Scientist confirms meteorite lands in Liberal

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LIBERAL, Kan. (AP) -- A biophysicist has confirmed that a black rock that fell into a backyard in Liberal during the weekend was a meteorite.

Ten-year-old Chandler Harp found the 2-inch-diameter black rock Saturday after hearing what he thought was an explosion.

Don Stimpson of Haviland, a biophysicist who owns the Kansas Meteorite Museum and Nature Center near Greensburg, says he's convinced the rock is a meteorite.

Stimpson saw the rock during a visit to Liberal Tuesday. He says it likely came from the atmosphere around the sun and fell as far as 100 million miles.

Chandler's mother, a pharmacist, says the meteorite weighed 47 grams.

Stimpson says the value of the meteorite depends on what collectors are willing to pay, but it can go as high as $100 per gram.

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Information from: The Hutchinson News, http://www.hutchnews.com