Meteorite mania spreads across Palouse

Rosalia’s own alleged meteorite got a look-see Monday from a field scientist touring the Palouse this week.

Portland State University scientist Dick Pugh gave presentations at Palouse, St. John and Colfax this week, drawing crowds as he talked on how to identify and report on the rocks from outer space.

He took a side trip to check out the Rosalia “meteorite.” Pugh identified the Rosalia rock as a fulgurite; a porous rock formed when lightening hits a clot of dirt with enough energy to melt it.

A crowd of 27 collected in the Palouse library Monday to examine Pugh’s meteorite collection.

The PS...