Hey all,
I live near Chattanooga Tennessee. I have always been interested in meteorites
and astronomy, but hadnt thought much about it lately until I saw the show
called "Meteorite Men" on TV. I am really wanting to look for meteorites and I
have been researching the subject, reading "Rocks From Space", I have orded
some magnets for testing the finds and ive made a magnet cane.
I was wondering it there is any point looking in my area, knowing that we
get more rain here than in the arid places, I realize that the meteorites will
decay much more quickly in the damper ground. I also was wondering if
purchasing a metal detector might be a good idea. I have read that the Whites
GMT is a good possible option and I learned that it is designed primarily for
gold hunting and it also registers the iron in the "hot rocks" which I suppose
are sometimes meteorites.
My thought is that very few people are looking in the southeast US, and
while I havent researched yet about known falls and strewn fields in the
southeast, I would think there must have been some here.
I guess one question I have is, am I better off buying a metal detector
that also registers coins and relics, and other items since those things are
often found here, like Civil war relics, or should I try to get a detector that
is better suited for the meteorites?
Another question is, would the GMT be likely to detect a meteorite of
say, 2 inches in diameter up to 12 inches or bigger, under several inches of
damp soil or a foot or two deep? Would the moisture in the ground here already
have eaten them away?
I saw the guys on TV dragging that large detector around to find deeply
buried large ones, and it made me think of possibly walking through some flat
farm fields around here with a detector of some sort, though a handheld one is
closer to being in my budget right now.
I understand that those guys did lots of research about the kansas strewn
field, and I know that just randomly searching farm fields in Tennessee wont be
very productive, but do you think I have any alternatives to use around here to
look a bit?
I know that meteorites are very rare and difficult to find, but i am
willing to put in the time if i think there is a chance of success. Any info
you guys could give me about whether a metal detector might be a good idea, and
if the GMT or another type might do better will be appreciated. Also if you
could tell me what other sort of options I might have for locating them several
inches or a couple of feet beneath the surface if they are large enough to be
detected, and if you think the rainfall in the southeast would make searching
pointless?
I have seen numerous areas where the topsoil has washed away leaving lots
of rocks exposed on top on the ground, and I dragged a small magnet over the
ground picking up little magnetized pebbles, some of which seem to be spherical
and dented with the tiny ablation dents seen on larger specimens... so this is
the sort of place i have begun looking.
Will I just have to settle for occasional trips out west to hunt dry
lakebeds or known strewn fields, or do I have a chance for some finds around
here? Thank you for your time and I would be happy for any suggestions anyone
might have.
Happy hunting!
Forrest West
______________________________________________
http://www.meteoritecentral.com
Meteorite-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
