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THE SYLACAUGA, TALLADEGA COUNTY, ALABAMA, AEROLITE: A RECENT METEORITIC FALL THAT INJURED A HUMAN BEING (CN = 0863,332) *
Author(s) -
SWINDEL GEORGE W.,
JONES WALTER B.
Publication year - 1954
Publication title -
meteoritics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0026-1114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1954.tb01323.x
Subject(s) - fell , geology , perpendicular , meteorite , geography , geometry , archaeology , physics , paleontology , mathematics , astrobiology
This paper describes the circumstances relating to the finding and identification of the aerolites that fell at Sylacauga, Alabama, one of which struck and injured a human being. The fall occurred on November 30, 1954, at about 1:00 P.M., CST, in the Sylacauga area, Talladega County, Alabama. Two aerolites have been recovered. The larger, weighing 8.5 pounds, pierced the roof of a dwelling and injured a sleeping occupant; the smaller, weighing 3.75 pounds, fell into an open area. The specimens of aerolite are irregular and angular in shape and are covered with a satiny, black coating. Most of the surfaces are plane, in some cases perpendicular to one another, with distinct, but well‐rounded edges. Certain surfaces are covered with thumb‐marks (piezoglyphs). One minor surface exhibits a remarkably regular series of parallel bands approximately one‐half inch wide, extending the full length of the face. No perceptible surface relief is associated with these bands, but only a variation in color from black to gray. Such a feature does not seem to have been noted heretofore in connection with meteorites.