A 4.5 Billion-Year-Old Meteorite Falls in the Yard
Dispute Over Meteorite Price Ensues
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An Indonesian man, who was rumored to have made a fortune by selling a meteorite estimated to be worth 2 billion won, expressed disappointment, stating that he actually sold the meteorite for 16 million won.
On the 20th (local time), BBC Indonesia and others reported, "Joshua Hutagalung (33) was surprised and expressed disappointment when recent foreign media reported that the meteorite he sold to an expert last August could be worth 260 billion rupiah (about 2 billion won)."
Joshua, who lives in Central Tapanuli Regency on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, said, "The meteorite initially weighed about 2.2 kg, but it broke as I handled it, and I sold the remaining 1.8 kg to an American named Jared living in Bali for 200 million rupiah (about 16 million won)." He added, "If the real value is truly around 26 billion rupiah, I feel like I was deceived. It's disappointing."
On August 1st, around 4 p.m., Joshua was making coffins at home when he heard a loud noise as the house was damaged. A meteorite had fallen from the sky, piercing through the roof.
He recalled, "My wife and I dug out the stone, and it was still warm. It was too large for someone to have thrown it intentionally, so I thought it must have fallen from space as soon as I saw it." The palm-sized meteorite weighed 2.1 kg.
Joshua took photos of the meteorite and posted them on social media, and it was also reported by local Indonesian media.
Afterward, Joshua's meteorite gained fame, and about two weeks later, he sold it to Jared Collins, a meteorite expert living in Bali.
During this process, many people came to Joshua's house asking to see the meteorite, and there were many offers to buy it.
Later, foreign media such as the UK's Daily Mail reported on the incident, stating, "This meteorite is very rare and is worth about 26 billion rupiah."
The meteorite that fell in Joshua's yard is said to have formed 4.5 billion years ago and contains the earliest materials created in the solar system, classified as a "carbonaceous chondrite."
Foreign media reported, "Jared proposed the deal to Joshua on behalf of an American meteorite collector," adding, "Jared, who facilitated the transaction, sent the meteorite to the United States, and it is currently owned by a meteorite collector and doctor in Indianapolis."
Unaware of the 2 billion won value, Joshua said in an interview with foreign media, "I have already spent the money from selling the meteorite on my family, an orphanage, building a chapel, and repairing my parents' home." He also mentioned that after selling only 1.8 kg of the meteorite to Jared, he gave the remaining fragments to relatives and kept 5 grams as a memento.
As criticism surged that the meteorite was sold for over 100 times less than its value, Jared sent a statement to BBC Indonesia to clarify.
Jared stated, "The amount paid to Joshua was not 200 million rupiah, and there is no meteorite worth 26 billion rupiah," adding, "The transaction value was directly agreed upon by Joshua and the American buyer, and I only received compensation for traveling to Joshua's home and the time spent."
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