MXT ,Hot rocks, Meteorites,need info

[tvanwho]

I was gold hunting in a creek this weekend and surrounding area, MXT only beeped on 1 rock tho. I did not bring it home thinking it was a hot rock except for the fact the MXT did NOT say it was a Hotrock. Most of the rocks in the area seemed to be limestone,chert, or flint except for this small heavy black rock, about 1/3rd the size of a football and it went off with a bang. We don't have many hotrocks in northern Illinois. Stupid me, I had a pick with a magnet on and did not even test it.Just threw it on the bank. I am now thinking it might have been a meteorite or at least a good chance of one? Small, heavy, black, flat angular faces, no pits. All the hot rocks I have run into over the years tend to be a lot lighter and either black, white, lite green, or light red. Of course , the last time I found a heavy small black rock, it turned out to be magnetite/hematite but was still worth about 15 bucks I was told. Any suggestions? Again , the MXT was in Prospect mode and meter did NOT say this rock was a Hotrock, fact is there was no indication on the meter as to what it was? I was getting Hotrock/iron signals in the gravel/mud bar around it tho.Should I go back and get this rock, 45 minute hike?
Thanks-

-Tom

 

[Rob (IL)]

I didn't think meteorites had flat angular faces. Rob

 

[Jackpine Savage]

Tom,

If you passed your coil over it repeatedly and the signal did not change or fade out there was probably some iron or nickel in it. I'm no expert, but from what I have read meteorites have such varied compositioins that it takes an expert to tell on some of them. Surface features do not always tell the tale, erosion from water and wind on older falls will of course change the looks wearing away the crust and dimples found on fresher falls. Are you hunting in an area where the glaciers were active? If so, it could also be a mineral specimen brought down from Canada or northern Wisc.

Tom

 

[tomtowns]

Hi Tom, you might want to check out nuggetshooter.com they have a forum for meteorites & the guy who runs the site sometimes browses these forums....His name's Bill Southern & there are people there who can probably help out....You'll probably have to go back & get the rock though....Tom

 

[tvanwho]

The area I was in was not glaciated according to my maps on that subject. I didn't see any dimples on the rock like a Sikhote Alin or some other meteorites have, just flat angular faces,rounded off corners, and heavier for its size than most rocks. We are planning on returning to get that rock before a flood rolls it downstream into deep water. Hope it doesn't snow or flood for at least another 10 days. Just wondering why the MXT did not show on the meter what it might be? I think I will scan that gravel bar a bit more thoroughly ,see if anything else shows up?
Thanks-Tom,ps, this is my 2nd possible meteorite encounter in the last 5 years, did lots of research from the last time. The rock I had then was also, small, black/grey and very heavy but as I learned then, the tell tale clue it was NOT a meteorite was the red in the crevices, which was hematite. I was told meteorites do not have hematite in them, magnetite yes, but not red hematite. My local college geology professors did not know this after telling me they were 95% sure that Arizona rock was a meteorite.

 

[RedRockNv]

If it is an iron meteorite. Cut off a slice polish a face acid etch for Widmanst