In the past I have questioned the wisdom of sending "scientists with little to no camping experience" to search for meteorites in Antarctica, when we have so many experienced and "field-proven" meteorite finders here in the U.S. and worldwide? But just this past week, I have had an experience that goes against me very own argument.
I just returned from leading an "expedition" to snowy/muddy Nevada with a "team" of middle-aged homemakers with little to no experience camping. (Truth is, all the men backed out for various reasons, leaving me with only an inexperienced, yet highly interested, "all-women-team".) None of the women were what you would call "meteorite collectors". They wouldn't know a Gao from gangue, a Gibeon from goethite, or a Henbury from hematite. But after I made the first find, and was able to show them first-hand (on the ground) what it was exactly that we were searching, they immediately started making finds themselves. And this wasn't on surfaces that are as recovery-friendly as "blue-ice fields". These were surfaces that were partly covered with vegetation and gravel. I couldn't keep up with the documenting of all the very small fragments that they were now able to identify, from among all the very similar-shaped and colored gravel. They were able to repeat this feat at three different localities. So, I answered my own question. I guess you don't need "expert meteorite hunters", and no amount of training will equal the experience of a "first-hand example". A well-earned Thanks and Congratulations to my fellow Nevada-meteorite-recovery team members. And now, I only want to wish Good Luck and Safe Travels to those scientists that have been "bestowed the honor" of searching for meteorites in Antarctica for all of us. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
