Coimbatore

Weighing nearly 6 kg, the stone appears blackish and has magnetic properties. “I learnt through YouTube that meteorological stones can attract magnets. As this stone too attracts magnets,” said Lakshmi Narayanan, a resident of Peelamedu. To prove his point, he also demonstrated its magnetic properties to reporters. The stone has been in the family’s possession for over 50 years.

“I was barely 15 when my brother K Sivasubramani showed me the stone. He told me that it is a meteorological stone which was discovered in our farm. I decided to give the stone to authorities to be used for research by scientists in ISRO, NASA and research students,” he said.

Lakshmi Narayanan brought the stone to the District Collector office on Monday, but left without meeting the authorities.

“I couldn’t wait for a long time while carrying the stone, so I left without meeting any official,” he said. He had earlier visited the Geological Survey of India, Chennai and Mines department in Salem to discuss his prized possession. “But, I didn’t take the stone along and it has not been examined by experts in those departments. Officials in both the Geological Survey of India in Chennai and mines department in Salem asked me to approach the Collector office in Coimbatore,” he said.

On Tuesday, Lakshmi Narayanan said he took the stone to the North Tahsildar’s office in Coimbatore. “They assured me that they will send someone to collect it from my home and send me back,” he said. Officials at the North Tahsildar office, however, denied anyone turning up with an alleged meteorological stone.

How Valuable Are Meteorites?

• Meteorites are typically sold by weight. The meteorite collecting community uses the metric system so weights are measured in grams and kilograms, and dimensions in centimetres and millimetres
• As is the case with most collectibles, the commercial value of a meteorite is determined by a number of factors including rarity of type, provenance, condition of preservation, and beauty or aesthetic appeal
• Once a meteorite has been analysed and classified by academia, surplus specimens find their way onto the commercial market. The process of acceptance into the official scientific literature actually adds commercial value to a meteorite
• Meteorite prices vary from one source to another but the numbers quoted here are typical of retail values in today’s marketplace. Unclassified stone chondrites picked up by nomads wandering in the Sahara Deserts are readily available for about Rs 35/gram. Attractive stones from the Gao-Guenie witnessed fall (Burkina Faso, Africa, March 5, 1960) can be purchased for about Rs 104/gram and a top quality one-kilogram specimen of the Campo del Cielo iron meteorite from Chaco Province, Argentina can be yours for about Rs 27,700

Notable event

The Russian iron Sikhote-Alin (fell on February 12, 1947) is the largest single meteorite event in modern recorded history and individuals — meteorite specimens which landed as one intact piece, rather than exploding on or near the ground — are coveted by collectors because of their marvelous sculptural qualities and surface features. A premium Sikhote-Alin specimen will carry a price tag of Rs 139 to Rs 207/gram

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