17 kg Mary borough Meteorite Reveals 4.6 Billion-Year Secret

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Amateur prospector David Hole discovered what he thought was gold, but couldn't crack it open with any tool.

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Years later, experts revealed his stubborn rock was actually a 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite from space!

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At 17kg, the Maryborough meteorite is the second-largest ever found in Victoria and only the 17th recorded in the state.

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What makes this space rock special? Tiny crystallized mineral droplets called chondrules that formed during the Solar System's birth.

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Scientific analysis revealed a specific composition with olivine, orthopyroxene and metallic phases like kamacite and taenite.

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"Meteorites provide the cheapest form of space exploration," says Melbourne Museum geologist Dermot Henry.

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The meteorite's journey began in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter - primordial leftovers from planetary formation.

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How old is it? Carbon-14 dating suggests it landed on Earth between 100 and 1,000 years ago.

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Why couldn't Hole break it open? Its high iron content made it extraordinarily hard - a clue to its extraterrestrial origin.

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The meteorite shows minimal weathering with thin iron-oxide mantles around metal grains, preserving its scientific value.

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Where can you see this, a cosmic visitor? It's on display at Melbourne Museum's "Dynamic Earth" exhibition.

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What everyday object might be a 4.6-billion-year-old space rock in disguise? This discovery proves that sometimes extraordinary treasures hide in plain sight.

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