Home » News » Scientists Confirm That a Rare, 4.6-Billion-Year-Old Meteorite Struck a New Jersey Home

Scientists Confirm That a Rare, 4.6-Billion-Year-Old Meteorite Struck a New Jersey Home

(Image Credit Google)
(Image credit- Todaycane) Imagine your surprise if you discovered a huge pebble that appeared metallic on your bedroom floor. Suzy Kop experienced this on May 11 in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, as we previously reported. It was a meteorite that had fallen to Earth from space, so it wasn't just any rock. Fortunately, no one was hurt when the boulder crashed into the house, leaving a dent in the floorboard and two holes in the ceiling. Kop informed the authorities of the occurrence right away, and they later verified that the space rock was not radioactive. The space rock was given to the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for additional scrutiny after confirming the occupants' safety. According to Space.com, the physics department, under the direction of Nathan Magee, examined the rock and determined that it is a stony chondrite, a basic rock that comprises 85% of all meteorites discovered on Earth. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]Scientists confirm meteorite struck New Jersey home Image credit- 10News.com[/caption] That is not all, though. The true nature of this space rock was ascertained with the assistance of Jerry Delaney, a retired meteorite expert who had worked on the meteorite collection at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The astonishing findings revealed that the rock was one of the oldest meteorites ever discovered on Earth, dating back roughly 4.6 billion years. As a result, the meteorite was created at the very beginning of our solar system, offering a unique window into the early development of our particular region of the cosmos. According to NASA, a dense cloud of interstellar gas and dust is what gave rise to the solar system where Earth is now some 4.5 billion years ago. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]4.6-billion-year-old meteorite is the oldest volcanic rock ever found | New  Scientist Image credit- New Scoentist[/caption]

More Fascinating Physics Observations

A meteorite that struck Earth and landed in Titusville, New Jersey has been located by a team under the direction of Dr. Magee. The nearest postal address to the meteorite's landing site, Titusville, NJ, has been given that name, according to the expert. Also read: Model S was in Autopilot mode during the fatal fire truck crash, according to Tesla Magee's team discovered that upon closer examination, the meteorite's top layer had a blackened crust that was only a few millimeters thick and was caused by the extreme heat produced when the rock entered Earth's atmosphere. According to Magee, who spoke with Space.com, they also learned that the meteorite's minerals are primarily blue and grey, with a trace quantity of other metals. According to preliminary calculations, the meteorite is a chondrite of class LL-6. This particular meteorite is at least 30 to 40% denser than the most prevalent rocks on Earth, like slate or granite, and contains less iron than other meteorites in its family. The space rock's structure and composition had already undergone harsh temperatures and conditions in space before it crashed upon Earth. Because of this, it is difficult to separate the meteorite's individual grains or chondrules.

By Monica Green

I am specialised in latest tech and tech discoveries.

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