http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070512/ap_on_sc/fallen_object_4;_ylt=Aq67XSDqueyA6Cn_RVs9Ge8E1vAI

According to this article at PhysOrg.com (whose source is the AP wire, just FYI),

Rutgers University geologists Jeremy Delaney, Gail Ashley and Claire Condie and Peter Elliott, an independent metallurgist who studied the object, determined it was an iron meteorite because of its density, magnetic properties, markings and coloration.

There is little about the New Jersey object that resembles a freshly fallen meteorite. It’s shape is so ambiguous—at best—that the only possible way to determine whether it was a freshly fallen meteorite is for a sample to be provided for destructive analysis.

The parameters used for the identification, density, magnetic properties, markings and coloration are wholly insufficient in the determination of the origin of such an object.

While it may ultimately be among the most unusual freshly fallen meteorites known to exist, such an assessment cannot and should not ever have been made by passing it around for a casual analysis.

Darryl Pitt
Macovich Collection of Meteorites
http://www.macovich.com

As to checking possible meteorites for radioactivity… There are two issues

Given there were a few plutonium power supplies used in the Soviet space programs and the remote but real possibility not all are tracked and accounted for in the post Soviet era, a scan for radioactivity is prudent just to insure it isn’t dangerous.

Meteoroids in space are constantly irradiated and that irradiation ceases when the meteoroid falls to ground. The presence of several short-lived radio-nuclides are scientifically valuable and should be measured as soon as possible. These natural radioactive isotopes aren’t dangerous. In fact we have to shield them from background radiation to measure them.

As to velocity for smaller meteoroids, all cosmic velocity is expended whilst passing through the upper 100+ miles of atmosphere. Meteoroids stop visible (Glowing) flight at no less than 5 miles above sea level. and by no less than 3 miles cosmic velocity is gone all together. Once cosmic velocity is depleted the meteoroid falls in the dark phase at normal gravity acceleration, where air resistance limits the acceleration to to between 120-400 mph, in theory. Most house “hammers” do puncture the roof and bounce around smashing other objects in the house. So the report for this object is consistent.

*sigh*

NOW, *if* similar lifeforms might exist in space, then we might have an explanation for such finds as the fall in NJ. I have coined the term ‘astrocoprolite’ to cover them.

Others might think of them more generically as ‘ore-dure’.

i am fascinated to hear that red top mountain s.p. is an impact site. i live in atlanta, and i thought the nearest identifiable impact of any significance was north of montgomery alabama! now, before i drive up 75 and start trying to collect ancient meteorite fragments, you need to tell me where you got your information. i want to learn about it too! don’t leave a brother out in the cold about localized ancient cataclysmic planetary convergences (i mean really converging).

Hoo, boy.

Here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/nyregion/04ball.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

Phil, you and the rest of us with at least a smattering of intelligence
and skepticism, have our work cut out for us yet again.

Gary 7

Hell, you can roam around in the country side and find them if you feel like it, Earth is covered in Iron meteors.

From the story: “Experts at the Air Force Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, say it was a Russian SL-4 rocket body that re-entered the atmosphere over Colorado and Wyoming.”

Meanwhile, those babbling local “news” folks go on and on about the Quadrantrids (which that isn’t.) Its burning up like a manufactured object with separate components and materials breaking off and burning, leaving streaks.

So far – with he New Jersey, this morning CNN calls it a “mystery object” in their headline and (gasp) Comcast.net’s homepage news video labels it a (cringe) “UFO”.

http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=1961501&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1