Metal object found in Minnesota 1959

Summary

A metal object 17 inches long and 5 inches in diameter, apparently made of magnesium alloy, was found on a farm in Emmons, Minnesota. The farmer reported it to the local sheriff, who handed it over to the Minneapolis Air Force Base. The object weighed approximately 18.25 pounds and was heavily corroded. There were no marks on the ground indicating a fall or impact, and nearby trees and grass showed no signs of disturbance. Photos were taken and the object was sent to the Air Technical Intelligence Center for analysis.

Investigators concluded it was a magnesium anode, commonly used to prevent pipeline corrosion. The evaluation was definitive, not tentative. Despite local media speculation suggesting it might be part of a rocket, no evidence supported this theory. The case was closed after confirming its identity as a common industrial object.