Meteorite returns to Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., March 24 (UPI) -- A meteorite that was stolen from an Arizona museum decades ago has been returned to the Meteor Crater east of Flagstaff, Ariz., officials said.

The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday that the "Basket" meteorite, which hit Earth 50,000 years ago, was stolen from Meteor Crater in August 1968.

The newspaper noted that Tom Lynch unwittingly bought the 49-pound meteor, which appeared to be a hunk of copper, for $10 at a garage sale.

"I figured, for $10, it was worth at least that in scrap," Lynch was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

After suspecting that he had a meteor, he took the hunk of metal to a museum in Milwaukee, where experts sent him to the Field Museum in Chicago. The Field Museum said the meteor could be the one taken from the Arizona museum.

Lynch said when he knew the meteor had been stolen, he had no second thoughts about returning it.

"Call them people and tell them we got it and we'll give it back," Lynch said. "It was the right thing to do."

The newspaper noted that Lynch later learned that Meteor Crater Enterprises would pay him $1,000

for returning the meteor.

"It was $1,000 plus two rooms at the hotel," Lynch said. "Plus, I told them I was going to turn my granddaughter loose in the gift shop."