By P. Sarojini
Mumbai, India (CWBN)_ 33-year-old Indonesian coffin maker Josua Hutagalung from Sumatra became an overnight millionaire after a meteorite crashed through his roof. The meteorite which hit his roof was estimated to be 4.5 billion years old and belongs to a very rare class of meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites. A class of meteorite which provides insights into the early history of the solar system, carbonaceous chondrites comprise just 3 per cent of all meteorites collected after being seen to fall to Earth. Reports indicate that the rare rock also has magnetic properties.
The weight of the space rock was 2.1 kg and the value of the carbonaceous rock was estimated to be 645 pounds, which is approximately INR 63,000 per gram. Mr Hutagalung amassed a fortune when he sold the lucky rock for over one million pounds (GBP), which is approximately INR 9.8 crore, thereby making him astronomically richer.
Mr Hutagalung was working outside his house at the time of this rare incident. When he heard the thundering noise of the space rock hitting his roof, he rushed to the scene and found a 2.1 kg rock which was still warm. He explained the incident saying, “The sound was so loud that parts of the house were shaking too. And after I searched, I saw that the tin roof of the house had broken. When I lifted it, the stone was still warm.”
Mr Hutagalung shared the incident and pictures of the meteorite on Facebook, where the news garnered significant attention. Though Mr Hutagalung did not reveal the exact amount he earned on selling the rare rock, he said it was over one million pounds (GBP).
The coffin maker sold the rare space rock to Jared Collins, a specialist collector from the USA. In turn, Mr Collins re-sold the space rock to Jay Piatek, a fellow collector. Mr Piatek has stored the rare meteorite in liquid nitrogen at the Centre for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University.
When asked about his future plans, Mr Hutagalung said that the lucky meteorite has showered him with a large fortune; he revealed that the amount he amassed was worth the salary he would earn in 30 years. He stated that he wished to retire soon and build a church in his village.
