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120 grams. 60 x 40 x 36 mm.   L6

TKW 4 kg. Fall not observed. Found May 1962, near Village Anttila, Valkeala district, Finland.


Jarkko writes:

This is just an ordinary chondrite, not observed fall and not even a fresh piece, but for some absurd reason it is still great piece for me - it is a meteorite from my home country.

History:

In May of 1962 Olavi Vaija found a rusted stone from his field. He had previously read a story of ore finding from a magazine and thought that maybe the piece was ore. He searched the stone piles next to his field. There he found a second stone. Vaija sent these stones to the Outokumpu mining company. They were first declared as ore boulders. Later mineralogist Yrjö Vuorelainen identified them as meteorites. Unfortunately one of the pieces was pulverized before that. Later Olavi Vaija found a couple of more stones. These stones weighted together with the pulverized piece about 700g. One of the pieces was a complite specimen so it was proper to expect that Valkeala meteorite was a meteorite shower. It is possible that there is still more pieces in that area. Judged by the strong rusting Valkeala meteorites have fallen probably hundreds of years ago. So far about ten stones have been recovered making the total mass around 4 kg of weight.

Specimen Description:

This specimen is the finders piece. The piece comes with a copy of the letter from Professor B.Wiik to Mr Vaija.

The translation of the letter from Professor B.Wiik to finder of the Valkeala meteorite Mr Vaija:

Geological department Otaniemi January 9. 1964

Farmer Olavi Vaija
Anttilan kylä
Valkeala

Dear Mr Vaija:

Thank You for the kindness that I received from You during my visit. I have now properly researched the “Valkeala” meteorite. My friend professor Mason from New York has done the optical research and I have done the chemical research. The chemical composition does not differ much from the normal chemical composition of stone meteorites. Iron 21.22%, nickel 1.01%, sulfur 2.29% and so on. But in any case “Valkeala” is a novelty. It´s iron content is 2.9% (rest is oxides). Normally metal part is 8%. There is a couple of this kind of pieces in the world, but in Finland this is the first. You made a big service to science when You gave this material to us. Thank You also for the piece that You send via Outokumpu to us. It was unfortunately pulverized in Outokumpu. As a whole piece it would have been more useful to us. Anyway it was a part of the meteorite and I have now the powder here. If You find more I am always grateful if You send them to me for examination.

Our chief director has granted You a recreation reward (250 new Finnish marks) for Your good work and your familys exceptional observations. It will arrive to You via post in the near future. (The address that was given to the cash desk is: Kouvola, Anttilan kylä. Is that right?)

I think I will visit You during May or June on my mission that will take me to Salla. In Salla farmer Kauko Piisilä has probably found 3 kg meteorite last summer and he might have now some more pieces. He will also receive 250 marks in these days.

With gratitude,

Yours H. B. Wiik