Australian finds 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite near Melbourne

An Australian man, David Hole, made an incredible find while searching for gold in Maryborough Regional Park, near Melbourne. He discovered a heavy rock that turned out to be a rare meteorite, estimated to be 4.6 billion years old. This exciting discovery has caught the attention of scientists and the public alike. While using his metal detector, Hole found a reddish rock weighing nearly 18 kilograms (40 pounds). He initially thought it might contain gold and tried various methods to open it, including drilling and soaking it in acid. However, the rock remained untouched and its true nature remained a mystery. Seeking help, Hole took the rock to the Melbourne Museum. Geologists Dermot Henry and Bill Birch examined it and identified it as an H5 ordinary chondrite meteorite. This type is rich in iron and contains tiny mineral droplets called chondrules, which provide insight into the solar system's history. Named after the place it was found, the Maryborough meteorite weighs 17 kilograms. It represents materials that are older than Earth itself. Dermot Henry explained that meteorites are valuable for understanding the history of planets and the solar system. The Maryborough meteorite is one of only 17 recorded in the state of Victoria. David Hole was amazed by his luck in discovering such a significant piece of cosmic history. "It was just luck. A billion to one," he said.