A colossal meteorite, one of the largest ever discovered in Michigan, remained hidden for over 80 years as a mere doorstop at a local farm.

The unassuming space rock, weighing 10 kilograms (22 pounds), spent decades at a farm before its true nature was recognized by the scientific community. The meteorite, dubbed the “Edmore meteorite,” turned out to be a spectacular iron-nickel meteorite with around 12 percent nickel content, making it a scientifically and monetarily valuable find.

The Unveiling of a Remarkable Discovery

In 2018, Mona Sirbescu, a geologist at Central Michigan University (CMU), was approached by David Mazurek, who had been in possession of the rock for three decades.

Mazurek had originally bought a farm in Edmore, Michigan, and noticed an unusual-looking rock propping open a shed door. The previous owner informed Mazurek that the doorstop was, in fact, a meteorite that had crashed on the property in the 1930s. The meteorite’s story included an account of the impact’s noise and the warmth it emitted upon discovery.

Unexpected Value and Use

Remarkably, the outgoing property owner told Mazurek that the meteorite now belonged to him since it had become part of the property.

For three decades, Mazurek employed the massive rock as a doorstop, occasionally allowing his children to showcase it at school. It wasn’t until the meteorite trade gained attention that Mazurek decided to have the rock evaluated. Geologist Mona Sirbescu, upon inspecting the meteorite, confirmed its extraterrestrial origin and unique properties.

Monetary Windfall and Scientific Contribution

In recognition of its rarity and scientific significance, the Edmore meteorite was sold to Michigan State University’s Abrams Planetarium for $75,000. As meteorites can be valuable both in terms of scientific exploration and as collector’s items, Mazurek’s decision to have the rock evaluated yielded an unexpected windfall.

Ten percent of the sale proceeds were pledged to CMU’s earth and atmospheric sciences department, which played a pivotal role in identifying the meteorite.