The rock used as a door goal is actually a meteorite worth $ 100,000

A man from Michigan curious about a rock he had been using for decades as a door goal knows the secret: it's a $ 100,000 meteorite.

In fact, the piece of iron and nickel of nearly 23 pounds is the sixth largest meteorite found in Michigan, according to the Smithsonian Museum and Central Michigan University.

David Mazurek said that he went to the university for review after seeing pieces of meteorites sold for thousands of dollars in January.

"I said:" Wait a minute, I wonder how much is mine, "Mazurek said.

The professor of geology at the university, Mona Sirbescu, first identified the room as being more than just a rock. She then sent two small slices of rock to the Smithsonian for confirmation.

"I could tell right away that it was something special," she said. "It's the most valuable specimen I've ever had in my life, financially and scientifically."

Mazurek said the meteorite had come with a barn bought in 1988 in Edmore. He stated that the farmer who sold the property told him that it had landed in his garden in the 1930s.

"The story goes that it was collected immediately after witnessing the big boom and that the meteorite was dug into a crater," Sirbescu said.

Other tests are in progress to determine if the meteorite contains rare elements.

"What usually happens with this is that meteorites can either be sold and displayed in a museum, or sold to collectors or sellers looking to make a profit," Sirbescu said.

The Smithsonian and a Museum of Maine Minerals are considering buying the specimen.

Mazurek said that when he will sell the meteorite, he will donate some of the money back to the university.

"I'm tired of using it as a door. Let's find a buyer!" Said Mazurek.

Copyright Associated Press