[meteorite-list] Where to go in search of meteorites

From: Mike Groetz <mpg444_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:47:52 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <155696.86122.qm_at_web32905.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Where to go in search of meteorites

http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/Ideas/article/247422

Aug 18, 2007 04:30 AM
Tamsyn Burgmann
Staff Reporter

Astronomers can tell stargazers when to watch for
meteor showers, like the spectacular one last weekend.
But witnessing an Earthly plummet can't be planned.

Only 30,000 meteorites have been discovered since the
15th century, meaning hunters must plan missions that
maximize their chances of making a discovery.

Extremely dry climates preserve the rocks best. The
strategy is to go somewhere meteorites have been found
before, with heaps of patience and metal detector in
tow.

When Patrick Herman embarked on his first expedition
to Texas in 2006, he expected to come home
empty-handed.

After four days of sore muscles from 120 fruitless
digs ? and only 20 minutes before he'd miss his flight
? he filmed the final dig for posterity (see the video
at www.pallasite.ca).

"Usually it's some rust at the bottom, a nail or old
tools," he said, smiling broadly. "But that time, it
was a meteorite!"

Packing up his prize was no problem; he'd made a deal
with the landowner to keep anything he found. But laws
vary across the world. No one can remove meteorites
from federal land in the United States, whereas it's
finders keepers if found on Crown land ? but only if
you're Canadian.

Hunters hoping to hawk their wares overseas must first
offer the goods to a research institution under
federal cultural and heritage laws. Hunters here
debate the merits of a six-month ban imposed on
sellers who want to export.

"In general, it's a good idea so that Canadian
institutions get Canadian meteorites," Herman says,
"but there's no incentive for anyone other than
Canadians to hunt."

"A lot of meteorites get lost because there's no
enthusiasm to go find them, because you can't make
money off it," Tettenborn agrees.

It makes meteorite finds here more valuable to foreign
collectors, just like those sitting on American soil
or from Antarctica, where a treaty prevents commercial
exploitation.

While rumours about the black market swirl among
diehards, Herman prefers to flash his handsome iron
and nickel meteorite-faced watch (an anniversary gift
from his wife) to friends, and teach his children and
their school peers about his hobby.

"There's nothing like putting a chunk of Mars in a
kid's hand, and watching their eyes start to sparkle,"
he says.






       
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Received on Tue 21 Aug 2007 06:47:52 PM PDT