An September 1997 Witnessed Fall: Worden, Michigan USAWorden: A Fender Bender Meteorite |
For a five, Worden is filled with superb round chondrules. This 113g complete slice captures the essence of what was once a kilo and a half stone. |
Meteorites that land on cars deserve a special place in the subcategory of witnessed falls affectionately known as hammers. I like the term “Fender Bender” to describe this exclusive class of meteorites.
Three famous Fender Bending meteorites are Benld, Peekskill and Worden. But bending fenders is not the only thing these stones have in common. They also share fall dates around the same time of year, and Worden and Benld included garage damage on their résumé in addition to autos, and Worden and Peekskill both hit red cars.
| It is funny to think about a car being dented by a bag of chondrules, but that’s what happened here. A red 1988 Toyota Celica 2-door sedan had its roof dented by this cosmic hitchhiker.Some pictures of the damaged car are posted here…and here |
| This is other side of the slice. Although it looks like the slice might taper to a razor’s edge, that’s hardly the case. This thick slice could still do substantial damage with thrown at another car. Why not the same car?Apparently the original earthly target, the ’88 Toyota, has long since retired to the junkyard. |
| As an L chondrite, it is on the lower end of the free metal spectrum, but that doesn’t stop Worden from trying.The sidelighting highlights glint the fresh iron. |
| Still splattered with Celica blood, the lack of damage of the fusion crust reminds us that under the fragile color, solid rock is found. |
| Another side of the thin crust on my thick slice.This edge is not as smooth as the others. I wonder if there was some orientation during its fall. That would be my preference, however, more likely the stone broke apart high up in the atmosphere creating a more jagged but still fully crusted face. |
Worden was a meteorite that when it hit the market, I jumped in for the biggest piece I could get. At the time, this slice was the third largest piece of Worden. I don’t know where it falls in the collection pecking order today, but like all Fender Bender meteorites, the Worden stone’s fame and value will long outlast any man-made jalopy.
Until next time….
