Gold seeker uncovers massive meteorite in Victoria, Australia

In 2015 a gold prospector in Victoria’s Maryborough region discovered a heavy, reddish stone he believed contained gold. After years of trying to split it with tools and chemicals, he handed the rock to the Melbourne Museum.

Geologist Dermot Henry instantly recognized it as a meteorite. Named the Maryborough meteorite, the 40‑cm, 17‑kg specimen likely originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Saturn and ranks among the biggest meteorite discoveries in Australia.