir! And thank you for pointing this out. I really wish it was as simple as that. This is pretty much my last attempt to do this the right way, to follow the instructions, protocol and procedures set forth by the scientific community and its acclaimed institutions. My last attempt because it’s pretty much my last option. Notice how every comment here has been responded to by the administration of this program except for mine! *edit: (since this comment I have had a video conversation with Topher and Sue which was appreciated. Questions and outstanding concerns were addressed. For the most part there is a consensus. Some disagreement in the interpretations of testing but that is to be expected. The process I can’t complain about. They are providing a thankless service that very few do and I can see why. Regardless of results I greatly appreciate the service) :*edit This is emblematic of the bigger problem. Not only have I reached out to every meteorite expert in particular the experts in lunar meteorites but also the institutions they often represent. For the individual experts, with the exception of one, the only response I received is either to be blocked or no response at all! For the one exception I was told the usual quartz rules it out reason then immediately blocked before I could prove the fallacy of their statement. From the institutions it was an identical result, with the exception of one, a highly acclaimed Canadian institution, one of just four in all of Canada that offers certification which stated something like “it doesn’t look like a lunar meteorite or a meteorite at all” follow up emails asking how exactly they reached that conclusion and every other email to every other institution has met what I call the wall of silence. I could not count how many times I’ve seen people post what they claim are lunar meteorite’s, at least one per day. And they are quickly and correctly told the reasons why they cannot be lunar meteorite’s. in the few instances where there is a visual resemblance to lunar meteorite’s the common statement “lunar meteorites cannot be identified visually, only specialized scientific testing can identify them” why haven’t I ever heard that statement? Why don’t I hear any statement? Why are my postings usually removed and I banned from them without a single word? I ask for science and get silence. One would think that if they were so certain that it is terrestrial they would be more than eager to prove it to me while collecting the $400-$500 at the same time! I know a few people who have had their hopeful lunars tested by the institutions even though I myself had told them I didn’t think they were lunars but they insisted and guess what, they weren’t lunars! Why were theirs tested and their money accepted? And why isn’t mine? Because clearly they didn’t meet the wall of silence. The only people that ever responded to me offering to do chemical composition tests were from the facebook groups and either had XRF machines themselves or connections to facilities that did, I sent samples, four sets of more than generous samples since they didn’t ask for money, I never got back a single test result! Just 3 sets of excuses from “I never received the samples” to “I can’t find the samples” to “I need $550 USD in order to test them” with the first one who said he had tested them and how this was going to be the most important discovery in meteorics ever made and I was the luckiest person on earth! Also the first person to state it was lunar which was a surprise to me! The day I was to get the chemical composition results the guy disappears from the internet! I mean like scrubbed! No trace of this guy remains! I have screenshots of all the communications between us, screenshots of all the communication between all of them, screenshots of every email, messenger, posting ever sent out as well as screenshots showing that I was blocked. Most of them are still out there awaiting the response I’ll never get! It’s so much more than proving them wrong, it’s the day I get to ask them why they didn’t afford me the opportunity to be part of the scientific process? I think it has reached a point now where they have dug their heels in and are more concerned with their reputations about having to answer that question. Which is why the wall of silence, by abstaining they don’t have to answer the question. The question I never wanted to ask, and still don’t! I’m not out to damage or harm anyone, the screenshots never have to see the light of day, as long as I’m offered the opportunity to do this the right way. It was never about the money, although that would certainly be nice and I can think of plenty of great ways to spend it, it is about the discovery! And sharing the amazing and enlightening journey not just to where i am now, but the unknown places it will go! So that’s where it’s at. There seems to be a monopolistic system when it comes to certification. With the only qualified individuals and institutions being the primary inventory holders of a product that’s monetary value is based entirely upon rarity. Something of a conflict of interest, especially when someone presents a specimen that outweighs every other specimen in the world combined! I have almost finished a video that tosses out the quartz claim as well as provides the pictures of the whole rock, top to bottom and all the external features and everything in between answering all the complaints made in this video. needless to say it’s going to be a pretty long video. Hopefully the complainers will view it, hopefully the wall of silence lifts, hopefully this meets the right set of eyes 🙏 You are more than welcome to it as is everyone, I’ve always kept everything fully transparent. And if you have any questions, advice or suggestions as to who or where I could get this thing certified or even just properly tested I would greatly appreciate it 🙇 my email is [e-mail] thank you

[@ClarkStevens-e9c]

Hello every one.. new member

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks a bunch!

[@daxons2889]

I think if you find a rock, which looks like meteorite research it. Buy some real meteorites( from trusty sellers) to study them and compare. And with so much information available "on line" you eventually come to the conclusion that your "precious rock" is meteorite wrong. But even if you find out that your rock is not meteorite, you are so proud of yourself knowing why is not :-)

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

100% agree! Thank you for spelling it out so simply. That is my advice as well.

[@mohamed19-g7w]

How can I send you a video? Thank you for your understanding

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Join as a $25/monthly supporter at www.patreon.com/topherspin

[@patbrown2227]

Great observations by the crew!

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

We try to make it educational and fun! Thanks for watching and being a Patreon supporter 💚

[@dirkjackson1267]

Great job every one. I learned so much 🎉 happy turkey day every one. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Awesome to hear you enjoyed it 👍

[@ClarkStevens-e9c]

How do i send pictures.?

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

No. That is not what I do for viewers, only my Patreon supporters for $25/month. www.patreon.com/topherspin

[@Virgohistorian]

Hallo topherspin saya dari jakarta Indonesia saya seorang pencari batu meteorit amatir dan beberapa hari yang lalu saya menemukan batu yang saya duga meteorit berat 16,7 kg berwarna abu2 gelap dan terdapat sidik jari,kerak fusi,dan ada juga seperti serpihan berwarna emas ketika dibersihkan tidak hilang.bisakah topherspin bantu saya untuk mengidentifikasi batu yang saya temukan,atas perhatiannya saya ucapkan terima kasih

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks for watching. Lucky for you and all other rockhounders I have a Patreon membership that has a monthly benefit of a rock identification by my Crew and I. Join as a Rockhound Supporter at www.patreon.com/topherspin

[@Virgohistorian]

@TopherspinMeteorites terima kasih banyak

[@gamingt-smis7127]

Where can i contact you and send my Pictures and Videos because i think i found a Meteorite

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Lucky for you and all other rockhounders I have a Patreon membership that has a monthly benefit of a rock identification by my Crew and I. Join as a Rockhound Supporter at www.patreon.com/topherspin

[@RezaAdibi-o2u]

باسلام ، ازشما خواهش میکنم که به کشور ایران بیایید و یا یک دفتر خرید در ایران ایجادکنید. ما در کشور ایران ،شهاب سنگ های بسیار زیبا و کمیاب و بی نظیر برای فروش داریم، که با مشاهده آنها مبهوت میشوید باتشکر و احترام.🎉🎉🎉

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

That would be nice, but impossible for me.

[@roquevinarao3075]

sir, I have two meteorites, one 2.8 kilos and 2.2 kilos, sir, how can I send you a video there is no such test here in the Philippines Sir, I hope you can help me sir

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Lucky for you and all other rockhounders I have a Patreon membership that has a monthly benefit of a rock identification by my Crew and I. Join as a Rockhound Supporter at www.patreon.com/topherspin

[@MaryamRoma-i6s]

I want to sell a meteorite

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Not here.

[@SednaPoor]

​@@TopherspinMeteoritesHello do you buy rare martian meteiorite,i think you are just seller meteiorites?

[@MaryamRoma-i6s]

this​@@TopherspinMeteorites

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

I buy only from trusted and known sources. My educational company does sell meteorites. Do you want to buy one and help support the free educational videos?

[@MeteoriteWarrioR]

Amazing...❤.✨️✨️

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

[@DavidHuber63]

Have it your way, Dude, lol

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

What should I change?

[@DavidHuber63]

@TopherspinMeteorites nothing, lol, that's what Sam Elliot said to the dude. :)

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Gotcha! Nice.

[@nickitoff9629]

This channel is awesome!! I'm so glad I found it. Totally subscribed!! Rock on guys!

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks so much! Just got done 4 hours of filming for the upcoming 'caring for Iron meteorites' 3 part series. This comment is my fuel.

[@DaffyMaldiza]

. meteorite frome Dolongin very rare

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Hmm, computer says "No".

[@goldcambodia]

Good!

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks!

[@tonywhit6332]

Finally found you! I’m Johnny Hamcheck-nice to meet ya'. Oh boy, do I have a rock to sell you. The other day, my wife and I came home to find a meteorite the size of a coconut corn-husky, no less sitting on our front lawn. I thought about getting rid of the thing, but then I came across your channel. You look like the kind of fella who’d be interested in buying. Let me know before the radiation gets to me and I turn purple.

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Where do you live?

[@tonywhit6332]

@ South Africa

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Ok. I was wondering if you were talking about the witnessedcfall in the USA just says ago.

[@nbtyuiop]

Rocks

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Yep, none of the submissions were meteorites.

[@007rom3]

Dude those definitely are not meteorites, just sayin..

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Yep. I hope my other 450 are as helpful.

[@younesavazniya]

❤❤❤❤

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks for watching.

[@mohamed19-g7w]

This red rock is still present in the desert

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Ok

[@RoxanneLatronica]

Now I’m no expert, but the last one sure does look like lunar meteorites to like I seen right here on your show! If u’all don’t think so show me the defferences. It’s not very clear exactly why u’all are saying no? Because u’all think you see transparent quartz crystals in it? I must have missed it because all I see is the same white material I see in every lunar meteorite! I’m curious though. Of course can’t be sure from just pictures but in my opinion it looks exactly as advertised. Which is nice for a change! Why won’t any of you tell him that? Even if you do see disqualifying evidence, it still looks like a lunar! A bit more metal than usual yet not unheard of. Of course not a one even once mentioned the metal! But u sure do hear about it when it’s not there! Doesn’t feel right, I would think that even if there was a remote chance he could be right that possibility alone would be enough to want to be absolutely sure? And the experts in the field are like Ya no forget about it? I’m following Jimmy for a while now and all he ever does is try to help people and speak truth! I haven’t seen him make a bad call yet so he knows his shit and if he says it’s all from the same rock, then it’s all from the same rock! If he says it’s not quartz, it’s not quartz! I imagine that would be one of the first things he heard with this one”

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Hi @RoxanneLatronica, thanks for sharing your thoughts! We love seeing the passion for rock identification and are always open to discussion. Let me break down why we ruled out this being a lunar meteorite in the video: Transparency in Quartz: You’re right to question what we’re seeing. The mineral inclusions visible in the sample are consistent with terrestrial quartz, which is not typically found in lunar meteorites. Lunar rocks generally lack the kind of clear or transparent quartz we identified here. Metal Content: While some lunar meteorites can have trace metals, the distribution, texture, and type of metal in this sample align more with terrestrial origins-likely a result of natural weathering or mineral deposition processes here on Earth. White Material: The "white material" you mentioned is a significant feature. In this case, its structure and mineral composition (likely feldspar) also suggest terrestrial origin. Lunar feldspar has distinct characteristics that we don't see here. We certainly don’t mean to discredit anyone’s efforts or expertise. Science is about collaboration and curiosity, and we appreciate your perspective. From what we’ve analyzed, this particular sample doesn’t meet the criteria for a lunar meteorite-but it’s still an interesting and unique find! We encourage questions like yours because they keep these discussions lively and informative. Thanks for being part of the journey, and feel free to share more observations!

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

@RoxanneLatronica The Knowledge Bolide Crew discusses 7 samples submitted as potential meteorites. We compare them to real meteorites side-by-side. Use this video as a guide as you evaluate your finds and potential meteorites. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKDZYmuoqbaEqbM

[@RoxanneLatronica]

Hello everyone, I appreciate the feedback and the opportunity to discuss this fascinating topic. However, I’d like to take a moment to offer a more nuanced perspective regarding the object being discussed. Firstly, it's important to recognize that meteorite identification is a complex science that involves multiple factors, including mineral composition, texture, structure, and known characteristics of meteorites from specific sources (e.g., lunar, Martian, or asteroid). The claims that have been made regarding the object in question, particularly the suggestion that it's not a meteorite, are worth addressing from both a scientific and a collector’s perspective. **1. The Presence of Metal:** As mentioned in my previous comment, one of the key identifiers for meteorites, particularly iron-rich ones, is the presence of metallic elements such as nickel and iron. While it’s true that not all meteorites exhibit easily visible metallic characteristics, many lunar meteorites do contain metallic inclusions, often visible as metallic flecks or grains within the rock matrix. Dismissing the presence of metal, or not commenting on it, seems to be an oversight, especially when it’s a known characteristic of certain types of meteorites. The metallic content here should not be casually ignored as it’s a valid point of interest that could support the rock’s meteorite origin. **2. Lunar Meteorite Characteristics:** The suggestion that the rock doesn't resemble a lunar meteorite because of certain visible features doesn’t fully take into account the wide variation in the appearance of lunar rocks. Lunar meteorites can vary significantly depending on the specific impact event and the location on the Moon from which they originated. They often exhibit a variety of textures, including brecciation (fractured, angular mineral grains) and variations in color and composition. The white or light-colored material that some are calling into question could indeed be consistent with the feldspar-rich mineral content typical of lunar meteorites. It’s important to remember that no two meteorites are exactly alike, and the presence of such minerals is certainly not disqualifying evidence for its lunar origin. **3. Differentiation from Earth Rocks:** While it’s true that terrestrial rocks can sometimes resemble meteorites, certain key indicators can distinguish a true meteorite from a terrestrial rock, such as fusion crust (the thin, dark, glassy outer layer formed during atmospheric entry), the presence of high-metallic content, and the isotopic signature, which can only be confirmed through more advanced testing, such as electron microscopy or isotopic analysis. Until those tests are performed, we should rely on visible characteristics like metal content and structure. The suggestion that this object does not show clear signs of meteorite origin, without considering these factors, doesn’t hold up under closer scrutiny. **4. Scientific Approach:** It’s crucial in any field-whether discussing meteorites, geology, or any other scientific endeavor-that we remain open to possibilities and take a measured approach, especially when examining objects that might be considered out of the ordinary. Dismissing a potential meteorite without exploring all aspects of its composition and structure might be premature. As collectors and enthusiasts, we’re constantly learning and refining our understanding of these rare and fascinating objects, and sometimes, a rock that doesn't immediately fit the textbook description can still be a valid candidate for a meteorite. In conclusion, while I respect the opinions of those who might doubt this rock's origin, I firmly believe that based on the visible evidence, there’s a strong case to be made that this is indeed a real meteorite, most likely lunar in origin, and further analysis (whether through additional examination or testing) would likely support this hypothesis. It’s essential that we approach these discussions with a scientific mindset, keeping an open mind and considering all evidence before jumping to conclusions. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Best regards, Roxanne latronica

[@rockliquor1329]

you are absolutely right! on every point! This is something that is basically unprecedented and will represent a lot of change from the comfortable well established protocols, so we can't expect it to be accepted without a lot of vetting. there will be some cognitive dissonance for sure! I won't give up until I see a chemical composition, come too far and invested too much energy.. or I would have given up long ago! I believe in the evidence

[@rockliquor1329]

@@RoxanneLatronica thank you for all the efforts! you are 100% right!

[@grxvas]

i this what your life has amounted to? do you just sell and talk about rocks?? ://

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Yes, I have created the world's largest KZbin channel for meteorite education. My content is so good that people who don't like me can't stop watching. Just like you.

[@สมบูรจือ]

❤

[@TopherspinMeteorites]

Thanks